Pride and Destruction

Chronicles 26:16 (NET) - But once he became powerful, his pride destroyed him. He disobeyed the LORD his God. He entered the LORD’s temple to offer incense on the incense altar.

This verse about King Uzziah is extremely cautionary.

It tells us that he disobeyed the Lord.

It also reminds us that it was his pride that destroyed him.

Azariah and the eighty other priests confronted him.

The king was warned that it was not proper for him to offer incense.

This was the responsibility of the priests - the descendants of Aaron.

They were consecrated for this duty.

2 Chronicles 26:19 (NET) - Uzziah, who had an incense censer in his hand, became angry. While he was ranting and raving at the priests, a skin disease appeared on his forehead right there in front of the priests in the LORD’s temple near the incense altar.

God’s judgment was both swift and severe.

Scripture tells us that at this the priests rushed the king away.

It also tells us that King Uzziah was in a hurry to leave as well.

This king’s pride had far reaching consequences.

2 Chronicles 26:21 (NET) - King Uzziah suffered from a skin disease until the day he died. He lived in separate quarters, afflicted by a skin disease and banned from the LORD’s temple. His son Jotham was in charge of the palace and ruled over the people of the land.

The disease did not leave the king when he departed.

It stayed with him until the day he died.

It could be said that he lost everything.

He lost his palace.

He lost his kingdom.

He even lost the right to live among other people.

Perhaps it would be a good reminder to return to that cautionary verse once more.

2 Chronicles 26:16 (NET) - But once he became powerful, his pride destroyed him. He disobeyed the LORD his God. He entered the LORD’s temple to offer incense on the incense altar.

King Uzziah disobeyed the Lord.

But it was his pride that destroyed him.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, March 3, 2017.

I will be back here on Friday, March 10, 2017