HIGH PRIEST AZARIAH
(Message by Tanny Keng)
0. Introduction
a) Numbers 35:25-38 mentions the death of a high priest.
i) 25 So the congregation shall deliver the manslayer from the hand of the avenger of blood, and the congregation shall return him to the city of refuge where he had fled, and he shall remain there until the death of the high priest who was anointed with the holy oil. 26 But if the manslayer at any time goes outside the limits of the city of refuge where he fled, 27 and the avenger of blood finds him outside the limits of his city of refuge, and the avenger of blood kills the manslayer, he shall not be guilty of blood, 28 because he should have remained in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest. But after the death of the high priest the manslayer may return to the land of his possession. (Numbers 35:25-28 NKJV)
b) Each new high priest had to come from the lineage of Aaron.
c) List here are the ones whose stories are told elsewhere in the Bible.
1. High Priest Azariah
i) King Solomon
@1. So King Solomon was king over all Israel. 2 And these were his officials: Azariah the son of Zadok, the priest. (1 Kings 4:1-2 NKJV)
ii) Uzziah
@1. 17 So Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him were eighty priests of the Lord—valiant men. 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. Get out of the sanctuary, for you have trespassed! You shall have no honor from the Lord God.”
19 Then Uzziah became furious; and he had a censer in his hand to burn incense. And while he was angry with the priests, leprosy broke out on his forehead, before the priests in the house of the Lord, beside the incense altar. 20 And Azariah the chief priest and all the priests looked at him, and there, on his forehead, he was leprous; so they thrust him out of that place. Indeed he also hurried to get out, because the Lord had struck him.
21 King Uzziah was a leper until the day of his death. He dwelt in an isolated house, because he was a leper; for he was cut off from the house of the Lord. Then Jotham his son was over the king’s house, judging the people of the land. (2 Chronicles 26:17-21 NKJV)
iii) Hezekiah
@1. Hezekiah became king when he was twenty-five years old, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Abijah the daughter of Zechariah. 2 And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father David had done.
3 In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he opened the doors of the house of the Lord and repaired them. 4 Then he brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them in the East Square, 5 and said to them: “Hear me, Levites! Now sanctify yourselves, sanctify the house of the Lord God of your fathers, and carry out the rubbish from the holy place. 6 For our fathers have trespassed and done evil in the eyes of the Lord our God; they have forsaken Him, have turned their faces away from the dwelling place of the Lord, and turned their backs on Him. 7 They have also shut up the doors of the vestibule, put out the lamps, and have not burned incense or offered burnt offerings in the holy place to the God of Israel. 8 Therefore the wrath of the Lord fell upon Judah and Jerusalem, and He has given them up to trouble, to desolation, and to jeering, as you see with your eyes. 9 For indeed, because of this our fathers have fallen by the sword; and our sons, our daughters, and our wives are in captivity.
10 “Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the Lord God of Israel, that His fierce wrath may turn away from us. 11 My sons, do not be negligent now, for the Lord has chosen you to stand before Him, to serve Him, and that you should minister to Him and burn incense.”
12 Then these Levites arose: Mahath the son of Amasai and Joel the son of Azariah, of the sons of the Kohathites; of the sons of Merari, Kish the son of Abdi and Azariah the son of Jehallelel; of the Gershonites, Joah the son of Zimmah and Eden the son of Joah; 13 of the sons of Elizaphan, Shimri and Jeiel; of the sons of Asaph, Zechariah and Mattaniah; 14 of the sons of Heman, Jehiel and Shimei; and of the sons of Jeduthun, Shemaiah and Uzziel. (2 Chronicles 29:1-14 NKJV)
iv) Return to Israel from Babylon
@1. 10 Of the priests: Jedaiah, Jehoiarib, and Jachin; 11 Azariah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the officer over the house of God. (1 Chronicles 9:10-11 NKJV)
2. Importance
i) High priest under King Solomon (1 Kings 4:1-2).
ii) High priest under Uzziah. He rebuked the king for burning incense himself (2 Chronicles 26:17-21).
