II Chronicles Chapter 26
Please read: II Chronicles 26 –
A new king was crowned before the previous one had died. The people crowned Amaziah’s son Uzziah at age 16 to take over the throne. Amaziah had become a man that the people could no longer tolerate, and they sought to kill him. In the previous chapter we read that Amaziah tried to escape to another town, but he was found and they assassinated him. We have seen a pattern in the reign of the kings of the southern kingdom. For the first few years of their reign, they walked in the ways that God wanted but when God blessed them and they became successful, pride overruled and led to their downfall.
This is exactly the same pattern we see with King Uzziah. In fact, the Bible clearly declares this truth about Uzziah. “But when he was strong, he grew proud, to his destruction. For he was unfaithful to the LORD his God and entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense.” These kings were supposed to be the best of the best. They were supposed to be the leaders that the people looked up to. And while we read of the consequences for their individual sins, I think we need to learn something about our God. God knew from the moment Uzziah sat on the throne the very first time that pride would be his downfall, as with other kings. Yet God in His great love blessed Uzziah and the people during the beginning years of his reign because he sought to do what was right in the eyes of God.
Let's Reflect
1. According to verse 4, what was the name of the priest who taught the young King Uzziah the fear of the LORD?
2. After reading verses 6-15 what would you say led King Uzziah to being full of pride?
3. This king was very innovative. What things did he create to make the kingdom of Judah even stronger? Take particular note of verse 15.
4. What does verse 8 say about the strength of Uzziah’s kingdom?
5. Who was it that helped King Uzziah and Judah to become the strong kingdom that it was? See verse 7.
6. What word describes the relationship Uzziah had with God when he was at the peak of his kingship? See verse 16.
7. God had ordained that kings should not be priests. The only man who would be both priest and king is Jesus. But it was Uzziah’s pride that led him into the temple thinking he could do as he pleased. There were priests who followed him into the temple and tried to stop him. What was King Uzziah’s reaction to their interference?
8. At that moment King Uzziah suffered with the consequence of his sin. He was stricken with a disease that led to his death. What disease did God strike him with?
Uzziah had reigned for 52 years in Judah and many of those years were glorious, but in one moment of pride he brought shame and reproach upon himself. Let the events of these kings cause us to examine our own lives and to renew our minds in the scriptures and prayer so that we can finish our days walking with the LORD, bringing glory to His name rather than leaving this world in shame.
