WEBVTT 00:00:00.800 --> 00:00:06.400 Good morning, church. Good to see you all this morning. As Tyler mentioned, there is an overflow 00:00:06.400 --> 00:00:07.020 ! 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:54.219 By blessing our kids in the children's ministry wing. Well, with that being said, would you turn with me to the book of 2 Chronicles, chapter 26? That's page 351 in the Pew Bible. We're going to continue our series in 2 Chronicles today. We're looking at these ancient stories that even when they were written, they were ancient stories meant to direct God's people for a new day. 00:00:54.219 --> 00:01:14.099 Okay. Page 351, 2 Chronicles, chapter 26. And our passage this morning is about a problem that most theologians and spiritual writers in Christian history have identified as the main problem in the human condition. 00:01:14.099 --> 00:01:36.959 This is the one seed from which all of the weeds and thorns of our human moral condition grow. This is the source of all our other problems. But the problem with this particular problem is that it's very easy to see in others, but it's very hard to see in yourself. 00:01:36.959 --> 00:01:50.659 You know, like when there's birthday cake in the office break room, it's easy to see when your co-worker has some leftover icing on their cheek, you know, because they're like always a mess, right? Just like their work, total mess. 00:01:51.579 --> 00:02:02.959 But it's not so easy to see the icing on your own face, because you know, you couldn't resist having a piece either, and you're often a mess, just like me. 00:02:02.959 --> 00:02:16.180 So what is this root problem, this fountainhead of our broken moral condition? What's this stain that's so easy to spot in others, but we can't seem to recognize it in ourselves? 00:02:18.699 --> 00:02:29.419 Well, the problem that 2 Chronicles 26 confronts us with is our pride. Pride is the theme of our passage today. 00:02:29.419 --> 00:02:41.859 And this chapter is going to show us first how it grows, and then second we'll see where it leads, and then third we'll consider what to do about it. 00:02:42.379 --> 00:02:47.779 So that's our outline, how pride grows, where pride leads, and then what to do about it. 00:02:48.539 --> 00:02:54.839 So let's dive into our passage looking at verses 1 through 16, and we'll consider how it grows. 00:02:55.219 --> 00:02:57.319 But as we turn to God's Word, let's pray together. 00:02:57.319 --> 00:03:02.680 Father, we thank You for Your Word that addresses so often the problems we don't even know we have, 00:03:03.219 --> 00:03:06.319 and the questions so often we need to be asking what aren't. 00:03:07.039 --> 00:03:12.319 So we ask for Your help and for Your Spirit to work as we come to Your Word this morning, 00:03:13.019 --> 00:03:20.819 to lead us deeper into Your rivers of grace, deeper into communion with our Lord Jesus Christ, 00:03:21.759 --> 00:03:23.359 our only hope in life and death. 00:03:23.759 --> 00:03:25.240 In His mighty name we pray, amen. 00:03:25.240 --> 00:03:29.620 All right, 2 Corinthians 26, verses 1 through 16. 00:03:30.140 --> 00:03:37.379 All the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was 16 years old, and made him king instead of his father Amaziah. 00:03:38.240 --> 00:03:42.320 He built Eloth and restored it to Judah after the king slept with his fathers. 00:03:43.379 --> 00:03:47.480 Uzziah was 16 years old when he began to reign, and he reigned 52 years in Jerusalem. 00:03:48.100 --> 00:03:50.300 His mother's name was Jekeliah of Jerusalem. 00:03:50.300 --> 00:03:55.120 And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that his father Amaziah had done. 00:03:55.760 --> 00:04:00.719 He set himself to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God. 00:04:01.240 --> 00:04:04.740 And as long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper. 00:04:05.520 --> 00:04:10.160 He went out and made war against the Philistines, and broke through the wall of Gath, and the wall of Jabnah, 00:04:10.220 --> 00:04:14.520 and the wall of Ashdod, and he built cities in the territory of Ashdod, and elsewhere among the Philistines. 