"Uzziah"

Overview

When Strength Becomes a Snare: The Cautionary Story of Uzziah

Of the forty kings who reigned during Israel's divided monarchy, only eight—all from the southern kingdom of Judah—received the commendation that they "did right in the eyes of the Lord." King Uzziah, whose name fittingly means "the Lord is strong," was one of them. 2 Chronicles 26 records his remarkable accomplishments: he rebuilt the strategic seaport of Eloth, defeated the enemies of Judah so thoroughly that even the Ammonites paid him tribute, fortified Jerusalem with towers and ingenious war machines, dug cisterns, employed farmers and vinedressers, and equipped his entire army at his own expense. He sought God under the instruction of Zechariah, and God prospered him.

And then it all came apart. Uzziah entered the temple to burn incense on the altar—an act God had reserved exclusively for the priests descended from Aaron. When Azariah and eighty courageous priests confronted him, the king grew angry, and the Lord struck him with leprosy on his forehead. He lived in isolation until the day he died, cut off from the house of the Lord. The diagnosis Scripture gives is brief and devastating: "When he had become strong, he grew proud, to his destruction" 2 Chronicles 26:16. The very king whose name proclaimed God's strength forgot the One who had made him strong.

Martin Luther observed that pride is the cause of every sin and every ruin. Scripture bears this out from beginning to end. Adam and Eve grasped at deciding good and evil for themselves Genesis 2. The Pharisee in Luke 18 thanked God he was not like other men. In Hosea 13, Israel was satisfied, then proud, then forgot the Lord. Deuteronomy 8 warns that when houses, herds, and silver multiply, the heart is tempted to say, "My power and the might of my own hand have gotten me this wealth." Proverbs 16 plainly declares that pride goes before destruction. The pride Scripture condemns is not gladness over a loved one's accomplishment; it is confidence in self instead of God, self-absorption, exalting oneself, wanting one's own will instead of seeking God's.

The remedy is humility, and the perfect picture of it is Jesus Christ. Philippians 2 calls us to have the mind of Christ, who, though equal with God, emptied Himself, took the form of a servant, and humbled Himself to death on a cross. There Jesus bore every sin, including the root sin of pride, and the empty tomb declares the sacrifice accepted. Pride likes the mirror; humility likes the window. Pride looks inward and exalts self; humility looks outward and counts others more significant than oneself. Like Uzziah, we will keep encountering our own pride—and every time we do, we hear the gospel again: that sin has been paid for, and God Himself works in us through His Word to form the humility of Christ. The question worth carrying into the week is simple: who, today, will be the recipient of the humility God is producing in you?

Transcript

What you open your Bibles, please, with me, to the book of second chronicles in the Old Testament, 2s

second chronicles the 26th chapter for our study this morning. 9s

20 and 20. 17s

In the period of time, called the divided monarchy that we read about in Holy Scripture, that's 21s

after the time of King Solomon. 27s

There were 20 kings in the north and 20 kings in the south. 30s

Okay, here's a question for you this morning. 37s

How many of the kings in the north does the Bible say that God said of them, they did right 42s

in the eyes of the Lord? 51s

Do you know the answer? 55s

If not what would be your guess? 57s

20 kings of the north, how many does it say that God said of them recorded in Holy Scripture, 60s

they did right in the eyes of the Lord? 66s

The answer is zero. 72s

Zero. 76s

Okay, go now to the southern kingdom, down to the south. 79s

Here, the 20 kings associated with the south. 83s

How many of them do you think is recorded in Scripture? 89s

They did right in the eyes of the Lord. 92s

No, it's not 20 and it's not zero. 98s

At least they've got some. 101s

It's eight. 103s

Eight. 105s

It's really an amazing statistic, isn't it? 107s

When you think 40 kings in total and eight of them were given the designation by the 109s

