Uzziah: from the Top Down
After the curtains closed on the reign of Solomon, they open again on an ambitious, greedy, rebellious son – Rehoboam.Because he refused to deal graciously with his people, the 10 northern tribes under Jeroboam formed a new nation. Israel was never again the same. The “Golden Age” of David and Solomon.
We come now to the 10th king in the line down from Rehoboam – his name, Uzziah (also known as Azariah, 2 Kings 14). He reigned 52 years (792-739 BC). Took the throne when a teenager. For many years, his reign was impressive. But, suddenly at the height of his career, things changes. The results were tragic, both nationally, personally. We want to briefly examine the seasons of his life and learn. The first years – fantastic success. The last years – failure. We want to see what made the difference.
2 Chronicles 26:1-5. Read v. 1. He enters history at age 16. He wins the vote, either by a fairly high majority or unanimous. The vote was to make him king instead of Amaziah.
Amaziah was his dad. He had been murdered by his own people. The Chronicler tells his life in a single sentence (2 Chronicles 25:2). “And he did right in the sight of the Lord, yet not with a whole heart.” Amaziah, the father, to use an English expression, was a fence rider. He could never decide whose side he was on. He was trying to please too many. So, his was a reign of compromise, and gets less than a good rating from God.
V. 3 tells his mother’s name (Jecoliah). Though no other mention is made of her, she is apparently a prominent lady in the capital city.
vv. 4-5, his character (read). He does what is right. If you don’t know the character of Amaziah, you will not realize that it’s only half-hearted goodness. He does the right things, but his motives are not always so pure. At the same time, he seems somewhat better than his dad. He seeks God. And this is more than just a one time thing. “As long as he sought…” the Bible says. And because of that he becomes a successful leader.
Let’s look at that success. It was a success that began early, lasted many years. Good years.
Read vv. 6-7. Some of the accomplishments: Decisive victory over Israel’s longtime enemy, Philistines. He breaks down the walls of such cities as Gath, Jabneh, and Ashdod. Then he infiltrates their territory, building his own cities. God is with him. He also fights off the Arabians from Gurbaal (don’t know where that is), and the Meunites. And so, away from home, he’s a hero with a conquering army.
He is also doing well at home. Read vv.9-10. He constructs towers to fortify Jerusalem against invasion. He also builds wilderness towers in conjunction with huge livestock operations.
He was a successful farmer. He was a man of many talents, and interests. Above all he was a military leader. He lived in a time when Israel’s defenses were precarious. There were always invaders. The nation needed a strong military leader. Uzziah was a man of honor.
Look at his operations. Read vv.11-13. Here is a fine-tuned, well-trained military machine. He has 2600 officers, and over 300,000 soldiers.
Read v. 14. His army had all the latest equipment. They were a prepared, up-to-date army.
Read 15a. He had “engines of war” catapults. This was the very latest in military machinery.
So, Uzziah was a national, conquering hero, famous at home and abroad. Look at v. 8. The Ammonites to the East recognize his power. The people as far south as Egypt did the same. His power base spreads substantially beyond his own borders. He could call on these other peoples in time of need. He is a tremendous leader of a world power.
Now, don’t forget the source of that power. The Bible does not let us forget. V5. “God made him prosper.” V. 7 “God helped him.”
The Ammonites looked only upon the surface, as did others and praised only Uzziah. Uzziah began to take it all in. He enjoyed the honors, the cheering shouts of thunderous applause as he rode back into the city. The more he listens to their shouts, the less he hears the voice of God.
Look at the second half of v. 15. Read. “His fame spread far and wide, for he was greatly helped until he became powerful.” Here we come to the turning point in his life. The success had been accelerating until then. He had come to be strong in his own eyes. When you are at the top, there is only one direction to go.
VV. 16-18. Tell of the definite change in Uzziah. He moves from a successful statesman, military leader, national hero to Uzziah the rebel.
Read 16a. “But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall.” Someone has said, “The first step away from God is taken in the heart.” Uzziah takes the step. Let’s follow where the steps lead.
Read 16b-18. Here he is crossing boundaries that no king had the prerogative to violate. He went to the temple to perform a service, which only a priest was allowed to do. He went to burn incense at the Altar of Incense. Azariah the priest and 80 others confront him. They tell him to get out. You see, with eyes focused primarily on himself, he’s arrogant. He can do what he wants to do! Even if the law of God had said, “No.” So, this inward pride has led to outward corruption.