00:04:14.520 --> 00:04:20.379 God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians, who lived in Gerbal, and against the Mayanites. 00:04:20.980 --> 00:04:28.460 The Ammonites paid tribute to Uzziah, and his fame spread even to the border of Egypt, for he became very strong. 00:04:29.780 --> 00:04:36.780 Moreover, Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the corner gate, and at the valley gate, and at the angle, and fortified them. 00:04:36.779 --> 00:04:45.159 And he built towers in the wilderness, and cut out many cisterns, for he had large herds, both in the Shephelah and in the plain. 00:04:45.439 --> 00:04:51.199 And he had farmers and vine dressers in the hills, and in the fertile lands, for he loved the soil. 00:04:52.619 --> 00:05:01.799 Moreover, Uzziah had an army of soldiers fit for war in divisions according to the numbers in the muster made by Jael the secretary, 00:05:01.799 --> 00:05:06.479 and Messiah the officer, under the direction of Hananiah, one of the king's commanders. 00:05:06.779 --> 00:05:13.319 The whole number of the heads of fathers' houses of mighty men of valor was 2,600. 00:05:13.959 --> 00:05:23.099 Under their command was an army of 307,500, who could make war with mighty power to help the king against the enemy. 00:05:23.719 --> 00:05:30.219 And Uzziah prepared for all the army shields, spears, helmets, coats of mail, bows, and stones for slinging. 00:05:30.220 --> 00:05:38.300 In Jerusalem, he made machines invented by skillful men to be on the towers and the corners to shoot arrows and great stones. 00:05:39.200 --> 00:05:46.280 And his fame spread far, for he was marvelously helped till he was strong. 00:05:47.360 --> 00:05:54.100 But when he was strong, he grew proud to his own destruction. 00:05:54.100 --> 00:05:56.480 Let's stop there. 00:05:58.960 --> 00:06:00.980 So 2 Chronicles chapter 26. 00:06:01.340 --> 00:06:08.020 It's all about a man named Uzziah, who at the age of 16 is put on the throne of the southern kingdom of Judah. 00:06:08.520 --> 00:06:13.260 His father, Amaziah, was taken captive in war and was put in prison in Samaria. 00:06:13.259 --> 00:06:21.439 So the people take Uzziah and they make him basically a co-regent to rule in his father's absence while his father is a prisoner of war far away. 00:06:22.219 --> 00:06:24.139 And what happens to this teenage king? 00:06:24.519 --> 00:06:30.779 Well, according to the first half of chapter 26, his reign is incredibly successful. 00:06:32.259 --> 00:06:33.519 Look again at verse 5. 00:06:33.519 --> 00:06:50.240 And then in verses 6 through 15, the chronicler shows us just how prosperous Uzziah's reign becomes. 00:06:50.899 --> 00:06:54.399 In verses 6 through 8, we're told that he has great military success, 00:06:54.959 --> 00:07:00.839 subduing the Philistines to the west and the Arabians and Mayanites to the south and the Ammonites to the east. 00:07:00.839 --> 00:07:04.319 But it's not just his foreign policy that succeeds. 00:07:04.839 --> 00:07:07.060 His domestic work is also a great success. 00:07:07.560 --> 00:07:10.779 In verse 9, he revitalizes the urban center of Jerusalem. 00:07:11.259 --> 00:07:14.819 And in verse 10, he makes important advances in agriculture as well. 00:07:16.039 --> 00:07:20.339 Lastly, in verses 11 through 15, we see how powerful he becomes. 00:07:21.139 --> 00:07:27.599 His standing army is massive, fully outfitted, and equipped with cutting-edge technology. 00:07:27.600 --> 00:07:34.460 And because of all this, the word begins to spread about Uzziah. 00:07:35.060 --> 00:07:37.420 He's not just making local headlines anymore. 00:07:38.120 --> 00:07:44.220 The New York Times, the Washington Post, the London Times are starting to put him on the front page. 00:07:45.260 --> 00:07:49.340 His fame spreads beyond the walls of Jerusalem and the fields of the Shephelah, 00:07:49.460 --> 00:07:51.439 beyond even the Philistines and the Ammonites. 00:07:51.500 --> 00:07:52.879 Yes, all the way to Egypt. 00:07:52.879 --> 00:07:58.519 Even the great empires of the day, the Egyptians, the Assyrians, 00:07:59.180 --> 00:08:01.240 they're turning their heads and noticing. 