2 Kings 15:1

2 Kings 15:1 says, In the twenty and seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel began Azariah son of Amaziah king of Judah to reign.  Azariah, Amaziah's son, began to reign in Judah in the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam's reign in Israel.  Though some lasted longer than others, kings in both Judah and Israel came and went.  Their reign would always come to an end, just as the rule of earthly leaders does today.  Only Jesus Christ will rule forever, and we must put our faith in Him in order to be a part of God's family.  Verse two adds. Sixteen years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned two and fifty years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jecholiah of Jerusalem.  Azariah was another king who began to rule when he was young, though he wasn't the youngest ruler we have read about.  As I have stated before, people put their faith in Jesus Christ and begin to serve Him at different ages, but it is always best to do so as soon as we understand Who we are, sinners in need of salvation, and Who He is, the only way to salvation.  Verse three continues, And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father Amaziah had done;  Like Amaziah his father, Azariah did what was right in God's eyes.  Often children will learn from their parents, whether that is good or bad, and they may learn more by the actions of their parents than by their words.  Verse four concludes, Save that the high places were not removed: the people sacrificed and burnt incense still on the high places.  Still, Azariah allowed some things that weren't in accordance with God's will to continue, just as Amaziah his father had.  We must never allow things into our worship of God that are not in accordance with His word.  Verse five states, And the Lord smote the king, so that he was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a several house. And Jotham the king's son was over the house, judging the people of the land.  Even though we are told that Azariah did what was tight in God's sight, except for allowing the high places to be used for worship, he was afflicted with leprosy for much of his life.  The reason for this will be discussed further later on.  He was forced to live away from others because of this.  If we allow sin back into our lives as Christians, it may cause us to live apart from other Christians.  His son Jotham actually functioned as king during the years that Azariah had leprosy.  Verse six adds, And the rest of the acts of Azariah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?  We then have the statement as usual at the end of a king's reign that the rest of his acts were written in the chronicles of the kings.  Verse seven continues, So Azariah slept with his fathers; and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David: and Jotham his son reigned in his stead.  Azariah died, after officially reigning fifty-two years, and then his son Jotham officially became king.  Though He is already in charge of salvation, we need to accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord to officially make Him King of our life.  He will never force anyone to accept Him, even though He could.