Amaziah & Uzziah

THEME: Pride leads to destruction:

LESSON: Whenever we puff ourselves up because of earthly accomplishments, a spiritual fall is sure to follow.

KEY VERSE: "And he [Amaziah] did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, but not with a perfect heart" (2 Chr. 25:2 - emphasis added).

VERSE TO REMEMBER: "Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord" (Prov. 15:5).

TRACK RECORD: Amaziah, who reigned 29 years, was a good administrator. He strengthened his military and led it to a rousing victory over renegade Edom. However, it was that very victory which led to his downfall. His confidence sky high from the win on the battlefield, Amaziah challenged the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Its king, Joash (not the same Joash as Judah's previous monarch) advised against it, but Amaziah would not be deterred. Because of the king's foolish actions, Judah suffered a humiliating defeat as King Joash broke down a large part of the wall of Jerusalem and took all the gold and silver out of the Temple. However, Amaziah's downfall came before the defeat. "Now it came to pass, after that Amaziah was come from the slaughter of Edomites, that he brought the gods of the children of Seir, and set them up to be his gods, and bowed down himself before them" (2 Chr. 25:14).

Amazingly, Uzziah followed in his father's footsteps. Like his father, Uzziah, who reigned for 52 long years, he was a great administrator and politician. He defeated the Philistines in battle and subjugated the Ammonites. He fortified Jerusalem as well as the desert areas. His army was well trained, and well armed. Above all, "his name spread far abroad" (2 Chr. 26:15). However, like his father, Uzziah turned prideful. "But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction" (2 Chr. 26:16). He took it upon himself to burn incense in the Temple, a duty reserved only for the priests. As a result, God struck the king with leprosy, and it stayed with him the rest of his life.

APPLICATION: As Christians, we must always watch ourselves during times of either earthly or spiritual accomplishments. The tendency is usually to build ourselves up in our own strength instead of remembering that without God we are nothing, and it is He who gives us our gifts and our strength.

SPIRITUAL EPITAPH: "And Uzziah the king was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a several [separate] house, being a leper; for he was cut off from the house of the Lord" (2 Chr. 26:21).