00:08:02.360 --> 00:08:05.980 They know the name Uzziah. 00:08:08.060 --> 00:08:17.300 In other words, what we see here is that Uzziah gets what so many of us today are hoping for, 00:08:18.159 --> 00:08:20.459 utter success. 00:08:20.459 --> 00:08:26.339 He's powerful, he's wealthy, and he's famous. 00:08:27.539 --> 00:08:33.860 His own people love him, and his neighbors far and near have to respect him. 00:08:35.379 --> 00:08:39.500 In fact, Uzziah is perhaps the most successful king since King Solomon. 00:08:40.159 --> 00:08:45.759 That's what verse 2 is alluding to when it mentions that Uzziah built Eloth and restored it to Judah. 00:08:45.759 --> 00:08:49.860 You see, Eloth was a port city far to the south on the Red Sea. 00:08:50.659 --> 00:08:54.159 It was a great shipping center that connected Judah to the trade routes of the ancient world, 00:08:54.220 --> 00:08:55.220 especially the east. 00:08:55.659 --> 00:08:58.960 And not since Solomon, the great King Solomon, 00:08:59.519 --> 00:09:03.100 had the kingdom of Israel or Judah controlled that strategic city, 00:09:03.259 --> 00:09:05.639 but Uzziah did it. 00:09:05.639 --> 00:09:19.659 Uzziah began to forget that his success, his prosperity, 00:09:19.659 --> 00:09:39.939 wasn't ultimately because of his wisdom or his strength or his hard work. 00:09:39.940 --> 00:09:44.240 Verse 5 clearly says it was God who made him prosper. 00:09:45.320 --> 00:09:50.480 Verse 15 says his fame spread far because he was marvelously helped. 00:09:50.560 --> 00:09:52.620 In other words, God was helping Uzziah. 00:09:53.060 --> 00:09:54.540 God was causing him to prosper. 00:09:55.320 --> 00:09:59.020 But as Uzziah grew strong, he forgets that it was all due to God's help. 00:10:00.180 --> 00:10:01.440 And so he grew proud. 00:10:01.440 --> 00:10:07.980 Friends, this is often how pride grows in us. 00:10:09.720 --> 00:10:13.320 Rarely is it in times of adversity or trial. 00:10:14.200 --> 00:10:16.920 In those times when things are hard, when life is challenging, 00:10:17.120 --> 00:10:19.300 when fears and anxieties hit us on every side, 00:10:19.540 --> 00:10:22.000 those are usually the times when we're calling out for help, right? 00:10:23.880 --> 00:10:29.240 No, it's most often not times of adversity that bring about the greatest spiritual danger. 00:10:29.240 --> 00:10:34.940 But it's times of prosperity, when things are going well, 00:10:35.740 --> 00:10:39.759 when our work, when our relationships, when our finances, 00:10:40.240 --> 00:10:42.879 when our reputation, when they all seem to be going great. 00:10:44.620 --> 00:10:46.539 That's when pride begins to grow. 00:10:48.720 --> 00:10:53.279 Because we look at all we have and we start to think, 00:10:54.519 --> 00:10:57.480 surely this is because of what I have done. 00:10:59.240 --> 00:11:03.919 Uzziah began to believe his own press. 00:11:05.279 --> 00:11:06.120 And so do we. 00:11:09.659 --> 00:11:15.320 I wonder, are you in a successful season right now? 00:11:15.980 --> 00:11:17.980 A time of prosperity, a time of strength. 00:11:18.740 --> 00:11:23.279 Keep in mind, you don't need to be fabulously crazy, wealthy, or healthy 00:11:23.279 --> 00:11:24.500 to be in a season like that. 00:11:24.500 --> 00:11:27.519 You don't need to, like, rent the entire city of Venice for your wedding 00:11:27.519 --> 00:11:29.620 in order to be in danger of this, right? 00:11:31.159 --> 00:11:33.000 Maybe you're just in a good season. 00:11:33.600 --> 00:11:36.460 Work and family, friends and finances, they're all just going well. 00:11:36.759 --> 00:11:37.620 Things are strong. 00:11:40.080 --> 00:11:41.120 Is that you today? 00:11:43.759 --> 00:11:44.700 Then be careful. 00:11:44.700 --> 00:11:51.920 Be careful that your eyes don't start to look at these good gifts you've received 00:11:51.920 --> 00:11:56.560 and your heart says, this is because of what I've done. 00:11:57.660 --> 00:11:59.660 I'm the one who achieved these things. 00:12:00.580 --> 00:12:02.500 My hands have made this great success. 00:12:02.640 --> 00:12:04.720 My strength is my own making. 00:12:05.300 --> 00:12:06.200 Be on your guard. 