In 2 Chronicles 26, we step into the life and reign of Uzziah, a king of Judah who began his rule when he was only sixteen years old. His reign lasted fifty-two years, a long and eventful chapter in the story of God’s people. What we find in Uzziah’s story is a powerful reminder of how much blessing can come when we seek the Lord, but also how fragile that blessing becomes when pride creeps in and draws us away from God’s ways.
Uzziah’s early years as king were marked by a strong desire to do what was right in the eyes of the Lord. He followed the example of his father Amaziah, but what made the difference for Uzziah was that he earnestly sought God during the time of the prophet Zechariah. This prophet instructed him in the fear of the Lord, and as long as Uzziah sought God, he prospered. There’s something profoundly hopeful in that. It’s a pattern we’ve seen many times: when we seek God sincerely, not just with routine, but with an open heart, we find ourselves standing on solid ground.
Under Uzziah’s leadership, Judah became stronger and more secure. God gave him success in battle, and he defeated the Philistines, breaking down their cities and asserting his strength against long-time enemies. He also fought against the Arabians and the Meunim. These victories weren’t just about expanding borders—they brought peace and stability to the people. Even other nations began to respect Judah again, recognizing that something powerful was happening under Uzziah’s reign. The fame of Uzziah spread as far as Egypt, because God had helped him greatly.
But Uzziah wasn’t only focused on war. He invested in building and protection. He fortified Jerusalem with towers at key points in the city walls and equipped them with weapons. He also built up towns in the wilderness and dug many wells, which would have been essential for agriculture and survival. The chapter tells us he loved farming, and he had workers tending fields, vineyards, and livestock across the land. It paints a picture of a king who didn’t just want military strength—he cared about the daily life of his people and worked to ensure they had the resources they needed to thrive.
Beyond that, Uzziah had an army that was organized and ready for defense. He took care to equip them well, providing shields, spears, helmets, and more. He even oversaw the development of devices—ingenious inventions for use on the towers to shoot arrows and stones. The kingdom under Uzziah was one of innovation and security. He was respected, feared, and admired. His fame and power continued to grow, and everything seemed to be going well because God was with him.
But then the story shifts. Just a few lines change the entire tone of the chapter. It says, “when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction.” That line strikes a chord. It’s not when he was weak or struggling that things fell apart. It was when he had become strong and successful. That’s when pride slipped in. Uzziah entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar—something only the priests, the sons of Aaron, were permitted to do. This wasn’t a small mistake or a matter of ignorance. It was a direct act of disobedience, a moment where Uzziah’s pride made him believe he was above the boundaries God had set.
Azariah the priest and eighty other courageous priests followed him in and confronted him. They stood against their own king, not out of disrespect, but because they feared the Lord more. They warned Uzziah to stop and reminded him that this was not his role. But Uzziah, instead of humbling himself, became angry. In that moment of pride and defiance, leprosy broke out on his forehead right there in the temple. God made it clear that Uzziah had crossed a line.
When the priests saw what had happened, they rushed him out, and he himself was eager to leave—he knew he had been struck by the hand of God. From that day forward, Uzziah lived in isolation, a leper until the day of his death. He was no longer able to go into the house of the Lord. His son Jotham took over the governance of the palace and judged the people of the land. Though Uzziah lived out his remaining years, his rule as king was effectively over. When he died, he was buried near the royal tombs but not with the kings, because of his disease.
2 Chronicles 26 leaves us with a story of contrast. We see what happens when someone seeks God sincerely, and how much blessing can follow. But we also see the quiet danger of pride—the way it can rise up in success and lead us to forget our place before God. Uzziah was gifted, capable, and strong, but when he lost sight of the boundaries God had established, everything changed.
It’s a personal reminder for us too. We might find ourselves in seasons of strength, where we feel confident and secure. And those are not bad things. But they must be rooted in humility. Uzziah’s story calls us to keep seeking God no matter how successful we become, to remember that our strength comes from Him and not from ourselves. As Proverbs 16:18 reminds us, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” And James 4:6 says, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Uzziah had many good years, but one proud act undone them all. Let us hold tightly to the kind of heart that remembers we are always in need of God, especially when things are going well.