A 17th-century poet had this to say about good and bad kings: “Good kings are mourned for after life; but ill, and such as govern only by their will, and not their reason—unlamented fall; no good man’s tears shed at their funeral.”
This was certainly the case with King Amaziah (see the Oct. 3 “You and God” about him by clicking here). Ninth king of Judah following King Solomon’s death, after which the kingdom was divided, Amaziah began his 29-year reign successfully and with great hope. But before he died, his own subjects conspired to kill him, and when he had died his burial was without mourning. He started out good, but the last chapter of his life was the story of a king gone bad. Pride was his demise. Yet God, in His gracious accounting of the “big picture,” summarized Amaziah’s life, reign, and death in a single sentence: “And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, but not with a perfect heart.” (II Kings 25:2)
After Amaziah’s death, his 16-year-old son, Uzziah, was made king. He remained on the throne for 52 years in Jerusalem. Like his father Amaziah, it was said of Uzziah, “And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord.” (II Chr. 26:4) A closer look though at the whole of Uzziah’s life—and death—reveals that, like his father, his life ended in tragedy because of his pride. He died a leper’s death, isolated in his own palace.
Two coronated kings, with bright prospects and promising futures. Father and son, with subjects to do their bidding, with the prestige and the power of royalty. Both starting out with successes and victories. But both coming to the end of their lives with ignoble conclusions and, no doubt, with haunting regrets for wasted opportunities and wanton stewardships.
Believers in this church age are said to be “kings and priests.” We shall reign with the King of kings. (Rev. 5:10) It behooves us to learn well the life-lessons of these Old Testament kings, incorporating into our lives the good features of their ways and avoiding the pitfalls that caused them to bite the dust in death.
Look with me, then, at Uzziah’s walk with God and at his walk without God:
- Uzziah’s Walk with God
He began his reign by doing right. He was just 16 years of age, but with good and faithful counsellors, he made good decisions: “And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions; and as long as he sought the Lord, the Lord made him to prosper.” He heeded the words of his ancestor, King Solomon, who had exhorted his son: “Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.” (Provs. 4:10)
He sought the Word of God. Zechariah, the priest, understood God and was able to discern visions that God had given him. Visions were how God, in days before the Word of God was in written form, communicated to prophets and priests. (Hebs. 1:1,2) As Zechariah shared what God had communicated to him, Uzziah charted his course accordingly, and God was pleased with him and caused him to prosper.
Uzziah sought the Word of God, and he sought the will of God. He built a strong empire, with hosts of soldiers that were well armed. He erected towers in Jerusalem, and his fame spread abroad, “for he strengthened himself exceedingly.” (II Chr. 26:8) His success is summarized in II Chr. 26:15: “And his name spread far abroad; for he was marvelously helped, til he was strong.” Again, what his ancestor forefather Solomon posited proved true: “Righteousness exalteth a nation.” (Provs. 14:34)
- Uzziah’s Walk Apart from God
When he was strong, God’s Word sadly says, “His heart was lifted up to his destruction.” (II Chr. 26:16) Again, Solomon had warned: “A man’s pride shall bring him low.” (Provs. 29:23) And “when pride cometh, then cometh shame.” (Provs. 11:2)
Uzziah’s fall came through pride, when he presumed that as king he could go into the temple and offer to the Lord incense. His sin of presumption was met with rebuke from priest Azariah, backed up by fourscore priests. (II Chr. 26:17,18) Uzziah was angered (“wroth”) by their rebuke, but when the king began to put forth his hand to offer incense to God, he was smitten with leprosy on the spot, “even up in his forehead.”
The priests, led by Azariah, thrust him out of the temple, and Uzziah lived in a separate house until he died. He was buried in a cemetery for kings; his son, Jotham, who had been acting king until Uzziah died, reigned in his stead. For the record, Jotham was also said to be a “good king,” reigning 16 years. (II Chr. 27:2)
Uzziah—much like the first king of the nation, Saul—presumed to take upon himself the assignment of offering what priests alone were commissioned to offer: burnt offerings, in Saul’s case, and incense in Uzziah’s. Saul lost his kingdom for his disobedience. And Uzziah, for all practical purposes, lost his.
The story of this king who started his reign with such promise—but ended it so sadly, due to sin—offers a life-lesson that we as “kings and priests” must heed: Sin comes with a hefty price tag.
“Wherefore let him that thinketh that he standeth take heed lest he fall.” (I Cor. 10:12)
YOU and GOD 