Pride Before a Fall

TODAY’S SPECIAL:2 Chronicles 26:16-22

TO CHEW ON: "But after Uzziah became powerful his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the Lord his God and entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense." 2 Chronicles 26:16

Back in Judah, years had gone by since King Joash’s reign had ended. Now sixteen-year-old Uzziah, Joash’s grandson, was king. Like his grandfather Joash, Uzziah was trained by a priest. Just like Joash he started out well. He strengthened the army, defeated his Philistine enemies, built cities, and gave lots of people good jobs on his farms and in his fields. Soon he was famous in the nations all around. Best of all, during this whole time he was careful to do what pleased God.

That is, until one day when his success went to his head. That day he decided there was nothing he couldn’t do. So he went into the temple, lit the incense in the portable burner called a censer, and was about to make a sacrifice on the altar when Azariah and a crowd of priests stopped him.

“What are you doing?” Azariah asked. “This isn’t right. Only priests are allowed to go into the temple and make sacrifices. You’re showing disrespect to God. Leave!”

Azariah’s words made Uzziah furious. He shouted and raged at the priests. But even as he was yelling his curses and insults, they drew back in horror. For there was leprosy on his forehead.

“There’s leprosy on you!” Azariah said.

"Punishment in the Temple" © 1992 by Darlene Slavujac

Then Uzziah quieted and quickly left the temple. As a leper, he was contagious and unclean. He had to live alone from then on.

Uzziah started out so well. He was very successful. But his success made him proud. Pride led him to think he could do whatever he liked. Finally it brought him to a bad end.

Have you started well? Ask God to alert you to pride, or selfishness, or greed, or the desire to be popular, or any other thing that would keep you from finishing well.

PRAYER: Dear God, please help me to live well from beginning to end. Amen.

MORE: Finish Well

Think about the people in your life, or people you have read about.

- Name someone who started well but finished poorly: ____________

- Name someone who started well and finished well: _____________

- What would you say it means to finish well? _______________

You Might Also Like:

Come!

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Revelation 22:12-21 TO CHEW ON: "The Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!' And let him who hears say, 'Come!' Whoever is thirsty, let him...

The End of the Story

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Revelation 20:7-15 TO CHEW ON: "And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the...

And More and More and More...

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Revelation 6: 9-17 TO CHEW ON: "For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?" Revelation 6: 17 Have you ever ...

Consequences

TODAY'S SPECIAL: Read: Genesis 2:15-17 TO CHEW ON: “...but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it ...

Hiding

TODAY'S SPECIAL: Read: Genesis 3: 1-9 TO CHEW ON: "Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the co...

Enter Sin

TODAY'S SPECIAL: Read: Genesis 3:8-15 TO CHEW ON: "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers;he will crush...

Choices

TODAY'S SPECIAL: Read: Genesis 4: 1-12 Detail from "Cain and Abel Offering Their Sacrifices" by Gustave Doré TO CHEW ON: "Then the Lord said to Cain, ...

Can't Wait

TODAY'S SPECIAL: Read: Genesis 16:1-9 Abram looking at the stars - Artist unknown TO CHEW ON: “'Your slave is in your hands,' Abram said. 'Do with her...

God as Judge

TODAY'S SPECIAL: Read: Genesis 19:12-29 TO CHEW ON: "The two men said to Lot, 'Do you have anyone else here...? Get them out of here, because we are g...

Tricked!

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Genesis 29:15-28 Jacob falls in love with - Artist unknown TO CHEW ON: "When morning came, there was Leah! So Jacob said to Laban, 'W...

A Change of Heart

TODAY’S SPECIAL: 2 Chronicles 12:1-14 TO CHEW ON: "Because Rehoboam humbled himself, the Lord’s anger turned from him and he was not totally destroyed...

A Letter and a Prayer

TODAY’S SPECIAL: 2 Chronicles 32:6-15 & 20,21 TO CHEW ON: “'Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyr...

A Parade of Palms and Praise

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Matthew 21:1-11 TO CHEW ON: "A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread ...

A Deathbed Prayer

TODAY’S SPECIAL: 2 Kings 20:1-11 TO CHEW ON: “'Go back and tell Hezekiah, the leader of my people, 'This is what the Lord, the God of your father Davi...

A Plan of His Own

TODAY’S SPECIAL: 1 Kings 12:25-33 TO CHEW ON: "The king made two golden calves. He said to the people, 'It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. ...

A Special People

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Obadiah 1-10 TO CHEW ON: "Because of the violence against your brother Jacob, you will be covered with shame; you will be destroyed f...

Accurate Predictions

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Joel 2:28-32 TO CHEW ON: "And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men...

Town of Birth: Bethlehem

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Micah 5:1-5 TO CHEW ON: "But you, Bethlehem, Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me on...