Today’s Devotion
Topic: The Pride And The Fall
(Self Assessment)
Background: It has often been said that pride goes before a fall. However, it seems people will never hear that. We are achieving higher heights everyday and getting tempted to be “puffed up” by the second. More often than not, many of us yield to pride in a way that suggests we probably didn’t know it will lead us to a fall or that, although we know, we couldn’t believe that would happen to us.
Well, today’s Bible study seeks to discuss the topic using king Uzziah as a case study. Please gather the family around and let’s study the Word of God.
Text: 2 Chronicles 26: 3- 10, 15b- 21
3 Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-two years. His mother’s name was Jekoliah; she was from Jerusalem. 4 He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father Amaziah had done.
5 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. 6 He went to war against the Philistines and broke down the walls of Gath, Jabneh and Ashdod. He then rebuilt towns near Ashdod and elsewhere among the Philistines.
7 God helped him against the Philistines and against the Arabs who lived in Gur Baal and against the Meunites. 8 The Ammonites brought tribute to Uzziah, and his fame spread as far as the border of Egypt, because he had become very powerful.
9 Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate, at the Valley Gate and at the angle of the wall, and he fortified them. 10 He also built towers in the wilderness and dug many cisterns, because he had much livestock in the foothills and in the plain. He had people working his fields and vineyards in the hills and in the fertile lands, for he loved the soil.
15b His fame spread far and wide, for he was greatly helped until He became powerful. 16 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.
17 Azariah the priest with eighty other courageous priests of the Lord followed him in. 18 They confronted King Uzziah and said, “It is not right for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord. That is for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who have been consecrated to burn incense. Leave the sanctuary, for you have been unfaithful; and you will not be honoured by the Lord God.”
19 Uzziah, who had a censer in his hand ready to burn incense, became angry. 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. 21 King Uzziah had leprosy until the day he died. He lived in a separate house—leprous, and banned from the temple of the Lord. Jotham his son had charge of the palace and governed the people of the land. Amen
Questions
- What is pride, and what is a “fall?”
- What do you think were some of the reasons why Uzziah became so successful? (Read verses 3-5)
- Uzziah achieved many great things in the history of Judah. What intervention did God employ to ensure this great success for the king who honoured Him? (Read verse 15b).
- What became Uzziah’s attitude and relationship with God after He had become powerful? (Read verse 16).
- What became the end of Israel’s once famous and powerful king called Uzziah?
- What have you learnt from today’s discussion?
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