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I wanted to post something obscure like “Did you know Taylor Swift sat in the booth with Travis Kelce’s mom?”, but no one is interested in that sort of thing. Instead I thought I would post something that resonated a little more with the lane I’m running in.

In my daily reading of 2 Chronicles I’m looking into the last few kings but thought I would circle back up Uzziah, because he did so well yet failed at length. 

Uzziah was thrust into being king at age 16. He was obviously surrounded by very good people who guided he and the kingdom in the way he and it should go. It is believed Amaziah, his father was his co regent and guided him which could have certainly helped his success. This would be similar to the king Jigme Wangchuck sr. of Bhutan handing off the rule of Bhutan to his son in 2006 (Not that many note the affairs of the Bhutanese kingdom). 

At length, God credits Uzziah with remarkable achievements and there is no reason to believe Uzziah  was not the primary driver of God’s agenda for the kingdom as he reigned 52 years!

“And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah did. 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.” 2 Chronicles‬ ‭26‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ 

Good for Uzziah, good for Judah and Benjamin and good for God’s purposes for God’s kingdom. Until Uzziah allowed pride to overcome him and he felt entitled to act as priest and king and got out of his lane. He wanted to offer incense in the temple and the priests and the LORD forbad him from doing so. Because he would not relent and listen to the admonishment of the priest, God struck him with leprosy. 

“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. And Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him fourscore priests of the LORD, that were valiant men: 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. 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. 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. 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.” 2 Chronicles‬ ‭26‬:‭16‬-‭21‬

Lesson learned. Your race isn’t over until it’s over and pride will bring anyone and everyone down if we allow it. Peter knew this all too well and admonished the shepherds of the flock to stay industrious and humble as they look to heaven for their final reward. 

“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” 1 Peter‬ ‭5‬:‭6‬-‭8‬

Great lesson for me to reflect on as we wrap up the dispensation of grace. After Uzziah’s fall, the kingdom really took a nose dive and would not resemble it’s former magnificence until Hezekiah. The ten tribes to the North will go into dispersion and what God promised and planned would seem as though it might never come to pass. But we know, God is so much greater than failed kings, nations and men. 

What keeps us humble is knowing ministry is not a right but a sacred privilege. We are never truly qualified to lead, only Jesus, the perfect man is worthy to lead his flock, but he had saved us and put us in the ministry for such a time as this and in a wicked and messed up world we have the privilege to shine as lights in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, not because we deserve it or earned it but because God desires the name of his Son Jesus Christ be exalted. 

Christian’s must remember, kingdom work is not about us it is about Jesus. If we can kept that in the front of our minds and hold fast to the faithful word as we have been taught, our foot will not slip on the slippery slopes of pride as Uzziah and many great men before and after.

“Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:” 2 Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭10‬