Pride Comes Before the Fall

It is a parable we say quite often, and not without backing. Over and over we see it happening in our lives – someone experiences something great, glorifies himself for it, then is soon after found eating their share of humble pie.

I have been reading through the book of 2 Chronicles for my personal studies lately, and noticed something absolutely fascinating about what happened to at least two kings of Judah. The first that caught my attention was Uzziah in 2 Chronicles 26. This young man was brought into power at just the age of 16! Amazing to think that when we are just getting excited about getting our driver’s licenses, this man is inheriting the throne over Judah! He also held this power for one of the longer periods for the kings – 52 years. Then comes the description of him in verses 4 and 5. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. Notice particularly what verse 5 says:

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.

First, he had a good teacher. Zechariah the prophet had a proper focus on God and was able to convey that to Uzziah. It seems Zechariah was wise enough to point out to this young king that the king’s prosperity was dependant on on his seeking the Lord.

Uzziah seemed to listen, for even again in verse 8 he is noted as growing very strong, in verse 10 he is described as being very wealthy, and his army was continually growing and becoming more and more fortified. Then comes a bad omen in verse 15;

And his fame spread far, for he was marvelously helped, till he was strong.

Something is wrong. The focus is off. Rather than focus on the strength of his God, the camera is zeroed in on Uzziah. Verse 16 then describes his downfall;

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.

Pride got in the way. He thought he could do anything, even to the point of disregarding the prescriptions in the Law for how sacrifices were to be offered and by whom they were given.

I have to wonder what happened. He did what was right in God’s eyes, until his own pride got the best of him. How can we avoid that? Too often we become proud in our accomplishments, wanting to focus on the many things that we have done. It seems to me Uzziah like other kings did not do something that Scripture repeatedly encourages us to do: remember. In our Bible studies and in our preaching, we want to find the next greatest thing, we want to make new discoveries, plumbing the depths of Scripture. But in doing this we too easily forget the fundamentals. We forget.

So even in this Christmas season, maybe it is important that we take time to remember. Remember the message of the Gospel. Remember the baby born in Bethlehem, that he was born to die. Remember, as Paul states, who we once were and still are.

Remember.

Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called "the uncircumcision" by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands-- remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. (Eph. 2:11-13)