He sought God throughout the days of ZechariahUzziah, the king of Judah, is noted for seeking God during the time of Zechariah, a prophet or priest who provided spiritual guidance. This highlights the importance of godly mentorship and leadership. Zechariah's role was crucial in guiding Uzziah, emphasizing the biblical principle that leaders should seek wise counsel (
Proverbs 11:14). The historical context shows that during this period, Judah experienced relative peace and prosperity, which can be attributed to Uzziah's faithfulness in seeking God.
who instructed him in the fear of God
Zechariah's instruction in the fear of God underscores the biblical theme that wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 9:10). This fear is not about being afraid but having reverence and awe for God's holiness and authority. The cultural context of ancient Israel placed high value on the role of prophets and priests in teaching and maintaining the covenant relationship with God. This instruction would have included adherence to the Law and the importance of worship and obedience.
And as long as he sought the LORD
This phrase indicates a conditional relationship between Uzziah's actions and God's blessings. The biblical narrative often shows that seeking God leads to divine favor and guidance (Jeremiah 29:13). The historical context of Uzziah's reign, which was marked by military success and economic growth, reflects the blessings that come from seeking God. This principle is echoed throughout Scripture, where seeking God is associated with finding life and prosperity (Deuteronomy 4:29).
God gave him success
The success given by God to Uzziah is a testament to the covenantal promises found in the Old Testament, where obedience to God results in blessings (Deuteronomy 28:1-14). Uzziah's success included military victories, architectural achievements, and agricultural advancements, which are documented in the surrounding chapters. This success can be seen as a type of Christ, who perfectly sought the Father and achieved ultimate victory over sin and death, offering spiritual success to believers.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
UzziahKing of Judah who began his reign at the age of 16 and ruled for 52 years. Known for his military successes and innovations, his reign was marked by prosperity as long as he sought the Lord.
2.
ZechariahA spiritual advisor to King Uzziah, who instructed him in the fear of God. His influence was pivotal in Uzziah's early success.
3.
JudahThe southern kingdom of Israel, over which Uzziah reigned. During his reign, Judah experienced significant growth and prosperity.
4.
The LORD (Yahweh)The covenant God of Israel, whose guidance and favor were crucial to Uzziah's success.
5.
SuccessThe prosperity and victories that Uzziah experienced as a direct result of seeking God.
Teaching Points
The Importance of Godly CounselUzziah's success was linked to the godly instruction he received from Zechariah. Surrounding ourselves with wise, God-fearing mentors can guide us in our spiritual journey.
The Fear of the LordThe fear of God is foundational to wisdom and success. It involves reverence, awe, and obedience to God's commands.
The Conditional Nature of SuccessUzziah's prosperity was conditional upon his seeking the Lord. Our success, too, is often tied to our relationship with God and our obedience to His will.
The Danger of PrideAlthough not directly mentioned in this verse, Uzziah's later downfall due to pride serves as a warning. We must remain humble and dependent on God, even in times of success.
Consistency in Seeking GodUzziah's success was as long as he sought the Lord. Consistent devotion and seeking God should be a lifelong pursuit, not just a temporary phase.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of 2 Chronicles 26:5?
2.How does seeking God lead to prosperity, as seen in 2 Chronicles 26:5?
3.What role does Zechariah play in Uzziah's spiritual growth in 2 Chronicles 26:5?
4.How can we seek God like Uzziah did in our daily lives?
5.What other biblical figures prospered by seeking God, similar to Uzziah?
6.How can spiritual mentorship, like Zechariah's, impact our relationship with God today?
7.How does 2 Chronicles 26:5 illustrate the relationship between seeking God and prosperity?
8.What historical evidence supports the events described in 2 Chronicles 26?
9.How does Uzziah's reign reflect the theme of obedience in 2 Chronicles 26:5?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from 2 Chronicles 26?
11.When did David bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem? Before defeating the Philistines or after? After (2 Samuel 5 and 6) Before (I Chronicles 13 and 14)
12.Solomon built a facility containing how many baths? Two thousand (1 Kings 7:26) Over three thousand (2 Chronicles 4:5)
13.How do we reconcile the apparent capacity discrepancy of the bronze sea between 1 Kings 7:26 (2,000 baths) and 2 Chronicles 4:5 (3,000 baths)?
14.In Jeremiah 26:20-23, how do we reconcile the account of Uriah's fate with the lack of corroborating records for his murder by King Jehoiakim?What Does 2 Chronicles 26:5 Mean
He sought God“ He sought God…” (2 Chron 26:5)
• To “seek” is to pursue God intentionally, not casually. Compare 2 Chron 14:4 where Asa “commanded Judah to seek the LORD.”
• Seeking is both relational and practical—aligning heart, mind, and behavior with God’s revealed will (Deuteronomy 4:29;Jeremiah 29:13).
• For Uzziah, this pursuit began early in his reign (2 Chron 26:3) and set the tone for everything that followed.
throughout the days of Zechariah• Zechariah, a godly mentor, was alive during Uzziah’s formative years. As long as this prophet lived, the king kept his focus clear.
• Scripture repeatedly shows God using faithful leaders to steady others (Exodus 18:14–24 with Moses;2 Timothy 1:5 with Timothy’s family).