Lord that they did right in the eyes of the Lord, only eight. 118s

And one of them, one of them was a king by the name of Uzaya, Uzaya. 125s

But here's the thing with Uzaya. 135s

Things fell apart. 138s

They fell apart. 142s

What is it that led to the things falling apart for King Uzaya? 144s

What was it? 152s

And let me ask this. 154s

Does what led to things falling apart to King Uzaya? 158s

Does that affect you? 163s

Also? 166s

King Uzaya's name meant the Lord is strong. 170s

What a wonderful name to have. 174s

And when you go to Second Chronicles, the 26 chapter. 176s

It gives a list of achievements for King Uzaya. 179s

For example, take a look at verse 2 of chapter 26. 183s

The Scripture says he rebuilt E-Loth and restored it to Judah after the King slept 188s

with his ancestors. 195s

In other words, after the King had died, E-Loth was a seaport town. 196s

It was very, very important. 204s

And that opened up trade with the East. 207s

So this was an international achievement here for King Uzaya. 210s

There are other international achievements by the King. 215s

He defeated many of the enemies of Judah jumped down into verse 8. 218s

The Scripture says, the Ammonites paid tribute to Uzaya and his fame spread even to the 227s

border of Egypt. 234s

For he became very strong. 236s

So you had international achievements and opening up of trade defeating of enemies 240s

with regard to Judah. 247s

There were also domestic achievements. 249s

He built towers that functioned as protection, as fortification. 252s

He had sisters built that held and retained the water. 257s

He employed farmers and vine dressers in the fertile ground. 262s

There were international achievements. 267s

There were domestic achievements. 269s

He strengthened the military. 271s

In ancient days, oftentimes a soldier would have to provide their own armament, not so 273s

with Uzaya. 281s

Look at verse 14 of chapter 26. 283s

Uzaya provided for all the army, the shields, spears, helmets, coats of mail, bows and 288s

stones for slinging. 297s

In Jerusalem he set up machines invented by skilled workers on the towers and the corners 299s

for shooting arrows and large stones. 306s

International achievements. 313s

Domestic achievements. 315s

Strengthening of the military. 319s

Look at verse 4. 322s

He did what was right in the sight of the Lord, just as his father, Amazaya had 324s

done. 330s

He set himself to seek God in the days of Zekaraya who instructed him in the fear 330s

of God. 337s

He is one of the eight out of the 40 that did right in the sight of the Lord. 339s

So, what happened to Uzaya? 351s

Let's jump over now to verse 16 about halfway through verse 16. 364s

The scripture reads, for he was false to the Lord, his God, and entered the temple of 370s

Lord to make offering on the altar of incense. 378s

This is speaking of Uzaya. 381s

But the priest, as Araya went in after him with 80 priests of the Lord who were men of 384s

valor, they withstood King Uzaya and said to him, it is not for you, Uzaya, to make offerings 391s

to the Lord. 399s

But for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who are consecrated to make offering. 400s

Go out of the sanctuary for you have done wrong and it will bring you no honor from the 405s

Lord God. 413s

What Uzaya was doing, going in to make offering. 417s

What he was doing was prohibited from God. 421s

Indeed, it was limited to the priests in the line of Aaron to do that. 425s

This was a serious offense. 431s

We see portions of scripture in which the Lord clearly says, who it is that is supposed 433s

to do this and yet the King goes in to do it. 439s

It goes on to say in verse 19, then Uzaya was angry. 445s

Now we had a sensor in his hand to make offering and when he became angry with the priests 450s

a lepros disease broke out on his forehead in the presence of the priests in the house 455s

of the Lord by the altar of incense. 461s

When the chief priest as Araya and all the priests looked at him, he was lepros in his forehead. 465s

They hurried him out and he self hurried to get out because the Lord had struck him. 472s

