2 Chronicles 26:16
“But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the LORD his God, and entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense.”
You may have noticed that many characters in the Bible started out as God’s heroes, but ended up as zeroes because of their pride. I think of Israel’s first king, Saul; her second king, David; Samson, as well as others. Unfortunately, Uzziah was also a part of that group.
Two wonderful examples of men whose heart stayed true to the Lord all the days of their lives are Joseph and Daniel. There are others, but these two are most notable for their total dependence on the Lord from beginning to end.
Our modern-day scene is littered by the wreckage of ministers who started out with humility and total commitment to the Lord, but came to destruction when they grew popular and failed to rely totally on the Lord.
As long as Uzziah sought the Lord, he was able to subdue his enemies and be God’s man in leading Judah to subdue her enemies. Somewhere along the line he began to think that it was his own ability that brought victory. That is always the beginning of the end for anyone.
Read today’s Scripture very carefully. He did not become full of pride until he had become powerful. His success caused him to take his eyes off of the Lord and on himself. Sadly, we will never know what Uzziah could have accomplished if he had remained dependent upon the Lord. He blew it!
So what was Uzziah’s sin? He presumed on God’s holiness. What does that mean? It means that he felt that he was above what God’s Word had said and that he was exempt from what is demanded.
I have no idea what was in Uzziah’s mind when he entered the temple to offer incense to the Lord. Perhaps he felt God would be pleased with what he had done. That is not the way it works.
Even though I do not know what Uzziah’s intention was—I do know the consequences of his action—leprosy! 2 Chronicles 26: 21; “King Uzziah had leprosy until the day he died. He lived in a separate house—leprous, and excluded from the temple of the LORD.”
Doing things his way, not God’s way, doomed him to a life of humiliation and separation. You have to feel sorry for this man who started with such great promise, but ended with such shame—FROM PRIDE TO PITY!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
— Pastor Cecil