Why Good Kings Fall

In this study today I want to remember the words of the Lord Jesus in Revelation 1:6; “…and has made us kings and priest unto God, and His Father…”  Only those who are in Christ Jesus have been made kings and priests through the cross of Jesus – His death, burial, and resurrection.

Sixteen years old was Uzziah when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name also was Jecoliah of Jerusalem. And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah did. And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper. vv. 3-5
And he made in Jerusalem engines, invented by cunning men, to be on the towers and upon the bulwarks, to shoot arrows and great stones withal. And his name spread far abroad; for he was marvellously helped, till he was strong.  But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense.
2 Chronicles 26:3-5, 15-16

Why do good kings fall? That is a question that is answered in looking at the lives of the good kings of Judah (There were no good kings in the northern kingdom of Israel), all the kings of Judah did evil in the eyes of the LORD.

We look at King Uzziah today. He “did that which was right in the sight of the LORD.” Verse five says, “…As long as he sought the LORD, God made him prosper.” In verses fifteen and sixteen we read, “…He was marvelously helped, till he was strong. But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction…”

We can look at this one king, and begin to see how we should live, as the kings and priests of the Lord Jesus. We also see how we should not live. In the first place we need to be continually seeking the LORD, to know Him better, to love Him more, and to be a better servants to God, and our neighbor.

In the second place we need to always remember that when God has prospered us, where that prosperity comes from. God prosper us.  Let us always thank Him for His blessings. When we are truly thankful to Him, then we will less likely to fall. Uzziah became full of arrogance and pride. He took on himself an act of service that he was fit for, and he ended up with the curse of leprosy on his body until the day of his death.

As a Christian, a follower of Jesus Christ, I must guard my heart and mind through the reading and study of the word of God with the guidance of the Spirit of God to do so. I must also remember that I am still subject to the Lord, and I answer to Him for any sin in my life. I am not beyond His judgment, or consequences of my sin in this life. That is why I am thankful that we are told, “If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

Do you know God? Do you know His Son Jesus Christ? If you do not, you need to know that you are a sinner. You have sinned against God your Creator, and that He sent His Son Jesus to die for you and me while we were yet sinners. He became sin for us, and gives us His righteousness when we come to Him. Jesus Christ died on a cross for us, He was buried, and He arose and came out of that grave alive forever more.

You can trust Him. Call on the name that is above every name – that name is Jesus. He will hear you and will deliver you from your sin.

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