IN THE YEAR THAT KING UZZIAH DIED 

Isaiah 6:1(NKJV)

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple.

There is a popular gross misconception about Isaiah's intention by making reference to the death of King Uzziah. “There are some people that need to die for you to progress.” Well, truth is, the death of Uzziah is entirely unconnected to Isaiah's revelation. 

This was simply the prominent way of dating events or memories in past centuries—by connecting them with major historical events. By so doing, the reader/observer could decipher the most probable date for the memory being referred to. 

For example, in Luke's Gospel, which was written basically to a Greek audience, he connected the birth of Jesus to major historical events.

Luke 2:1–7(NKJV)

1. And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.

2. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria.

3. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

4. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,

5. to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.

6. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered.

7. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

This helps not just to prove Jesus’ birth happening in the context of human history, but also helps us in dating the event of his birth. 

An ancient fragment of papyrus (Papyrus Fayuum 110) from Fayuum, a desert region in the northern reaches of Middle Egypt, which was a letter from a farmer to his slave, was dated, “the fourteenth year of the reign of Emperor Domitian.” This helped historians to be able to conclude that that was A.D. 94.

In traditional African history, hypothetically, a narration may go thus in response to a question about the date of birth of someone:

What year did you give birth to me? 

It was the year of the first New Yam festival after Oba Àjàlá ascended the throne of his father. 

And when was the festival? 

It was the next day after the seven mighty hunters returned from the dreaded evil forest with the head of the monster. 

So linking memories with major historical events was the prominent way of dating such memories in the past. And this was exactly what Isaiah the prophet was doing in our theme text. 

In fact, that wasn't the only time he made such kind of reference. 

Isaiah 14:28(NKJV)

This is the burden which came in the year that King Ahaz died.

This was his prophecy about the doom of Philistia. 

Isaiah 20:1–2(NKJV)

1. In the year that Tartan came to Ashdod, when Sargon the king of Assyria sent him, and he fought against Ashdod and took it,

2. at the same time the LORD spoke by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, "Go, and remove the sackcloth from your body, and take your sandals off your feet." And he did so, walking naked and barefoot.

This was his prophecy about the doom of the then Egypt and Ethiopia. 

So, in essence, the only link was regarding the dating of the event, just like in our theme text (about the death of King Uzziah). 

Besides, Uzziah was not an evil king in his days. He was a good man. 

2 Chronicles 26:1–5(NKJV)

1. Now all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king instead of his father Amaziah.

2. He built Elath and restored it to Judah, after the king rested with his fathers.

3. Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jecholiah of Jerusalem.

4. And he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah had done.

5. He sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God; and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him prosper.

Unfortunately, he misbehaved towards the end of his reign.

2 Chronicles 26:16(NKJV)

But when he was strong his heart was lifted up, to his destruction, for he transgressed against the LORD his God by entering the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense.

He was punished for this. 

But his reign was not an evil one. 

Blessings. 

Victor Ibosiola © 2023