August 22, 2022 -- II Chronicles 26:16-19 -- Doing What is Right in the Eyes of the LORD

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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. 17 But Azariah the priest went in after him, with eighty priests of the Lord who were men of valor, 18 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.”
II Chronicles 26:16-19 ESV

King Uzziah had made a wonderful start as king. It was said of him that he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD” (verse 4). However, there was a caveat added to it—”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” (verse 5). Our reading today points out the folly of pride. Uzziah fell far from that place of humble grace and submitted service to the Living God. From this the Christian recognizes:

  1. How insidious sin is. A good start does not ensure a good ending. One must constantly stamp out sin in every form.

  2. How much mentors in the faith are required so that the heart does not grow proud. What a man of integrity that Zechariah must have been as he helped a willful king guard himself in the ways of the LORD.

  3. How gracious the LORD God is in giving such examples in Scripture so that the believer will examine his own heart and life, his words and actions and commit his way to the LORD while there is yet time.

  4. How much courage it takes as a Christian to stand against a brother intent on evil. Eighty priests were prepared to stand against the might of the king, and they are described as men of valor. To stand against pride is to take a stand against the forces of hell. It requires the might of God and a heart of courage.

God the LORD, worthy of all praise and our best service, send Your Spirit so that we will examine our hearts and root out any sin. The Scripture show how faithful You are in sending counselors and advisors to those who are humble enough to listen to them. Thank You for those whom You have placed in our lives who teach us the way of Jesus. Spirit of God, show us the things we need to confess Enable us to discern what is sinful and willful and is threatening to have us walk according to what is right in our own eyes, which is rebellion against You. Thank You, Triune God, Source of All Blessing, for the opportunities we have in turn to teach others of the goodness of God. Father in heaven, by the power of Your Spirit at work in us, may it be said of us; “he did what what right in the eyes of the LORD”. Father, Son and Holy Spirit, receive the honour and the glory, the praise and the blessing from every area of our life. Amen.

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