Lessons on Uzziah (4)—Going Out of Our Place - All The LORD is near Daily Devotionals for 2026

Azariah the priest with eighty priests of the Lord withstood King Uzziah and said to him, "It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord you have done wrong" Then Uzziah was angry 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.
2 Chronicles 26:17-19

Lessons on Uzziah (4)—Going Out of Our Place
It is very interesting and surprising to read that Uzziah "did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that his father Amaziah had done" (2 Chr. 26:4). Amaziah did something very evil, and very stupid, when he turned away from the Lord to serve idols. Yet, aside from this monumental blunder, we are told that he did what was right. And so it is for Uzziah, who is compared to his father. He did what was right, but he also made an unprecedented faux pas. Both resisted when they were rebuked, and both were then put aside.

Uzziah had a high opinion of himself to continue in such a path after being rebuked by 81 priests. When he got angry, God struck him to show His displeasure and the gravity of his action. Only One was to be both King and Priest, and it is the Son of God, Jesus Christ.

By the saving grace of God through Jesus Christ, we have been made kings and priests to God. But while it is a great source of joy and thanksgiving, we must remember the questions Paul asked the Corinthians: "What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?" (1 Cor. 4:7). Am I openly or secretly priding myself on what I have, or on what I did, or do? It has been freely and graciously given from God! And when we lose sight of that, this leads to pride, and "pride goes before destruction" (Prov. 16:18). Uzziah became great in his own eyes, and this led him to behave contrarily to the position he had to keep.

As we begin this day, let us take time to acknowledge in thanksgiving before God all the good things He gives us and gives us to do for Him. It will keep us humble, obedient, and also joyful before Him, and it will help us keep our rightful place before God.

Alexandre Leclerc