Isaiah 63:15-19 ~ Your lofty throne, holy and glorious

The bones of Uzziah, King of Judah, rest here ... Do not open!" Found in 1931, Mount of Olives.


Isaiah 63:15-19

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

Look down from heaven and see,
from your holy and beautiful [holy and glorious] habitation.
Where are your zeal and your might?
The stirring of your inner parts and your compassion
are held back from me.
16 For you are our Father,
though Abraham does not know us,
and Israel does not acknowledge us;
you, O Lord, are our Father,
our Redeemer from of old is your name.
17 O Lord, why do you make us wander from your ways
and harden our heart, so that we fear you not?
Return for the sake of your servants,
the tribes of your heritage.
18 Your holy people held possession for a little while;
our adversaries have trampled down your sanctuary.
19 We have become like those over whom you have never ruled,
like those who are not called by your name.



Uzziah of Judah (עוזיהו) - a king in ancient Judah (2 Kings 14:21; 2 Chronicles 26:1). He is one of the kings mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew.

For 52 years, Uzziah was one of the most prosperous kings excluding David and Solomon and perhaps Jehoshaphat. Uzziah was graced with Isaiah to guide him spiritually. He had great successes in rebuilding taken/captured cities and being a builder all over Judah. "his name spread abroad, even to the entering in of Egypt" (2 Chronicles 26:8). In the earlier part of his reign, under the influence of Zechariah, he was faithful to Yahweh, and "did that which was right in the sight of the Lord" (2 Kings 15:3; 2 Chronicles 26:4, 5); but toward the close of his long life "his heart was lifted up to his destruction," and he wantonly invaded the priest's office (2 Chronicles 26:16), and entering the sanctuary proceeded to offer incense on the golden altar. Scholars have said Uzziah was copying the Egyptian Pharaoh's example to become a high priest. A power grab, probably, more than the desire to serve the Lord more fully.

Azariah the High Priest saw the tendency of such a daring act on the part of the king, and with a band of eighty priests he withstood him (2 Chronicles 26:17-19), saying, 17 But Azariah the priest went in after him, with eighty priests of the Lord who were men of valor, 18 and they withstood King Uzziah and said to him, “It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated to burn incense. Go out of the sanctuary, for you have done wrong, and it will bring you no honor from the Lord God.” 19 Then Uzziah was angry. Now he had a censer in his hand to burn incense, and when he became angry with the priests, leprosy broke out on his forehead in the presence of the priests in the house of the Lord, by the altar of incense.

He was buried in a separate grave "23 And Uzziah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the burial field that belonged to the kings, for they said, “He is a leper.” And Jotham his son reigned in his place." (2 Kings 15:7; 2 Chronicles 26:23).

"That lonely grave in the royal necropolis would eloquently testify to coming generations that all earthly monarchy must bow before the inviolable order of the divine will, and that no interference could be tolerated with that unfolding of the purposes of God... (Dr. Green's Kingdom of Israel).

Father God, so many times we blame you for our troubles. If only we would move Your hand to glorify us further. Forgive us Father for our weaknesses, our vanities and our deliberate flaws and sins. Thank You for Your great wisdom. Let Your glory and Love warm our world and our lives. Let Your Word go forth to provide meaning for us in our days. In the name of Jesus. Amen.


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