King Uzaya was lepros to the day of his death and being lepros lived in a separate house 479s

for he was excluded from the house of the Lord. 485s

His son, Jonathan, was in charge of the palace of the King governing the people of the 488s

land. 494s

Here is one that scripture says, he did right in the eyes of the Lord. 496s

It lists his achievements domestic and internationally. 501s

But then it includes this story of when he did what God specifically had forbidden 507s

him to do and they tried to stop him. 515s

As Araya and Ate priests telling him, don't do this, don't do this. 522s

What had happened? 533s

What was the cause of this? 536s

The beginning part of verse 16 puts it so very succinctly. 540s

But when he had become strong, he grew proud to his destruction. 547s

When he had become strong, he grew proud. 556s

It's interesting, isn't it? 564s

That the very one whose name means the Lord is strong. 566s

Had forgotten the one who had made him strong. 571s

Martin Luther said, that pride is the cause of every sin and ruin. 578s

It's that source, it's behind our sin. 593s

It causes ruin. 598s

Pride. 603s

Think about Luther's statement with me for a moment would you. 606s

That the cause of sin and the cause of ruin is pride. 611s

Ponder with me and go back to the garden of Eden. 617s

Their Genesis 2nd chapter says, and the Lord God commanded the man, you may freely eat 619s

of every tree of the garden, but if the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat. 626s

For in the day that you eat of it, you shall die. 633s

God was drawing the distinction between the created and himself the creator. 637s

God said, every tree is fine to eat. 642s

Except one, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 645s

God says, the day you eat of it, the day you determine for yourself that which is right 648s

and wrong, that's the death penalty for you. 653s

That's what brought death into creation. 657s

God says, any tree except that one. 662s

But Adam and Eve think they know better than God. 665s

Pride. 672s

Or what about the Pharisee in Luke 18th chapter? 674s

The Scripture says this, he, Jesus, also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves 681s

that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt. 689s

Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 695s

The Pharisee standing by himself was praying thus, God, I thank you, 700s

that I'm not like other people. 705s

Thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 708s

I fast twice a week, I give a tenth of all my income. 712s

That's a prayer that says, God, you owe me. 721s

That's a belief in himself that because of what he had done, God owed him. 727s

That's pride. 736s

I think of who? 742s

Zaya. 743s

In the 13th chapter, it has recorded the assessment of why Israel had fallen away. 744s

God is speaking. 751s

It was I who fed you in the wilderness in the land of drought. 753s

When I fed them, they were satisfied, they were satisfied, and their heart was proud. 759s

Therefore, they forgot me. 766s

Here God had sustained the people, and at their proud heart, they forget the one who is the source of the blessing. 771s

That's pride. 779s

Deuteronomy, the eighth chapter, the instructions are given. 781s

When you have eaten your fill and have built fine houses and live in them, 787s

and when your herds and flocks have multiplied, and your silver and gold is multiplied, 793s

and all that you have is multiplied, then do not exalt yourself, 799s

forgetting the Lord your God, do not say to yourself, 807s

my power and the might of my own hand have got me this wealth. 813s

But remember the Lord your God for it is He who gives you power to get wealth. 819s

That sense of when the good times come, and when the blessings just seem to be rolling, 827s

don't forget the origin of the blessing. 835s

Don't be proud. 841s

Don't be filled with pride. 843s

Proverbs tells us, in chapter 16, pride goes before destruction, 846s

and a hotly spirit before a fall. 851s

Mark the seventh chapter. 856s

Jesus said, it is from within, from the human heart that evil intentions come. 858s

Fornication, theft, murder, adultery, 866s

averace, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, 870s

falling. 880s

Back in our text, in verse 16. 882s

But when He had become strong, He grew proud to His destruction. 886s

What happened to King Israel? 905s

What happened to this one that God had said, 909s

He just rightened my eyes, 912s

what happened to this one, who was one of the eight out of the 40? 916s

What happened? 922s

Pride. 925s

Pride. 927s

And it led to His destruction. 929s

When we talk about pride, 937s

we're not talking about pride in the sense where you turn to someone and you say, 941s

I am so proud of you. 947s

I'm so proud of you. 950s

No, that's not the type of pride that is condemned in Holy Scripture. 953s

Now, the type of pride, the type of being proud that is condemned in Holy Scripture. 960s

