My Thoughts on Uzziah's Reformation and Ruin

After the reign of Amaziah came Uzziah. So, we can see better times after the unfortunate bad ends to both good kings Joash and Amaziah. Joash was a king who never grew up mentally and spiritually. Amaziah did what was right but not with a devoted heart. Now, we have Uzziah who became the next king after the two short reigns. Joash died at 46 years old and Amaziah died at 54 years old. Now, Uzziah was 16 when he reigned and reigned for 52 years. He was only a teenager when he occupied the throne and died at 68 years old. What's interesting is that Uzziah is also called Azariah in 2nd Kings 14. In 2nd Chronicles 26 - he is called Uzziah. I think 2nd Chronicles personally used Uzziah over Azariah because there was a priest with the same name. What's interesting is that people in the Bible can also have more than one name - something you need to put into consideration when studying the Bible!

We can read the two common passages which say the following:

2nd Kings 14:3 

And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah had done.

2nd Chronicles 26:4-5 

4 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah did. 5 And 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 to prosper.

It was a time of prosperity for 52 years! Yes, Uzziah himself ushered in an age of reformation. Yet, in 2nd Chronicles 26, we also read the following sad encounter:

16 But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense. 17 And Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him fourscore priests of the LORD, that were valiant men: 18 And they withstood Uzziah the king, and said unto him, It appertaineth not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto the LORD, but to the priests the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated to burn incense: go out of the sanctuary; for thou hast trespassed; neither shall it be for thine honour from the LORD God. 19 Then Uzziah was wroth, and had a censer in his hand to burn incense: and while he was wroth with the priests, the leprosy even rose up in his forehead before the priests in the house of the LORD, from beside the incense altar. 20 And Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked upon him, and, behold, he was leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him out from thence; yea, himself hasted also to go out, because the LORD had smitten him. 21 And Uzziah the king was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a several house, being a leper; for he was cut off from the house of the LORD: and Jotham his son was over the king's house, judging the people of the land.

Many years of good success in the part of Uzziah was one thing. What was wrong was that Uzziah wasn't careful to guard his heart after many years of good success. He failed to see the lessons of his forefathers David and Solomon. David after several war victories failed to guard his heart against committing adultery with Bathsheba who was a much younger woman. Solomon failed to guard his heart and went astray with heathen princesses. Uzziah could've continued to acknowledge God's work. Instead, he got drunk in his successes thinking that he was authorized to burn incense.

Azariah the priest at that time feared God more than they feared the king. It's just like today that a pastor has the duty of civil disobedience if the government wants him to shut down his services for invalid reasons. While it was right to suspend church services during the COVID-19 pandemic - it would be wrong to ask them to stop ministering or operating as a church. Uzziah forgot Exodus 30 and Numbers 18 when it came to his violation. God clearly ordered that only the Levites or the descendants of Aaron were to burn incense unto God's altar. Clearly, Uzziah was trying to an office that wasn't assigned to him. Just think of it when a head of government tries to intervene with judicial work or any work that he or she isn't assigned to do. It feels like Uzziah was already in danger of becoming a dictator. So, what happens is that he gets struck with leprosy and Jotham was soon reigning as king while he was still alive. Uzziah could've had a good send-off if it wasn't for allowing arrogance to seep into his heart. 

This has me thinking that worldly success is good but only if it's done for God. I also find myself in the situation of Uzziah when I become too sensitive to friendly criticism. That's what led Uzziah to transgress by burning incense - something that was left for the priests to do. The one thing that always gets me into the most trouble is pride. True, pride isn't always the cause but if I get into trouble - was it because I did what was right or what was wrong? I can get into trouble for refusing to do wrong. Yet, I can also get into trouble for not doing right. I have to make sure that if I get into trouble - it's because I refuse to do what's wrong and not because I refuse to do what's right.