FAMOUS FALL. 2nd Chronicles 26 At sixteen years old, Uzziah was made king by the people of Judah while his father Amaziah was still alive. Amaziah had become hated by the people and had fled to Lachish; therefore, they both ruled together for some time. Uzziah "sought God" when he was under the guidance of Zechariah, and for that reason, "God made him to prosper." Three generations of Judah's leaders began their years of leadership by "doing that which was right in the sight of the Lord." All of them failed as they became self-sufficient and self-opinionated, thinking they could do things their way.
Age isn't a significant obstacle as long as one recognizes the importance of seeking godly advice from experienced men. A spiritual counselor can be a tremendous blessing in anyone's life. Often, when taking on new responsibilities, there's a feeling of fear and hesitation because we're entering into "new territory." We don't know what to expect, and we're unsure if we are capable enough to meet the demands. That's when we value the guidance of those who are older and have faced the "ups and downs" of leading others. It's essential to learn the lessons they pass on to us. There is a risk that, if we're not careful, we might think we can handle everything on our own. Uzziah started well and did well.
Prosperity is not wrong if we "give God all the glory" and use wealth and power wisely. If God has given us "things," be careful and recognize that these have been given to us for a reason. The problem is, when someone becomes successful, there is a tendency to think, "I did it." This can lead to pride, disdain for others, arrogance, and a changed attitude toward God, like a deadly disease setting in. "Pride goeth before destruction.' Through the influence of a godly person or people with understanding, one can find success in God's ways. Seeking the Lord involves learning from Him through His Word, staying connected with Him in spirit, and being guided by the Holy Spirit to understand what we read. In seeking the Lord, we also guard what we have, act in faith to do God’s will, and worship the Father in spirit and truth.
The direction of a nation is often shaped by those working behind the scenes. Wise counsel in spiritual matters can guide leaders and bring clarity. When a leader seeks the Lord, there is usually someone God can use to help him understand all the issues involved when making decisions. God assists those who seek Him and opens paths that people wouldn’t discover on their own. When a person recognizes his limitations and follows God’s guidance, he will become what he is meant to be. He will be able to spot potential dangers and know what actions to take. Both the leader and followers will give glory to God once the task is completed.
When God works through a person who is open to Him, great things can happen. For God designs the projects He knows are needed to help His chosen ones grow in their faith. God knows He “marvelously helps” those who honor the Lord; these are the ones who find grace. However, there is a serious risk that comes with prosperity and power: the heart can become proud. Someone might think they have succeeded on their own, but they are not able to handle a full cup. Pride often follows success closely, leading to great joy. People tend to forget it was God who worked for us, bringing us to this point.
Wisely, Uzziah "sought God all the days of Zechariah." He did what was necessary to deal with Judah's enemies, "and God helped him." "His name spread abroad" because it was clear that God had stepped in to do what was needed. "He strengthened himself exceedingly" shows he was aware of what was happening and realized that God had given him opportunities to reinforce Jerusalem with towers at the gates and corners of the wall. The outposts in the desert and the wells he dug would have benefited others as well as supported the expansion of agriculture.
Not only was Uzziah concerned about local and national issues, but he also wisely prioritized foreign relations. He trained a military force skilled in various combat and defense techniques, enabling his soldiers not only to defend themselves but also to be more effective thanks to new inventions. In all these areas of his authority, he was "helped" by God.
In any activity we undertake for the Lord, all credit and glory for success belong to Him. We acknowledge when we have been "marvelously helped." We should realize that it is God's strength that is "made perfect in weakness," even if it seems we are strong to others around us. However, when we are strong, it is often when problems begin—not in the results of our efforts or what God has done when He helps us, but instead, the issues are within us.
When we start to believe we are successful, the downhill slide begins. Often, we overlook the contributions of others, the advice of wise people around us, and the discomfort of conscience within us. The "behind-the-scenes" individuals are frequently ignored and not recognized for who they are or what they have contributed to the success. Divine empowerment is sometimes taken for granted, and thus the "pride which God hates" becomes our downfall.
The writer of the chronicles does not mention the account in the Book of Kings, where we learn Uzziah did not remove the high places. His goal was to describe the cycles of blessing and judgment linked to each king’s response to God's command. God never let them down when they obeyed Him. He supported them in battle and granted victory even when it seemed impossible.