• The phrase hints at the importance of continuing guidance—spiritual growth isn’t a one-time event but a lifelong walk nurtured by godly influence.
who instructed him in the fear of God• “Fear of God” is reverent awe that shapes choices (Proverbs 1:7).
• Instruction came through teaching and example—mirroringDeuteronomy 6:6-9, where truth is impressed on the next generation.
• This fear anchors obedience, guarding a leader from pride (cf.Deuteronomy 17:18-20, the king’s copy of the Law).
And as long as he sought the LORD• The verse repeats “sought,” highlighting ongoing dependence, not a single decision.
• Uzziah’s later downfall (2 Chron 26:16) proves the point: stop seeking, start slipping.
•Psalm 105:4 exhorts, “Seek the LORD and His strength; seek His face always.” Continuous pursuit keeps the heart soft.
God gave him success• The Hebrew idea of “success” here includes help, prosperity, and victory. God alone grants it (Joshua 1:8).
• Notice the pattern: obedience precedes blessing (2 Chron 7:14).
• Examples: Hezekiah’s reform brought “every work… prospered” (2 Chron 31:21). Conversely, when Saul turned away, the kingdom faltered (1 Samuel 13:13-14).
• True success isn’t luck or skill but God’s favor resting on faithful lives.
summaryUzziah’s story in 2 Chron 26:5 shows a clear cause-and-effect chain: intentional pursuit of God—nurtured by sound teaching—maintained over time—resulting in divine success. The moment the king ceased to seek, the blessings ceased. The passage invites every believer to keep their heart set on the Lord, stay teachable, and enjoy the fruit God loves to give to those who walk in reverent obedience.
(5)
And he sought God.--
And he continued to seek God (the Hebrew is an expression peculiar to the chronicler).
In the days of Zechariah.--An otherwise unknown prophet.
Who had understanding in the visions of God.--Literally,the skilled in seeing God--a surprising epithet, occurring nowhere else. Some Hebrew MSS., and the LXX., Syriac, and Arabic versions, and the Targum, read, "in the fear of God." This is doubtless correct; and the text should be rendered. "who had understanding (orgave instruction) in the fear of God." So the famous Rabbis, Rashi and Kimchi, long since suggested. Zechariah was thus the guide and counsellor of king Uzziah, and that not only in religious matters, but in what we should call the political sphere; for in those days the distinction between things sacred and secular, civil and ecclesiastical, between Church and State, religion and common life, was wholly unknown.
And as long as he sought.--Literally,in the days of his seeking.
The Lord, God. . .--Such a mode of speech reveals the chronicler's own hand.
Instead of this verse,2Kings 15:4 makes the deduction usual in its estimate of the character of a reign: "Only the high places were not taken away; the people still used to sacrifice and burn incense on the high places."
The power and prosperity of Uzziah are accounted for by the chronicler on the ground that he sought God during the life of Zechariah; although afterwards he offended by rashly intruding upon the priest's office, and was punished with leprosy (2Chronicles 26:16-21).
Verse 5 -
In the days of Zechariah. Twice in the foregoing chapter we have read of "a man of God" and "a prophet" whose names are not given. The chariness of the narrative in this exact respect is not very explicable, for if the simple reason be assumed to be that they were not of much repute, now when the name of
Zechariah is given, all that we can say is that nothing else is known of him.
Had understanding; Hebrew,
הַמֵּבִין. There seems no reason to divest this hiph. conjugation form of its stricter signification, "gave understanding "(see
Isaiah 40:14).
In the visions of God; Hebrew
,בִּרְאות. Some slight discrepancy in the usual fuller writing of the word in some manuscripts lends a little ground of preference for the reading, which a few manuscripts evidently had (see Septuagint Version,
ἐν φόβῳ,), of
בִּירְאַת;
i.e. "in the fear of God" (
Proverbs 1:7;
Isaiah 11:3); either reading in either of these sub-clauses leaves an undisturbed good meaning to the description of Zechariah.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
He soughtלִדְרֹ֣שׁ(liḏ·rōš)Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 1875:To tread, frequent, to follow, to seek, ask, to worshipGodאֱלֹהִ֔ים(’ĕ·lō·hîm)Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430:gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlativethroughout the daysבִּימֵ֣י(bî·mê)Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 3117:A dayof Zechariah,זְכַרְיָ֔הוּ(zə·ḵar·yā·hū)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 2148:Zachariah -- the name of a number of Israeliteswho instructed himהַמֵּבִ֖ין(ham·mê·ḇîn)Article | Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 995:To separate mentally, understandin the fearבִּרְאֹ֣ת(bir·’ōṯ)Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 7200:To seeof God.הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים(hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm)Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430:gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlativeAnd as long asוּבִימֵי֙(ū·ḇî·mê)Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 3117:A dayhe soughtדָּרְשׁ֣וֹ(dā·rə·šōw)Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1875:To tread, frequent, to follow, to seek, ask, to worshipthe LORD,יְהוָ֔ה(Yah·weh)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068:LORD -- the proper name of the God of IsraelGodהָאֱלֹהִֽים׃(hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm)Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430:gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlativegave him success.הִצְלִיח֖וֹ(hiṣ·lî·ḥōw)Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 6743:To push forward
Links
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OT History: 2 Chronicles 26:5 He set himself to seek God (2 Chron. 2Ch iiCh ii ch 2 chr 2chr)