Then all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in place of his father Amaziah. Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-two years. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father Amaziah had done. He sought God during the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God. As long as he sought the Lord, God gave him success. And his fame spread as far as the border of Egypt, because he had become very powerful. (2 Chronicles 26:1, 3a-5, 8, NIV 1984).
My Musings – Fame and power. Do you foresee problems on the horizon? “But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall.” (2 Chronicles 26:16, NIV 1984). A problem that has not gone out of style. For Uzziah, it caused him to extend himself from his kingly duties (tribe of Judah) to priestly duties (reserved for the tribe of Levi) of burning incense at the altar. So much for being “instructed him in the fear of God.” It didn’t stick.
When challenged by Azariah the rightly priest, Uzziah exhibit behavior that all too often accompanies fame, power and pride. He became angry at Azariah. “While he was raging at the priests in their presence before the incense altar in the Lord’s temple, leprosy broke out on his forehead. King Uzziah had leprosy until the day he died. He lived in a separate house—leprous and excluded from the temple of the Lord. Jotham his son had charge of the palace and governed the people of the land.” (2 Chronicles 26:19, 21, NIV 1984). So much for fame, power and pride. It didn’t last.
My Advice – “Jesus called [the disciples] together and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them [pride], and their high officials exercise authority [power] over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great [fame] among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'” (Matthew 20:25-28, NIV 1984). That’s what doing “right in the eyes of the Lord” is all about. Just make sure it sticks.
The Brew Is A Musing 