Uzziah did a good job of protecting the people of Judah, and he was appreciated for that. However, power and pride affected him, as they did with other kings. He pleased God when he was young, was a successful leader, had strong leadership skills, and reigned for fifty-two years. But that did not make him immune to pride, failure, or divine judgment.
When that happens, instead of seeking God, we believe we've achieved success on our own. The proud can quickly be humiliated; even a king can be dethroned. If the time ever comes when someone thinks they are immune to the truth and its consequences, God can and will remove that person until they are brought to their senses. Even when humbled, there is a price to pay — whatever we sow, we will reap. If one sows the cancerous seeds of pride, the results take root deeply. God is determined to bring the proud man down, even if he was once humble at heart. It is better to lose everything you have gained and return to God as if it were the beginning.
Perhaps Uzziah wanted to show outward appreciation for God personally. Still, he should have known better than to seek to bypass those whom God had appointed for the role of spiritual service. It would seem that he thought, because of his high opinion of himself, that he was reaching a level that gave him the right to do whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted, wherever he wanted. It is likely that his accomplishments and the successes he believed he had achieved made him so proud and stubborn, which led him to want to offer incense himself. Azariah and eighty priests went in after him to oppose him and correct him. They understood he intended to offer incense on the altar, and he had to be stopped. If he had accepted their correction, he likely could have been forgiven if he had admitted his sin. But he had become a stubborn, self-centered, proud, opinionated, rebellious, and unreasonable man.
When we stop being thankful to God for His mercy, grace, and goodness, we are headed for failure because of “soul-damning pride.” Doing what isn't our responsibility, neglecting what we should do, and thinking more highly of ourselves than we should have serious consequences. We owe everything to God: His gifts have blessed us, His grace has saved us, and His goodness never fails. We owe a debt of thanksgiving for the fact that from His heart and hands of love and mercy, we live, move, and have our being.
We may feel we've earned pride in our achievements, and in a way, that's true. However, looking down on others who have worked with us and ignoring God's divine power working for us is wrong. Thinking that you are above the authority of the law is a serious mistake, regardless of how powerful or high-ranking you are. "God resists the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble." That is a principle that stays the same. When someone is willing to "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord," ... "He shall lift you up."
Thinking that we are above the law is a serious mistake. The laws of the land have consequences for anyone who believes they are above them, and those laws can be changed. The law of God, however, is eternal. Its standards are fixed in heaven. Uzziah's great sin was in his anger toward what was God's law and God's chosen servants. His rebellion was directed against God Himself. His anger caused leprosy to appear on his forehead, making it visible to everyone. If he had been humble, accepted the priests' correction, and repented, the priest could have pleaded for him before God, and he might have been spared. But his anger toward God proved to be a deadly mistake. His final years were spent in obscurity, far from others, even though he shared leadership with his son Jotham.
Uzziah accomplished many good things, but he is more known for his mistakes than his virtues. He was even buried in a field separate from his ancestors. One act of deliberate rebellion and pride, in effect, overshadowed all the good he had done in history's eyes. That serves as a lesson for us. Working for God and partnering with Him in building His kingdom is an incredible privilege. How gracious it is of God to let us take part in something eternal. A single wrong act in a believer’s life can undo a lifetime of positive efforts. People are often remembered more for their failures and falls than for the good they might have done.
Ending up in the scrap heap, where the proud are discarded, means being forgotten as a successful man. A person will be remembered more for what went wrong than for all his successful plans. One day, a young man stood before God, unable to hide his fear. The turning point in Isaiah’s life was “In the year King Uzziah died.”
While reading about the kings, I noticed that God used them when they were young, but as they grew older, they became self-confident, proud, and presumptuous. This makes me worry that I might lose all credibility as I grow older. That is where I am now, and I fear the deceptions my mind might fall into. It will only be by God’s grace that I finish my course with joy and keep my testimony intact. The fear of being lifted up in pride is a genuine concern for me. I know I have nothing to be proud of, but it’s in my nature, and I pray to God to keep me humble. I have this feeling in my stomach and legs that comes with fear and excitement when God works “marvelously.”