00:12:07.480 --> 00:12:11.180 Pride grows in the soil of success. 00:12:11.179 --> 00:12:15.899 When we forget that God is the giver of all our gifts, 00:12:16.579 --> 00:12:18.459 that's how pride grows. 00:12:21.459 --> 00:12:24.739 But tragically, the life of Uzziah here in 2 Chronicles 26 00:12:24.739 --> 00:12:26.679 doesn't just show us how pride grows. 00:12:27.159 --> 00:12:29.199 It also shows us where pride leads. 00:12:29.919 --> 00:12:32.379 This is our second point, where pride leads. 00:12:33.059 --> 00:12:35.639 Let's pick up the story back in verse 16. 00:12:36.459 --> 00:12:39.479 So 2 Chronicles 26, verses 16 through 23. 00:12:39.480 --> 00:12:45.039 But when he was strong, he grew proud to his own destruction. 00:12:46.120 --> 00:12:48.139 For he was unfaithful to the Lord his God 00:12:48.139 --> 00:12:52.180 and entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense. 00:12:53.019 --> 00:12:56.820 But Azariah the priest went in after him with eighty priests of the Lord 00:12:56.820 --> 00:12:57.720 who were men of valor. 00:12:58.320 --> 00:13:00.220 And they withstood King Uzziah and said to him, 00:13:00.680 --> 00:13:04.279 It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord, 00:13:04.399 --> 00:13:06.639 but for the priests, the sons of Aaron, 00:13:07.200 --> 00:13:08.960 who are consecrated to burn incense. 00:13:09.560 --> 00:13:12.240 Go out of the sanctuary, for you have done wrong, 00:13:12.920 --> 00:13:15.240 and it will bring you no honor from the Lord God. 00:13:17.019 --> 00:13:18.639 Then Uzziah was angry. 00:13:19.660 --> 00:13:21.940 Now he had a censer in his hand to burn incense, 00:13:22.019 --> 00:13:24.040 and when he became angry with the priests, 00:13:24.879 --> 00:13:26.580 leprosy broke out on his forehead 00:13:26.580 --> 00:13:29.180 in the presence of the priests in the house of the Lord 00:13:29.180 --> 00:13:30.540 by the altar of incense. 00:13:30.539 --> 00:13:34.459 And Azariah the chief priests and all the priests looked at him, 00:13:34.500 --> 00:13:36.659 and behold, he was leprous in his forehead. 00:13:37.179 --> 00:13:38.519 And they rushed him out quickly, 00:13:38.719 --> 00:13:42.179 and he himself hurried to go out because the Lord had struck him. 00:13:42.179 --> 00:13:47.079 And King Uzziah was a leper to the day of his death. 00:13:48.039 --> 00:13:50.819 And being a leper, lived in a separate house, 00:13:50.819 --> 00:13:53.979 for he was excluded from the house of the Lord. 00:13:53.980 --> 00:13:58.180 And Jotham his son was over the king's household, 00:13:58.800 --> 00:14:00.279 governing the people of the land. 00:14:01.680 --> 00:14:03.279 Now the rest of the Acts of Uzziah, 00:14:03.779 --> 00:14:04.759 from first to last, 00:14:05.539 --> 00:14:07.420 Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, wrote, 00:14:07.419 --> 00:14:09.919 And Uzziah slept with his fathers, 00:14:10.199 --> 00:14:13.039 and they buried him with his fathers in the burial field 00:14:13.039 --> 00:14:14.699 that belonged to the kings. 00:14:15.360 --> 00:14:16.099 For they said, 00:14:17.139 --> 00:14:17.759 He is a leper. 00:14:18.679 --> 00:14:22.659 And Jotham his son reigned in his place. 00:14:25.179 --> 00:14:26.759 But when he was strong, 00:14:27.139 --> 00:14:29.919 he grew proud to his destruction. 00:14:32.159 --> 00:14:35.000 Pride leads to destruction. 00:14:35.939 --> 00:14:36.839 But how? 00:14:37.419 --> 00:14:38.419 How does it do so? 00:14:38.899 --> 00:14:39.559 Well, first, 00:14:40.179 --> 00:14:44.099 because we refuse to honor our God-given limits. 00:14:44.899 --> 00:14:47.299 Uzziah entered the temple to burn incense 00:14:47.299 --> 00:14:49.759 inside the sanctuary before the altar of incense. 00:14:50.799 --> 00:14:52.039 Now on the surface, you might ask, 00:14:52.199 --> 00:14:53.240 What is the big deal? 00:14:54.079 --> 00:14:55.779 After all, wasn't it commendable 00:14:55.779 --> 00:14:57.959 that the king would want to worship and pray to God? 00:14:58.539 --> 00:15:01.199 Isn't it good for a king to be the sort of man who seeks God? 00:15:03.919 --> 00:15:05.860 But God had commanded, you see, 00:15:05.860 --> 00:15:11.919 that only the priests were allowed to enter that part of the temple to burn incense. 