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Pride Before the Fall

Writer's picture: East Martin CRCEast Martin CRC

2 Chronicles 26:19-21

Verse 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.

 

    Yesterday we met King Uzziah.  He decided he was not needing the priests to serve God for him in the temple.  God had reasons for putting His priests in the position as spiritual leaders.  The king went from success to prideful fall but it wasn’t as quick as it takes place in this narrative.  None of us fall that quickly.  It is usually one step away at a time until we see we have actually moved further than we ever thought we could.

 

    Pride can keep us from seeing the truth about ourselves and bring us to react in a very negative way when confronted with our sin.  Thankfully not all of our sins bring such an immediate consequence as Uzziah’s did.  Notice how the priests were handling the rage their confrontation had brought on.  They didn’t run or soften their stand on the issue, they watched him rage on and on.  And then God shows where He stands on the issue as leprosy suddenly broke out on the king’s forehead.

 

    Leprosy made a person unclean according to the ceremonial laws of God as given to Moses.  Not only was the person to be kept away from other people but they were never allowed near the temple.  Imagine the urgency the priests felt as they saw it breaking out on his face.  They rush him out and due to his having it for the rest of his life, he is never allowed near the temple again.  His pride of wanting to do the incense himself caused him to be cursed for the rest of his life.  Even more than not being allowed to be in the temple, he could no longer go to the palace and had to live a life of isolation.

 

    Sin that is not repented of brings isolation in our life too, not necessarily from everyone else, although it can cause lasting rifts with friends, but most importantly it brings isolation from God.  Sin also interrupts worship.  Sin strains the relationship and it blocks clear communication.  And like the leprosy eating away at Uzziah’s flesh, sin eats away at our soul.  Sin is us putting ourselves first and worship is about putting God first, that is why sin and worship can’t coexist.

 

Making It Personal

    Have you ever been confronted about a sin in your life by someone?  How did you react?  Have you ever noticed how sin interferes with your worship of God?

 

Making It Personal Kids

    Why does sin make it hard to talk to God?  Why doesn’t God like sin?  If God doesn’t like sin, what should you think about it?

 

Closing Prayer

    Father, please forgive us for not hating our sin as much as You do.  Please convict us of our sins.  Thank You for not giving up on us.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

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510 118th Ave

Martin, MI 49070

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