Now read with me the final scene in the life of Uzziah. Vv. 19-23 (read). He has entered that part of the sanctuary that was forbidden to all but the priest. He has been confronted. He responds with intense anger. He is clearly out of line, but he refuses to admit it.
While the censer is still burning in his hand, leprosy suddenly appears across his forehead. God smites Uzziah with physical punishment. And until the die he dies, he carries that disease. He was once a giant of a man in the eyes of everyone about him. Now he becomes a shivering, obscure, forgotten leper, living alone. He had gone too far.
It is one of the tragic stories of the Bible. It is the very opposite of Abraham, who begins with failure and then moves on to successful obedience. Uzziah begins with success, and then moves to failure.
What can we learn? 1 Cor. 10:6 tells us that the Old Testament contains “warnings” for us.
What is the warning here? A couple of things. One warning deals with the way we deal with success. Some people think, “I would give anything to just have a success! Don’t worry, I can handle it!” Those can be famous last words. Here are my points to leave you with:
1. No genuine success is possible apart from the Lord.
There are things the world calls success. We see people around us with good businesses. They live in luxurious expensive houses. They are famous. But this may not be “genuine success.”
You see, genuine success involves the whole person. It may involve getting your ambition fulfilled. It may involve material wealth. Notice I said “may.” Genuine success involves the whole person. It means that whatever situation you are in, you find peace, joy and happiness. Paul defines it for us in Philippians 4:12, “In whatever state, I am content.” Most people in the world have not experienced that. Paul says that he did not do it alone.
2. There are few tests like the test that success brings.
Notice again the language. I did not say “genuine success.” The reason – it is very easy to think we got there all by ourselves. The husband gets to the top of his firm, working long hours. But he forgets his wife and lets her take the majority of the load of training the children. If you ever watch one of those beauty pageants, or the other award shows, notice whom they thank. It is the fans, parents, maybe they even say “God.” But inside are their thoughts, “I’m glad they finally realized who’s the best. All those hard times I went through. All the training. I finally did it!”
There is a cute story of a man who moved into an old farm (in Tennessee). It was run down, the weeds were a meter high all over the place. Within a year, he really fixed it up. The lawn looked like a golf course, beautiful rows in the garden. A friend stopped by and said, “You and the good Lord did wonders with this place.” His answer, “Thanks. You should have seen it when He had it by Himself!”
Pride is such a tricky thing. Once you know you are humble, you probably are not.
How are you handling praise, your achievements lately? Got any good kids? Whom do you thank? Are you managing to support your family reasonably well?
How are your friends handling their successes? We read all the time of these famous actors and actresses who achieve success too quickly. They are not mature enough to deal with it. Within a year or two, we find them sprawled out beside the bed, with an overdose of drugs. It happens in my country. It happens here too!
There are few tests like the one success brings. Remember Uzziah, once he rose to the top, he thought, “Well now, I can do what I want to do. I have the power and strength. After all, I always succeeded before.” Then, because of that pride and arrogance, God brought Uzziah down.
3. The Lord who blesses us is also able to bruise and break us.
Here’s the final note of warning. Do not go through life without thanking God. Thank Him for your achievements. We read in Hebrews 12:6 that the Lord “disciplines those whom He loves, and chastises every son he receives.”
Don’t forget Proverbs 16:18, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Now, I am not saying that everything bad that happens to us is God’s punishment. It is more complex than that. Satan is involved here too. Some bad things we cannot explain.
But it is dangerous to think that your achievements are just from you. It was the rich fool that Jesus talked about who said, “Look at my barns!” The Lord said, “Tonight your soul is required of you.”
Someone has said, “It’s a shame that when success turns a person’s head, it does not also wring his neck just a little.” Maybe God does.
The God of heaven is not out to get us. He is not some heavenly monster. He is our father. He did not hate Uzziah. He loved Uzziah, and hoped that the leprosy would bring him to his senses. In fact, in the New Testament, James say, “Rejoice when these trials come.” (1:2) Here’s your chance to become more spiritual, to increase your faith.
Uzziah was successful because God prospered him. Uzziah assumed it was his own achievement. This is why God smote Uzziah.
Where are you today in your own story? Whom are thanking for where you are now? God does not save us because we are righteous. He saves us because we place our trust in Jesus. Is that where your faith is? Let’s help each other to always keep it there. Let’s sing.