“When he was strong his heart was lifted up, to his destruction.” 2 Chronicles 26:16 NKJV
King Uzziah did what was right in the sight of God, just as his father Amaziah. He sought God in the days of Zechariah, and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper.
“His fame spread as far as the entrance of Egypt, for he became exceedingly strong.” 2 Chronicles 26:8 NKJV
“But when he was strong his heart was lifted up, to his destruction, for he transgressed against the Lord his God by entering the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense.” 2 Chronicles 26:16 NKJV
Pride comes before a fall. When man becomes great in his own estimation, God will humble him.
King Uzziah presumed to take the role of priest in burning incense in the temple of the Lord. This was the prerogative of the priests alone.
For his rebellion against God, he was struck with leprosy on his forehead by God. God does not trifle with sin.
The priests saw the leprosy on his forehead and cast him out of the temple. He was unclean. He was cut off from the house of the Lord.
Pride will only lead to other sins. When we see the first fruits of pride in our thinking it will soon lead to sinful actions unless we turn away from such thoughts. We need to hew pride to pieces as Agag was hewed in pieces.
The leprosy of pride should not find root in the believer’s heart. If there is any boasting, let it be in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Our question should not be “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of God?”. It should be “who will serve the Lord with humility and exalt the name of the Lord?”
Proverbs 16:18-19