In 2 Kings 15 and 16 Azariah is the king of Judah. While he has a long reign it is not marked by anything noteworthy. In Israel however, the kings come and go with great speed. Most are not noteworthy until Menahem. He is as evil the same as the others but he is able to keep the king of Assyria from invading Israel. Unfortunately when King Pekah is king of Israel (and is still evil) the king of Assyria invades much of Israel and takes the people captive to Assyria.

King Azariah is also known as Uzziah. Azariah is afflicted with leprosy throughout his reign so his son Jotham represents him. After he dies Jotham takes the throne of Judah. His reign isn’t very noteworthy. When he dies his son Ahaz takes the throne He does not follow in the steps of David or even his ancestors. Instead he assumes the practices of Israel and is influenced by other nations’ worship. The kings of Aram and Israel move against Ahaz. He forms an alliance with the king of Assyria. Ahaz copies the altar in Damascus and replaces the altar in the house of the Lord with it. He destroyed parts of the house of the Lord to please the king of Assyria.

While the kings of Judah had been faithful to God they continued to sacrifice on the high places. This was against God’s will. Finally, with Ahaz, even Judah completely turns away from God just as Israel had.  Assyria has become a strong influence on the people of God.

Psalm 64 is a psalm of pleading to God for rescue.

Psalm 65, on the other hand, is a song of praise to God because he has delivered his people. It speaks of forgiveness of sins and God’s mighty deeds.