For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.
Scriptural study: 2 Chron 26:15b-21a
- The highly successful king lets success go to his head (vs.15-16).
- Pride goes before a fall. Prov 16:18. Deut 8:11-20 (please read Deut 8 if this is unfamiliar to you). The king becomes overconfident.
- His specific sin:
- He disobeyed the law of priesthood (he is not a priest, as a king of Judah).
- He arrogated to himself the priestly prerogative—thus his sin was arrogance.
- See the courage of Azariah (vs.17-18).
- His concern is for God’s honor—a strong contrast with Uzziah’s agenda.
- If the priests had deferred to Uzziah, giving in to fear, how could the people have been expected to challenge their leader--to hold him accountable to the Torah?
- Though totally outnumbered (80:1), the king will not listen. See Prov 26:16.
- His response is emotional (v.19). He is defensive. We could say he was "incensed." Yet his anger is misdirected anger.
- Leprosy breaks out on his forehead (where strict Jews actually tied small boxes containing scripture).
- This isn’t just a pimple… It’s leprosy!
- The priests hurriedly escort the king out of the Temple (v.20).
- Uzziah himself is eager to make his exit—but not so much because he is a humble man. Now the priests’ agenda and his own coincide—that’s all!
- Excluded from the Temple – not just from serving as a priest, which was never his right, but excluded from going up to the Temple, as any Jew was expected to do at least three times a year.
- His arrogant behavior affected him from that day till the day of his death!
CHALLENGE
- Obey what is written! You are not an exception. The Torah did not allow Uzziah to serve as a priest, to march into the inner Temple—and there are places we are not permitted to go, either.
- For leaders, especially: Accept input humbly, and seek feedback from those you know will speak candidly.
- Don’t assume, just because God seems to be smiling on you now (things are going well), that you no longer need to work diligently to be spiritual. The situation could change. Just as we must work out our salvation (Phil 2:12), so we must work to stay humble and open—teachable.
Further study: Old Testament Character Podcast 39, on Uzziah.