2 Crônicas 26

2 Crônicas 26

MacArthur - It was pride that led to Satan being expelled from heaven and Adam and Eve being banished from the garden of Eden. Pride moved Amaziah of Judah to challenge Jehoash, the king of Israel, to a battle in which Amaziah was defeated (2 Kings 14:8-14). Pride caused Uzziah to attempt to usurp the role of the priests by burning incense on the altar of incense in the temple (2 Chron. 26:16)—an act for which God struck him with leprosy (v. 19). Pride motivated Hezekiah to show envoys from Babylon all the treasures of his kingdom (2 Chron. 32:25-26; cf. v. 31; 2 Kings 20:12-13). The daughters of Zion (Isa. 3:16), Ephraim and Samaria (Isa. 9:9-10; 28:1, 3), Babylon (Isa. 13:19) and its king (Dan. 5:18-20), Moab (Isa. 16:6), Judah and Jerusalem (Jer. 13:9), the Philistines (Zech. 9:6), Assyria (Zech. 10:11), and false teachers (1 Tim. 6:3-4) are further examples of the pride that marks the fallen world (1 John 2:16). A Strong Finish God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. --James 4:6 Long-distance runners know the importance of a strong finish. They know that many races are won or lost in the final steps. Uzziah made a splendid start when he became king at age 16. Through his faithfulness to God, he restored his nation to honor and glory. Then he became proud and believed that the rules no longer applied to him. Uzziah entered the temple to burn incense--a privilege restricted to the priests. Even when confronted about his sin, he arrogantly refused to listen--until leprosy broke out on his forehead. God had gotten his attention. Uzziah stumbled before the finish line. He was disqualified. Instead of a record of great victories, he left his throne in disgrace. King Uzziah doesn't stand alone in history. Many men and women who once walked humbly with God become proud and walk away from Him. They persist in disobedience and refuse to hear the voice of God or the rebuke of friends. The way they finish spoils their race. (See The Tragic Tale of Charles Templeton) O Lord, it's true, I've wandered far From what I know is right; But now I want to come back home And please You day and night. --K. De Haan People who think they don't need God are in a no-win situation. Who Is Great? Not unto us, O Lord, . . . but to Your name give glory, because of Your mercy, because of Your truth. —Psalm 115:1 During World War II, Harry Truman became President of the United States when Franklin Delano Roosevelt died. Truman said he felt as if a great weight had been dropped on him, and he asked people to pray for him. It is said that his old colleague Sam Rayburn tried to help him be humble when he said, "They'll tell you what a great man you are, Harry, but you and I both know you ain't." In 2 Chronicles 26 we read about Uzziah, who was a remarkable king. He took office when he was 16 and ruled over the nation of Judah for 52 years (2Ch 26:1-3). He was God-fearing and led the nation into a long era of prosperity. His fame spread far and wide, but he apparently listened to people tell him how great he was. In his pride he assumed the role of the priest, a role God had clearly reserved for the descendants of Aaron. For this act of disobedience God afflicted him with leprosy (2Ch 26:19). There are no truly great men or women, only a great God Not I, but Christ, be honored, loved, exalted; Not I, but Christ, be seen, be known, be heard; Not I, but Christ, in every look and action; Not I, but Christ, in every thought and word. —Whiddington We think too much of ourselves when we think too little of God. 2 Chronicles 26:17 Then Azariah the priest entered after him and with him eighty priests of the LORD, valiant men. Azariah: 1Ch 6:10 valiant men: 1Ch 12:28 26:6 PRIESTS FOLLOW KING INTO HOLY PLACE Then Azariah the priest entered after him and with him eighty priests of the LORD, valiant (chayil) men (literally "sons of strength") - It is a bit ironic that the priests used valiant (chayil) men for Uzziah himself had valiant (chayil) warriors (gibbor) (2Ch 26:11). And it would take valiant priests to confront and rebuke the king who held the power of life and death in the land! Pride corrupted Azariah's thinking, deceiving him into thinking that since he had power and had experienced such success on all fronts, he himself was in a sense "above the law"! No one is "above the law," except the Law Giver, the Most High God! Bob Utley on valiant (chayil) men - They were willing to confront an arrogant king with unlimited power. They were to support Azariah the High Priest, protect the sacred precincts and try to keep Uzziah from sinning 2 Chronicles 26:18 They opposed Uzziah the king and said to him, “It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the LORD, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron who are consecrated to burn incense. Get out of the sanctuary, for you have been unfaithful and will have no honor from the LORD God.” opposed Uzziah the king: 2Ch 16:7-9 19:2 Jer 13:18 Mt 10:18,28 14:4 2Co 5:16 Ga 2:11 It is not for you: Nu 16:40,46-48 18:7 the priests: Ex 30:7,8 Heb 5:4 Get out: 1Co 5:5 will have no honor: 1Sa 2:30 Da 4:37 Joh 5:44 Jas 