26:1-5 Son of Amaziah and Jecholiah, Uzziah, was placed as king at the age of sixteen. Uzziah remained king of Judah for fifty-two years in Jerusalem and generally, he was a good king. For most of his life, he had a consistent relationship on God; in almost all of his actions he utilized and valued God's law and counsel. Uzziah and Judah prospered because of their relationship with God; our faith is our source of provision and as long as we adhere to it, it nourishes.
26:6-8 Uzziah was made able by God to diminish Judah's enemies. As long as we join the spiritual army against evil, God ensures that we have the victory in war and battle. Judah was surrounded by corruption; they and we have been appointed by God as fellow-workers. It is our blessed opportunity on earth to extinguish elements of evil: injustice, corruption, hatred, greed.
Our battle is not against a person or entity so much as it is against "principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." The advice from Ephesians 6:12, is for us to build our character and lifestyle against what evil stands for and manifests in what should be a holy earth.
26:9-10 Whenever Judah was faithful to God, not only was their offense strong, but so was their ability to defend themselves and fortify their kingdom. Our God is so generous and comprehensive with His love, He wisely builds His faithful child to be strong. God rescues us whenever we need Him to, but He also builds us up as fortified mountains: solid; strong; brave; wise.
26:11-15 Uzziah built an advanced military. God ensures that His children are prepared and equipped with the abilities and tools they will require for their specific part in this battle. In the Old Testament, we frequently read about military strength. In our generation especially, our battles often look differently and take place on smaller scales. For example, sometimes teachers are fighting a battle for a classroom of children to have a voice and strength in the world. Sometimes a person fights for animal rights in their community. There are so many ways in which we participate with God in winning this war against injustice.
26:16 However, during our participation in the overall battle, we have a journey of our own. Through our faith and God-given purpose we also must do construction on ourselves. We must observe and correct our own behavior according to God's instruction and sometimes discipline. Uzziah's faith was strong and therefore he grow powerful; but the power seemed to have drained Uzziah's faith. The power seems to drain from Uzziah's faith in God... and fill up in his own head.
We are beloved children of God... and we are also servants, just as God and Jesus are to us, Matthew 20:28. We are valued and supported servants, treated as kings. But we are not kings. Uzziah was king in title but his position was a position of servitude of the community. He lost that notion and began to claim more power than he was entitled to.
God is quick to shut down arrogance because it quickly erodes character. A haughty attitude does not listen and therefore does not learn. Arrogance obscures reality and often turns a person harsh and cruel. Selfishness eats compassion and without compassion, a person has lost their humanity. Without our humanity, we are empty shells... often destructive shells.
26:17-18 A man of God tried to realign Uzziah with humility but the king obstinately refused his counsel.
26:19-20 In fact, Uzziah was furious. He had become so arrogant that nobody was safe to even disagree with him. God tried to discipline Uzziah, it was an attempt to restore him: leprosy broke out on Uzziah's face. In the Old Testament, God's discipline often took a literal form. In our generation, God's instruction is often more subtle and figurative.
26:21-22 Unfortunately, Uzziah who had once had a strong and healthy relationship with God, never restored it. His arrogance isolated him and removed him from the prominence his faith had build for him. It is so dangerous to mute the instruction and counsel of God, so unwise to sever our tie to Him. God is our provider, sustain-er, defender, counselor, leader, friend, King and Father. We are the children of a mighty fortress, live humbly enough to thrive inside its walls.
