The King Who God Struck Because of His Pride
The life and reign of King Uzziah.
If we started listing every world leader whose pride was ultimately their undoing, we would be busy for quite a while.
Uzziah would be one of those leaders on that list - and it’s a terrible shame too, because he faithfully served the Lord for many years.
The Overview.
After the nation conspired against Amaziah and killed him - likely because of his idolatry- they took his sixteen-year-old son, Uzziah (or Azariah), and made him king (2 Chronicles 26:1).
One of Uzziah’s major accomplishments early in his reign was the reconstruction of Elath. Elath was an important commercial port city located on the northern tip of the Gulf of Aqaba, on Judah’s southern border. This city was originally conquered by David and was a vital part of Solomon’s trade empire (1 Kings 9:26).
Uzziah reigned in Jerusalem for 52 years. His mother was a local girl from Jerusalem named Jecholiah (which means “Jehovah is able”). Uzziah “did what was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah had done” (2 Chronicles 26:3-4). However, the high places were still not removed. The people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense (2 Kings 15:4).
Uzziah sought the Lord during the days of the prophet Zechariah, “who had understanding in the visions of God.” Uzziah's prosperity continued as long as he sought the Lord God (2 Chronicles 26:5).
Uzziah Becomes Strong.
Uzziah went to war against the Philistines and destroyed the defenses of some of their prominent cities. He even built cities among the Philistines, and the nation of Judah occupied their territory (2 Chronicles 26:6). Uzziah’s victory over the Philistines, as well as other peoples, was because “God helped him” (2 Chronicles 26:7).
The Ammonites brought tribute to Uzziah, and his fame spread all the way to Egypt. All the surrounding nations knew the “exceeding strength” of Uzziah (2 Chronicles 26:8).
Uzziah built up the defenses of Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 26:9). He built watch towers in the desert and dug many wells for his livestock, farms, and vineyards. The focus on these areas was because Uzziah “loved agriculture” (2 Chronicles 26:10 - NET).
While Uzziah may have been a “good old country boy,” he also oversaw a powerful military. He had 2,600 “chief officers” who led 307,500 “mighty men of valor…that made war with mighty power” (2 Chronicles 26:11-13). These mighty warriors were well-equipped by Uzziah. He gave them shields, spears, helmets, body armor, bows, and slings (2 Chronicles 26:14). He even had towers that were used in battle that cast large stones and shielded his archers (2 Chronicles 26:15).
Word quickly spread that Uzziah was not a king to be messed with, and this was because “he was marvelously helped till he became strong.” But the problem with Uzziah’s strength was that he let it go to his head.
Uzziah Becomes Proud.
The Scriptures tell us what happened to cause Uzziah’s downfall and why it happened.
But when he was strong his heart was lifted up, to his destruction, for he transgressed against the LORD his God by entering the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense. (2 Chronicles 26:16)
Azariah, the high priest, along with 80 other priests, went into the temple to stop Uzziah. They told him:
"It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the LORD, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated to burn incense. Get out of the sanctuary, for you have trespassed! You shall have no honor from the LORD God." (2 Chronicles 26:18)
In Israel’s history, there had been quite a powerful moment involving people who were not Levites who insisted on being able to do what only God had said the Levites were allowed to do. As a result, the earth opened up and swallowed Korah and those who stood with him. Also, fire came down from heaven and consumed 250 men offering incense (Numbers 16).
So Eleazar the priest took the bronze censers, which those who were burned up had presented, and they were hammered out as a covering on the altar, to be a memorial to the children of Israel that no outsider, who is not a descendant of Aaron, should come near to offer incense before the LORD, that he might not become like Korah and his companions, just as the LORD had said to him through Moses. (Numbers 16:39-40)
Uzziah had forgotten this warning - perhaps his reading of the Scriptures was not what it should have been, or he would have known what happened when people attempted the same thing he was doing (Deuteronomy 17:18-20).
Uzziah becomes furious that anyone would dare oppose him. But while he was angry, holding a censer in his hand beside the incense altar, leprosy broke out on his forehead (2 Chronicles 26:19). When the high priest and the other priests examined the king, they found he was indeed leprous, so they threw him out of the temple. Uzziah did not delay to leave because the Lord had struck him (2 Chronicles 26:20).
Uzziah remained a leper until he died. He lived alone in a house and was cut off from the nation and the house of the Lord. Although the king still lived, he was unable to carry out his duties as king, so his son Jotham took care of his father’s responsibilities until Uzziah’s death (2 Chronicles 26:21).
When he died, Uzziah was “buried near his ancestors in a cemetery belonging to the kings” (NET). The reason for his burial being a little different was that he was a leper (2 Chronicles 26:23).
Crowning Principles.
Trusting in your own strength can cause you to forget the lessons of the past.
Uzziah’s pride in his own power and strength caused him to do something very similar to what Korah and others did in Numbers 16. His trust in his own strength became his downfall.
Our Lord’s rebuke of the “lukewarm” church in Laodicea revolved around this same problem. They believed themselves to be strong, but their pride in their supposed strength was blinding them to the truth.
And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, 'These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.” (Revelation 3:14-19)
God is able to strengthen the weak and humble the strong.
Uzziah’s mother’s name meant “Jehovah is able.” During the first part of Uzziah’s reign, we observe how the Lord was able to make Uzziah strong. But in the second part of Uzziah’s reign, we saw how the Lord was able to humble Uzziah even when he was at the peak of his strength.
James reminds Christians of this very same fact.
But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "GOD RESISTS THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE." Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. (James 4:6-10)
