These were not the best of times for Israel. Bleakness, despair, and frustration ruled the day. Israel's King Uzziah died. He started his career as king well. He was a sixteen-year-old boy who succeeded beyond expectation. He was powerful, famous, and rich. His religious reforms were vital to Israel's spiritual life.

Once he was king, Uzziah entered the temple to burn incense on the golden altar, which only the priests were allowed to do and was immediately stricken with leprosy as he lingered there. The Jewish historian, Josephus, tells us that Uzziah was smitten when he threatened to kill the eighty priests, who were already warning him to leave. But, after being stricken with leprosy, he left the temple and moved outside the city, while his son, Jotham, reigned as king. A year later Uz…