That type of proud is confidence in the self instead of confidence in God. 969s

It is self absorption. 980s

The pride that is condemned is living for yourself. 984s

Where you see the world as simply revolving around you and everyone existing simply to serve you 991s

and to make life go better for you. 998s

It is thinking of yourself higher than you ought to think. 1001s

Remember, Scripture says, think of yourself with sober judgment. 1006s

Think of yourself higher than you ought to think. 1010s

Pride is doing just that. 1014s

Thinking of yourself higher than you ought to think. 1016s

It is plopping yourself on the pedestal, 1021s

plopping yourself on the pedestal, 1026s

exalting of yourself. 1029s

It is wanting your will instead of seeking God's will. 1032s

But when he had become strong, he grew proud to his destruction. 1039s

The source of all sin, the source of ruin, 1054s

is pride. 1063s

Yuzaya was affected by pride. 1069s

All of us are affected by pride, 1077s

because all of us are sinners. 1083s

I think of Philippians, the second chapter. 1095s

The apostle Paul writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit writes this, 1101s

verse 5, 1105s

Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus. 1108s

Who though he was in the form of God did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, 1114s

but empty himself. 1123s

Taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness, 1125s

and being found in human form, he humbled himself, 1132s

and became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 1137s

The second member of the Trinity, God in the flesh, 1146s

he humbled himself. 1153s

Just before, verse 5, let's know what it says in verse 3. 1158s

It says, do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, 1164s

but in humility, regard others as better than yourselves. 1168s

Then it goes on to say, in verse 4, let each of you look not to your own interests, 1176s

but to the interests of others. 1182s

What is the opposite of pride? 1187s

The opposite of pride is humility. 1191s

And notice how humility is defined, 1196s

regarding others as better than yourself. 1199s

Don't look to your own interests, but to the interest of others. 1202s

Have the same mind that it was in you that is in Christ Jesus, 1206s

the very one who is the most perfect example of humility, 1210s

humbling himself and going to the cross. 1216s

Simply put pride focuses on the self. 1222s

Humility focuses on the other. 1230s

I like how one author puts it. 1236s

Pride likes the mirror. 1241s

Humility likes the window. 1247s

Pride likes the mirror. 1253s

Humility likes the window. 1255s

The Lord Jesus Christ, the very one who humbled himself, 1262s

came to the cross. 1269s

And on the cross, the Lord Jesus Christ bore all of our sin, 1273s

including the source of our sin, 1280s

the source of ruin, pride. 1283s

That reconciliation was affected between humankind and God 1290s

through the shed, blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, 1296s

the sacrifice accepted because the tomb is empty. 1298s

The Lord Jesus Christ winning forgiveness for us, 1303s

so that God turns to us and says, 1308s

I forgive you. 1314s

The lesson about pride is a lesson that we keep on learning, 1322s

all the time, isn't it? 1331s

We keep coming face to face with examples of our own pride. 1335s

We keep learning that lesson over and over and over again. 1343s

And every time we keep learning the lesson about pride. 1352s

Every time we keep hearing ourselves talking in a prideful way, 1358s

we are acting in a prideful way every time what we hear from God is. 1362s

Jesus bore that sin on the cross. 1373s

The second member of the Trinity, God in the flesh, 1378s

God Almighty, God declares to us, 1382s

forgiven. 1388s

That sin has been paid for. 1389s

King Isaiah, one of the eight, 1398s

pride, eight him up, 1406s

eight him up. 1410s

God empowers to a different way. 1414s

The way of humility, 1419s

born of his action and his grace. 1421s

God work through his word, 1426s

transforming us to be more and more like the most perfect example 1429s

of humility Jesus Christ. 1433s

So let me ask you this this morning. 1438s

Who is it today? 1443s

Who is it today that will be the recipient of the God born, 1445s

produced and maintained humility in you? 1455s

Who will be the recipient today of humility? 1464s