2:1 Related Passages: 2 Chronicles 16:7-10+ (COUNT THE COST OF OPPOSING A KING - HANANI OPPOSED KING ASA & ASA IMPRISONED HIM!) - At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him, “Because you have relied on the king of Aram and have not relied on the LORD your God, therefore the army of the king of Aram has escaped out of your hand. 8 Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubim an immense army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet because you relied on the LORD, He delivered them into your hand. 9 “For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His. You have acted foolishly in this. Indeed, from now on you will surely have wars.” 10 Then Asa was angry with the seer and put him in prison, for he was enraged at him for this. And Asa oppressed some of the people at the same time. Numbers 3:10+ “So you shall appoint Aaron and his sons that they may keep their priesthood, but the layman who comes near shall be put to death.” Numbers 16:39-40+ So Eleazar the priest took the bronze censers which the men who were burned had offered, and they hammered them out as a plating for the altar, 40 as a reminder to the sons of Israel that no layman who is not of the descendants of Aaron should come near to burn incense before the LORD; so that he will not become like Korah and his company–just as the LORD had spoken to him through Moses. (SEE significance of the rebellion of Korah) Altar of Incense HOLY PRIESTS INCENSED AT UZZIAH'S UNHOLY INCENSE They (the priests) opposed Uzziah the king and said to him, “It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the LORD, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron who are consecrated to burn incense. Get out (command to the king!) of the sanctuary - Uzziah must not have read or remembered Nu 3:10+ and Nu 16:40+ which restricted any lay person from burning incense before the LORD on penalty of death! Uzziah would get off with a relatively "light sentence!" For - Term of explanation. Explains the opposition of the priests and their command. You have been unfaithful (maal; LXX - aphistemi) - Unfaithful (maal) is translated in the LXX with aphistemi which means to depart, desert, fall or draw away, withdraw go away, which is what Uzziah did. Or better stated, this is what pride caused Uzziah to do! Watch out for pride as it will cause you to stumble! And will have no honor (kabod ; LXX - doxa) from the LORD God - This declaration by the priests was in effect a prophecy, one that would be fulfilled immediately! It was a sobering declaration that true honor comes only from God’s approval, not from position, power, or human applause. A person may wear a crown, hold an office, or command respect from men, yet still stand empty-handed before the LORD. Divine honor is granted only to those who walk in humble obedience to His revealed will. The word honor (kabod ; LXX - doxa) in Scripture often carries the idea of weight, glory, and recognition from God Himself. This is the tragic exchange seen in Uzziah’s life who sought honor for himself by grasping a role God had not given him, and in doing so he forfeited the very honor he desired. King Uzziah ended his life in dishonor! Like Saul before him (1Sa 15:22, 23+), he learned that presumption cancels praise and pride closes the door to God’s commendation. Jesus taught the same principle “How can you believe, when you receive glory (doxa) from one another and do not seek the glory (doxa) that is from the one and only God?” (Jn 5:44+) Honor from men is temporary; honor from God is eternal. When a heart refuses correction and clings to self-exaltation as Uzziah did, heaven withholds its applause. The "silence" of God’s approval is "louder" than any human ovation. Better to humble ourselves in repentance today than to forfeit God's honor and eternal reward by clinging to pride. 🙏 THOUGHT - When confronted, Uzziah should have acknowledged his sin, torn his clothes and cried out in repentance. The lesson is piercing that it is better to lose face before men than to lose honor before God. Paul reminds us how searching this reality is: "If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire." (1Co 3:15+) Therefore the believer’s aim must rise higher than human approval. "We also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad." (2Co 5:9-10+) And John warned "Watch (blepo present imperative see our need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey) yourselves, that you do not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward." (2Jn 1:8+) Better the pain of present humility than the loss of eternal reward. God measures honor not by applause on earth, but by faithfulness before His throne. Believer's Study Bible - The account of Uzziah's violation of and intrusion into the holy place demonstrates several important truths: (1) even rulers are subject to the laws of God; (2) those who violate God's laws suffer His judgment; (3) the strength and courage of Azariah and the priests in withstanding the king are exemplary for spiritual people in every age. Uzziah spent the remainder of his life with the loathsome disease of leprosy. Bob