iii) When Hezekiah became king he reopened the temple. Azariah again served as high priest (2 Chronicles 29:1-14)
iv) Probably one of the first to return to Israel from Babylon (1 Chronicles 9:10-11)
3. What is the text all about?
a) King Solomon (1 Kings 4:1-2)
i) Solomon was well organized, with 11 chief officials with specific responsibilites, 12 district governors, and a manager in charge of the district officers. Each person had a specific responsibility or territory to manage. This organization was essential to maintain the government's effectiveness; it was a wise move by a wise man. It is good stewardship to be well organized. Good organization helps people work together in harmony and ensures that he desired goal will be reached.
b) Uzziah (2 Chronicles 26:17-21)
i) When people have power, they often think they can live above the law. But even rulers are subject to God, as Uzziah discovered. No matter what your position in society, God expects you to honor, worship, and obey him.
ii) For much of his life, Uzziah "did what was right in the sight of the Lord." But Uzziah turned away from God, and he was struck with leprosy and remained leprous until his death. He is remembered more for his arrogant act and subsequent punishment than for his great reforms. God requires lifelong obedience. Spurts of obedience are not enough. Only "he who endures to the end" will be rewarded. Be remembered for your consistent faith; otherwise you, too, may become more famous for your downfall than for your success.
c) Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 29:1-14)
i) The Levites, chosen by God to serve in the temple, had been kept from their duties by Ahaz's wickedness. But Hezekiah called them back into service, reminding them that the Lord had chosen them to minister.
ii) We may not have to face a wicked king, but pressures or responsibilites can render us inactive and ineffective. When you have been given the responsibility to minister, don't neglect your duty. If you have become inactive in Christian service, either by choice or circumstance, look for opportunities (and listen to the "Hezekiahs") God will send your way to help you resume your responsibilities. Then, like the Levites, be ready for action.
d) Return to Israel from Babylon (1 Chronicles 9:10-11)
i) When we think of doing God's work, usually preaching, teaching, singing, and other kinds of up-front leadership come to mind. Azariah, however, was in charge of the house of God and he was singled out for special mention. Whatever role you have in church, it is important to God. He appreciates your services and the attitude you have as you do it.
End ...
0. Introductiona) Numbers 35:25-38 mentions the death of a high priest.
i) 25 So the congregation shall deliver the manslayer from the hand of the avenger of blood, and the congregation shall return him to the city of refuge where he had fled, and he shall remain there until the death of the high priest who was anointed with the holy oil. 26 But if the manslayer at any time goes outside the limits of the city of refuge where he fled, 27 and the avenger of blood finds him outside the limits of his city of refuge, and the avenger of blood kills the manslayer, he shall not be guilty of blood, 28 because he should have remained in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest. But after the death of the high priest the manslayer may return to the land of his possession. (Numbers 35:25-28 NKJV)
b) Each new high priest had to come from the lineage of Aaron.
c) List here are the ones whose stories are told elsewhere in the Bible.
1. High Priest Azariah
i) King Solomon
@1. So King Solomon was king over all Israel. 2 And these were his officials: Azariah the son of Zadok, the priest. (1 Kings 4:1-2 NKJV)
ii) Uzziah
@1. 17 So Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him were eighty priests of the Lord—valiant men. 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. Get out of the sanctuary, for you have trespassed! You shall have no honor from the Lord God.”
19 Then Uzziah became furious; and he had a censer in his hand to burn incense. And while he was angry with the priests, leprosy broke out on his forehead, before the priests in the house of the Lord, beside the incense altar. 20 And Azariah the chief priest and all the priests looked at him, and there, on his forehead, he was leprous; so they thrust him out of that place. Indeed he also hurried to get out, because the Lord had struck him.
21 King Uzziah was a leper until the day of his death. He dwelt in an isolated house, because he was a leper; for he was cut off from the house of the Lord. Then Jotham his son was over the king’s house, judging the people of the land. (2 Chronicles 26:17-21 NKJV)
iii) Hezekiah
@1. Hezekiah became king when he was twenty-five years old, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Abijah the daughter of Zechariah. 2 And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father David had done.
