II Kings 15-16  King Azariah/Uzziah reigned over Judah for 52 years, all the time suffering from leprosy. During that time Israel went through a series of evil kings:

Zechariah lasted only 6 months. He was the last of Jehu's descendants, fulfilling the Lord's promise to allow 4 generations to be king over Israel. 

Shallum conspired against and killed Zechariah and reigned for 1 month before he was killed by Menahem. 

Menahem was a cruel and wicked man who reigned for 10 years.  He gave money to Pul, the king of Assyria to leave them alone. Which worked for his lifetime. 

After Menahem died, his son Pekahiah became king for 2 years.  He was killed by his own officer, Pekah. 

Pekah ruled Israel for 20 years.  It is during this time that Assyria's king Tiglath-pileser came and took many of Israel's people  captive. 

The final king of Israel was Hoshea, who killed Pekah.  Pekah had joined with Aram against Judah. 

Meanwhile, Uzziah died and his some Jotham was king of Judah for 16 years.  He "did what was right in the sight of the Lord... Only the high places were not taken away.. " 

After Jothan came his son Ahaz - and this king of Judah  turned away from Adonai. ".. he did not do what was right in the sight of the Lord his God as his father David had done."

In fact Ahaz not only sacrificed on the high places,  he ".. even made his son pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord had driven out from before the sons of Israel." 

Ahaz sought help from Assyria when Aram and Israel came against them.  He went to Damascus and saw an altar there, sent the pattern back to Jerusalem, and had it built to replace the altar at the temple. He took apart the laver from its stand; took the sea from the bronze oxen, and removed the covered walkway in the temple.  All of these things went against the Lord and seemed to be meant to please the king of Assyria. Unfortunately, the priest at that time seemed to have no zeal for God's temple and did everything that Ahaz wanted. 

It is at this time in Israel's and Judah's history that God sends the prophet Isaiah.  Listen to this first vision recorded in Isaiah 1:1-6 

 "Listen, O heavens, and hear, O earth; For the Lord speaks. Sons I have reared and brought up, but they have revolted against Me. And ox knows its owner, and a donkey its master's manger, but Israel does not know, My people do not understand. 

Alas sinful nation, people weighed down with iniquity, offspring of evil doers, sons who act corruptly! They have abandoned the Lord, They have despised the Holy One of Israel, They have turned away from Him. Where will you be stricken again, as you continue in your rebellion? The whole head is sick, and the whole heart is faint. From the sole of the foot even to the head there is nothing sound in it, only bruises, welts, and raw wounds..."  

The Lord goes on to say this, "I cannot endure iniquity and the solemn assembly. I hate your new moon festivals and your appointed feasts, they have become a burden to Me. I am weary of them."(v13-14)

The prayers of Israel would no longer be answered or even heard because of their wickedness.  Yet, the voice of God still called out to His people.."Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight. Cease to do evil, Learn to do good; Seek justice, Reprove the ruthless; Defend the orphan, Plead for the widow.. " (v16-17)

Father in heaven, we come to honor Your Holy Name. We are listening to Your Word and see clearly that sin will result in judgement and death. We want to do what is right in Your sight, to obey Your Word, to walk in Your Truth, and to come into Your Presence without shame and guilt.  Help us to learn from the history of Israel and Judah, to seek forgiveness for our nation, to be intercessors for mankind. Fill us with Your Spirit for the work You have for us to do, that there might be the fruit of righteousness found in our nation once again. May we become a nation that joins ourselves to You that we might be Your people, sharing the Light of Jesus Christ with all the world.   Help us now we pray, in Jesus' name.. Amen.