The Pilgrim Path---Second Chronicles 26: 1—5

“And all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, made him king instead of his father Amaziah. He built Eloth and restored it to Judah, after the king slept with his fathers. Uzziah was sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jecoliah of Jerusalem. And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah had done. He set himself to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God, and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him prosper.”

PRIDE: Man’s Undoing

“The Ammonites paid tribute to Uzziah, and his fame spread even to the border of Egypt, for he became very strong.” II Chronicles 26: 8

“In Jerusalem, he made machines, invented by skillful men, to be on the towers and the corners, to shoot arrows and great stones. And his fame spread far, for he was marvelously helped, till he was strong.” II Chronicles 26: 15

“But when he was strong, he grew proud, to his destruction. For he was unfaithful to the LORD his God and entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense.” II Chronicles 26: 16

“But Azariah the priest went in after him, with 80 priests of the LORD who were men of valor, and they withstood King Uzziah 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. Go out of the sanctuary, for you have done wrong, and it will bring you no honor from the LORD God.’ Then Uzziah was angry. Now he had a censer in is hand to burn incense, and when he became angry with the priests, leprosy broke out on his forehead in the presence of the priests in the house of the LORD, by the altar of incense. And Azariah the chief priest and all the priests looked at him, and behold, he was leprous in his forehead! And they rushed him out quickly, and he himself hurried to go out, because the LORD had struck him. And King Uzziah was a leper to the day of his death, and being a leper lived in a separate house, for he was excluded from the hose of the LORD. And Jotham his son was over the king’s household, governing the people of the land.” II Chronicles 26: 17—21

1. S. LEWIS on “humility”…

“Do not imagine that if you meet a really humble man he will be what most people call ‘humble’ nowadays: he will not be a sort of greasy, smarmy person, who is always telling you that, of course, he is a nobody. Probably all you will think about him is that he seemed a cheerful chap who took a real interest in what “you” said to him. If you do dislike him it will be because you feel a little envious of anyone who seems to enjoy life so easily. He will not be thinking about humility: he will not be thinking about himself at all.” Mere Christianity, BK III

“If anyone would like to acquire humility, I can, I think, tell him the first step. The first step is to realize that one is proud. And a biggish step, too. At least, nothing whatever can be done before it. If you think you are not conceited, it means you are very conceited indeed.” Mere Christianity, BK III

“May God’s grace give you the necessary humility. Try not to think---much less, speak---of “their” sins. One’s own are a much more profitable theme! And if on consideration, one can find no faults on one’s side, then cry for mercy: for this “must” be a most dangerous delusion.” Letters to an American Lady, January 1961

From D. L. Moody: “You can always tell when a man is a great way from God---he is always talking about himself, and about how good he is.”

From Martin Luther: “The great men and the doctors understand not the word of God, but it is revealed to the humble and to children.”

From John Duncan: “A very usual way for God to bring down the lofty, whether in church or state, is to allow them to dig a pit, and then to fall therein.”

From Charles Haddon Spurgeon: “That demon of pride was born with us, it will not die one hour before us.”

From John Owen: “The person who understands the evil in his own heart is the only person who is useful, fruitful, and solid in his beliefs and obedience. Others only delude themselves and thus upset families, churches, and other relationships. In their self-pride and judgment of others, they show great inconsistency.”

“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” Psalm 51: 17

Let not conscience make you linger,

Nor of fitness fondly dream;

All the fitness He requireth

Is to feel your need of Him;

This He gives you, this He gives you;

‘Tis the Spirit’s glimmering beam.

Joseph Hart (1712—1768)

Grace and Peace in Jesus Christ Our Risen LORD, Pastor Jason