3 In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he opened the doors of the house of the Lord and repaired them. 4 Then he brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them in the East Square, 5 and said to them: “Hear me, Levites! Now sanctify yourselves, sanctify the house of the Lord God of your fathers, and carry out the rubbish from the holy place. 6 For our fathers have trespassed and done evil in the eyes of the Lord our God; they have forsaken Him, have turned their faces away from the dwelling place of the Lord, and turned their backs on Him. 7 They have also shut up the doors of the vestibule, put out the lamps, and have not burned incense or offered burnt offerings in the holy place to the God of Israel. 8 Therefore the wrath of the Lord fell upon Judah and Jerusalem, and He has given them up to trouble, to desolation, and to jeering, as you see with your eyes. 9 For indeed, because of this our fathers have fallen by the sword; and our sons, our daughters, and our wives are in captivity.
10 “Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the Lord God of Israel, that His fierce wrath may turn away from us. 11 My sons, do not be negligent now, for the Lord has chosen you to stand before Him, to serve Him, and that you should minister to Him and burn incense.”
12 Then these Levites arose: Mahath the son of Amasai and Joel the son of Azariah, of the sons of the Kohathites; of the sons of Merari, Kish the son of Abdi and Azariah the son of Jehallelel; of the Gershonites, Joah the son of Zimmah and Eden the son of Joah; 13 of the sons of Elizaphan, Shimri and Jeiel; of the sons of Asaph, Zechariah and Mattaniah; 14 of the sons of Heman, Jehiel and Shimei; and of the sons of Jeduthun, Shemaiah and Uzziel. (2 Chronicles 29:1-14 NKJV)
iv) Return to Israel from Babylon
@1. 10 Of the priests: Jedaiah, Jehoiarib, and Jachin; 11 Azariah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the officer over the house of God. (1 Chronicles 9:10-11 NKJV)
2. Importance
i) High priest under King Solomon (1 Kings 4:1-2).
ii) High priest under Uzziah. He rebuked the king for burning incense himself (2 Chronicles 26:17-21).
iii) When Hezekiah became king he reopened the temple. Azariah again served as high priest (2 Chronicles 29:1-14)
iv) Probably one of the first to return to Israel from Babylon (1 Chronicles 9:10-11)
3. What is the text all about?
a) King Solomon (1 Kings 4:1-2)
i) Solomon was well organized, with 11 chief officials with specific responsibilites, 12 district governors, and a manager in charge of the district officers. Each person had a specific responsibility or territory to manage. This organization was essential to maintain the government's effectiveness; it was a wise move by a wise man. It is good stewardship to be well organized. Good organization helps people work together in harmony and ensures that he desired goal will be reached.
b) Uzziah (2 Chronicles 26:17-21)
i) When people have power, they often think they can live above the law. But even rulers are subject to God, as Uzziah discovered. No matter what your position in society, God expects you to honor, worship, and obey him.
ii) For much of his life, Uzziah "did what was right in the sight of the Lord." But Uzziah turned away from God, and he was struck with leprosy and remained leprous until his death. He is remembered more for his arrogant act and subsequent punishment than for his great reforms. God requires lifelong obedience. Spurts of obedience are not enough. Only "he who endures to the end" will be rewarded. Be remembered for your consistent faith; otherwise you, too, may become more famous for your downfall than for your success.
c) Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 29:1-14)
i) The Levites, chosen by God to serve in the temple, had been kept from their duties by Ahaz's wickedness. But Hezekiah called them back into service, reminding them that the Lord had chosen them to minister.
ii) We may not have to face a wicked king, but pressures or responsibilites can render us inactive and ineffective. When you have been given the responsibility to minister, don't neglect your duty. If you have become inactive in Christian service, either by choice or circumstance, look for opportunities (and listen to the "Hezekiahs") God will send your way to help you resume your responsibilities. Then, like the Levites, be ready for action.
d) Return to Israel from Babylon (1 Chronicles 9:10-11)
i) When we think of doing God's work, usually preaching, teaching, singing, and other kinds of up-front leadership come to mind. Azariah, however, was in charge of the house of God and he was singled out for special mention. Whatever role you have in church, it is important to God. He appreciates your services and the attitude you have as you do it.
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