The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Kings — Section 260

HOMILIES BY V.ARIOUS AUTHORS. Vera, 1-7.-Prosperity and its dangers. The contrast between the opening and the close of Uzzia.h's reign-here so sharply set before us-has few parallels in history. There is, indeed, no lack of monarchs who have risen to proud positions of authority and power, and then suddenly have fallen ignominiously from their pinnacle of pride. Memory at once recalls such.names as Nebuchadnezzar, one day surveying with pride great Babylon that he had made, and the next dwelling among the beasts of the field, his body wet with the dew of hel\ven; or Napoleon, one day with all Europe at his feet, and but a few days after, like a caged lion, a. baffled, helpless prisoner on the lonely island of St. Helena.. But Uzziah's early career was different from that of most monarchs who have fallen. To a.11 appearance he promised well. He did right in the sight of the Lord. He did indeed continue that dangerous compromise of which A.maziah, his father, had been guilty, of permitting the high places to remain. But still he worshipped the true God. He sought God's help and guide.nee. He honoured God's prophet. Moreover, he used his power well, not as a. tyrant, but for the good of his people and for the prosperity and strengthening of the nation. And God prospered him in hie efforts, as he will prosper all those who seek his help and blessing (2 Chron. xxvi. 5-15). But in an ovil hour Uzziah (he is also called Azariah in this chapter) forgot that, though he was a. king, he owed allegiance to a greater King. His prosperity turned his head. He forgot how much he owed to God. 'rhere was a.n old command of God, given after the rebellion of Korah and his sons, that none but the sons of Aaron-the priestly family-were to offer incense before the Lord. The obvious lesson was that special fitness, special holiness, was required of those who would stand as representatives of the people before God. But Uzziah disregards both the letter and the spirit of the command. He-poor weak mortal I-dares to defy the living God, and enters into the sanctuary to burn incense. It is another case of compromise and its consequences. He had been so accustomed to the violation of God's command in the matter of the high ple.ces, that now he thinks very little of this flagrant act of high- handed defiance. '!'he priests remonstrated, but in vain. The proud king seizes the censer, and thrusts the priests aside with gestures of impatience and anger. Ilut stay 1 What means that growing whiteness in his forehead? Ah I the symptoms are too well known. The hand of God is upon him. He is a leper. The censer falls from his hand. He can resist no longer. The priests thrust him fol'th from the holy place, and beyond the very precincts of the temple. Henceforth he is a. king nnd yet an outcast, separated and 11ecluded from the haunts and enjoyments of men (see 2 Chron. xxvi. 16-21). I. PROSPERITY AND ITS UPWARD PATH. For e. long time the career of Uzziah was an upward path. His motto would seem to have been, as the motto of every young pel'son, of every one of us, ought to be, "Excelsior 1" 'l'here were three elements in his progress, three sources of his prosperity, three steps in his upward path. Along these three steps every one of us may fairly and with advantage follow Uzziah. 1. First of all, there was the fear of God. As a young man, uuquestionuLly he La,\ the fear of G()lf before his eyes. We read of him in 2 Chronicles that "he sought the Lord." 'Jbis implies that be honoured God's worship. He honoured God's house. He honoured God's Word, and sought guidl\nce from the Divine Law, And what was the U, lUNOS, ~ 306 THE SECOND BOOK OF THE KINGS. [CH. XV, 1--38,