GOD RESISTS THE PROUD
Saturday 10th September 2016
2 Chronicles 26 (NKJV)
Now all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king instead of his father Amaziah.
2 He built Elath and restored it to Judah, after the king rested with his fathers.
3 Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jecholiah of Jerusalem.
4 And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father Amaziah had done.
5 He sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God; and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper.
6 Now he went out and made war against the Philistines, and broke down the wall of Gath, the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod; and he built cities around Ashdod and among the Philistines.
7 God helped him against the Philistines, against the Arabians who lived in Gur Baal, and against the Meunites.
8 Also the Ammonites brought tribute to Uzziah. His fame spread as far as the entrance of Egypt, for he became exceedingly strong.
9 And Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate, at the Valley Gate, and at the corner buttress of the wall; then he fortified them.
10 Also he built towers in the desert. He dug many wells, for he had much livestock, both in the lowlands and in the plains; he also had farmers and vinedressers in the mountains and in Carmel, for he loved the soil. …
When a liar continues in his lies, he will suffer the consequences both here and later. The same thing applies to everyone who fails to accept and apply God’s remedy for sin in their lives. James tells us that God resists the proud (James 4: 6a). This is because pride amounts to robbing God of His glory and appropriating it to oneself. Herod tried it in Acts 12:20-23 and God instantly caused worms to eat him up.
When Uzziah was humble and sought God, he prospered, but after God established him, he became proud. V. 16 said his heart was lifted up and he arrogantly usurped the function of priests and entered the temple of God to burn incense. God immediately struck him with leprosy, because as Isaiah 42:8 rightly says, God will not share His glory with any man, and will not give His praises to the graven images.
We must be careful not treat the Priests and servants of God with disdain, or use our political, financial, legal, academic, medical or any other power or influence or intimidate God’s servants. If King Uzziah had become remorseful and repented when the priests of God confronted him, maybe God would have forgiven him; but his pride led him to become furious against God’s servant, and so leprosy consumed him. This must be a warning to repent when we sin, instead of rationalizing or justifying ourselves. If we repent, God will be gracious and forgive us (1 John 1: 8-9; 2: 1-2).
Prayer: Heavenly Father, please fill me with a humble, broken and contrite heart, and renew a steadfast spirit within me (Psalm 51: 10).