King Uzziah

“He did what was right in the LORD's sight as his father Amaziah had done. He sought God throughout the lifetime of Zechariah, the teacher of the fear of God. During the time that he sought the LORD, God gave him success.” ~2 Chronicles 26:4-5 HCSB

2 Chronicles 26 tells the story of King Uzziah.  He became King at the age of 16, replacing his father Amaziah.  He reigned 52 years. The Scripture tells us he did what was right in the Lord’s sight.  He sought the Lord throughout his life and he feared God and God gave him success. He was given victory over all his enemies and they gave him tribute money.  He was well known and respected.  He repaired cities and installed towers around Jerusalem.  He dug wells and he promoted farming.  He equipped his large army with the best equipment.  He built modern catapults and skillfully designed devices that could shoot arrows.  All of this made his fame spread to distant places, until he grew strong.

When he grew strong he became arrogant.  He acted unfaithfully towards the Lord.  He went into the temple and into the sanctuary and burned incense on the incense alter.  The priest went after him and confronted him and told him he had not right to burn the incense for it was the priest scared duty.  Hearing the priest only made him enraged.  In the Lord’s temple and in front of the priest, in the midst of his fury a skin disease broke out on his forehead.  When the priest saw the disease they rushed him out of the temple and he wanted to leave because he realized it was the Lord who had afflicted him.  King Uzziah lived the rest of his life with a terrible disease and was never allowed back into the temple.  But not only was he excluded from the temple he finished his life in isolation from others.  All of this happened because of his arrogance.  

Reading this story has made me think about a lot of different things but mainly arrogance.  Arrogance takes on many forms and it will sneak upon you where you least expect it.  We should never take God for granted and especially his blessings.  As a nation we are the strongest in the world, but we have become arrogant to think we no longer need God.  We have grown arrogant in our churches by tailoring them meet our expectation and not God’s.  We have become arrogant in our homes by removing bible study and prayer and replacing it with television, internet and a host of other entertaining distractions. How long will it be before God has to get our attention by removing his blessing on us?  King Uzziah is an example for us all.  Don’t become arrogant and forget where you came from.  Remember always it is the Lord who blesses your life and never take that for granted.  Be thankful every day for the simple things.  Spend time with the family God has given you.  Respect the church and remember it is there for you to worship the Lord in fellowship with others for God’s glory and not your own.  Be humble and consider other better than yourself.  Lastly, if you will not humble yourself, God will humble you, ask King Uzziah.    

Lord help us to remain humble before you in all aspects of our lives.  Lord you are Lord and we are thankful for your love, grace and mercy.  Lord help us to acknowledge you in everything we do for your glory alone!