“…he was marvelously helped, till he was strong.” II Chron. 26:15
At sixteen he was crowned king, and he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD. He set himself to seek God and was instructed him in the fear of the LORD. As long as he sought the LORD, God made him prosper. He conquered his enemies, took their land, and made them pay tribute. He built towers and fortified them. With an army of 307,500 well-equipped mighty men, his fame spread far and wide. “He was marvelously helped… until he was strong.” (II Chron. 26:1-15)
When he was lifted up, he became proud and unfaithful to the LORD. He exalted himself to enter the temple to burn incense, a role strictly relegated to the sons of Aaron. Eighty-one priests rushed in to stop him, but the King was incensed at their rebuke and with censor in hand, prepared to defy them. Immediately, the LORD struck him with leprosy, and he was a leper until the day he died. (II Chron. 26:16-21)
What brought down this godly king? The snare of the enemy – pride. God made him strong, but in that strength, he became self-sufficient and proud. He saw himself as above the Law and above correction. Haughty eyes and a proud heart are sin (Prov. 21:4) Those with arrogant hearts are an abomination to the Lord; they will not go unpunished. (Prov. 16:5) God is able to humble those who walk in pride.” (Dan. 4:37) You may be sure that when pride comes, then comes disgrace. (Prog. 29:23)
Moses’ sister rose up and exalted herself against Moses, and God struck her with leprosy. Dathan and Korah exalted themselves against Moses, and God opened the earth and swallowed them. Solomon humbly sought the LORD at the beginning of his reign but when he became strong, he forsook the LORD, intermarrying with women from other nations and leading the nation into idolatry. God tore the kingdom from him. The wisest man who ever lived died a disillusioned man who only saw vanity in life. King Nebuchadnezzar’s heart was lifted up and his spirit hardened by pride. He was brought down from his throne, and his glory was taken from him. (Dan. 5:20) The LORD tears down the house of the proud (Prov. 15:25).
The LORD regards the lowly, but the haughty He knows from afar. (Ps. 138:6) Haughty eyes are an abomination to Him (Prov. 6:16-17). He opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). He says, “This is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at My word” (Isa. 66:2) He requires us to walk humbly (Micah 6:8). Jesus was lowly in heart (Matt. 11:29). He didn’t count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking the form of a servant, and God highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name. (Phil. 2:6-9)
The call to believers is to humble ourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt us (James 4:10). Humility comes before honor (Prov. 18:12, but let’s be ever mindful to guard our hearts from pride when that honor comes. When we think we’re standing firm, let’s take heed lest we fall (I Cor. 10:12). Pride caused Satan’s fall from heaven, Adam and Eve’s fall from grace, and every fall since then. Let’s not be next.
“Father, thank You for giving us testimonies in Your Word to warn us so that we are not unaware of Satan’s schemes. Search our hearts and root out any pride in us. Where have we put ourselves above Your Word? Where are we doing life without You Where are we rising up against those You’ve placed in authority over us? Where are we refusing to receive correction? Lead us not into temptation, LORD, but deliver us from evil. Keep us mindful of our continuous dependence on You as You make us strong. May all that we do bring honor to You.”
~Lisa Moore