00:15:13.120 --> 00:15:14.779 Uzziah might be a great king, 00:15:15.419 --> 00:15:21.060 but God had placed a limit on who could and could not enter that part of the temple 00:15:21.060 --> 00:15:22.539 and perform that function. 00:15:22.539 --> 00:15:31.519 But in his pride, Uzziah started to think that the limits, the boundaries, they didn't apply to him. 00:15:32.639 --> 00:15:35.459 After all, look at all he did for the nation. 00:15:36.199 --> 00:15:39.459 Wasn't it thanks to Uzziah that they had peace and prosperity on all sides? 00:15:40.179 --> 00:15:43.259 Surely the rules don't apply to such a great king as him, right? 00:15:43.259 --> 00:15:47.039 And that's what pride does. 00:15:48.919 --> 00:15:52.539 In putting ourselves above other people in our pride, 00:15:53.059 --> 00:15:55.799 we inevitably put ourselves in the place of God. 00:15:56.360 --> 00:15:59.399 In elevating ourselves above the rest of humanity, 00:15:59.639 --> 00:16:02.519 we put ourselves in God's place. 00:16:03.179 --> 00:16:04.600 We might not think of it that way. 00:16:04.819 --> 00:16:07.279 We might not think that when we consider ourselves better than others, 00:16:07.379 --> 00:16:09.179 we're making ourselves out to be little gods. 00:16:09.179 --> 00:16:15.199 But the proof is in how we disregard God-given limits. 00:16:16.899 --> 00:16:21.399 We begin to think that we can draw the lines where we think the lines should be drawn. 00:16:22.579 --> 00:16:24.939 I can spend money how I want to spend my money. 00:16:25.620 --> 00:16:27.719 I can sleep with who I want to sleep with. 00:16:28.439 --> 00:16:31.179 I can work as many hours straight as I choose to work. 00:16:31.659 --> 00:16:33.599 I can worship the way I want to worship. 00:16:34.779 --> 00:16:37.879 You know, those rules might apply to others, we think, but not me. 00:16:37.879 --> 00:16:38.000 Pride. 00:16:39.600 --> 00:16:42.299 Pride rejects God's good limits. 00:16:43.419 --> 00:16:45.600 And this leads to our destruction. 00:16:48.240 --> 00:16:54.419 After all, reject God's limits around work and rest, and you will burn out. 00:16:55.720 --> 00:17:00.439 Reject God's limits around sex and marriage, and you will wreck your relationships. 00:17:01.860 --> 00:17:06.079 Reject God's limits around amassing wealth and power rather than sharing it, 00:17:06.079 --> 00:17:09.359 and you'll lose the ability to even enjoy the things you have. 00:17:09.419 --> 00:17:11.339 You'll always want more and never have enough. 00:17:12.319 --> 00:17:15.819 Pride will lead you to reject God's limits, and it will lead you to destruction. 00:17:15.819 --> 00:17:27.399 But pride leads to destruction in another way, because pride causes us to refuse to listen to correction. 00:17:28.539 --> 00:17:35.639 When Uzziah enters the temple with the incense censor in his hand, ready to offer his prayers in that inner place, 00:17:35.640 --> 00:17:43.560 Amaziah, the chief priest, with 80 other priests, come, and they do something incredibly courageous. 00:17:44.440 --> 00:17:47.860 They stand in the way of the king, and they rebuke him. 00:17:49.000 --> 00:17:51.380 Now, keep in mind, Uzziah's not just any king. 00:17:51.460 --> 00:17:53.680 He's the best king that people have seen in generations. 00:17:54.160 --> 00:17:55.480 The nation is flourishing. 00:17:55.800 --> 00:17:56.940 The borders are secure. 00:17:57.280 --> 00:17:58.280 The cities are safe. 00:17:58.279 --> 00:18:01.240 The cost of eggs is reasonable again, right? 00:18:02.539 --> 00:18:05.139 Who would want to stand up to a king like that? 00:18:06.940 --> 00:18:14.180 It's no wonder that the chronicler calls these priests men of valor. 00:18:15.460 --> 00:18:19.859 It takes valor to speak a timely word of correction, 00:18:21.420 --> 00:18:26.019 especially when that word is directed at someone who has clearly done much good 00:18:26.019 --> 00:18:28.000 and brought much benefit to the people of God. 00:18:28.279 --> 00:18:37.980 May our church be that sort of place where we have the courage, the valor to lovingly correct each other, 00:18:38.579 --> 00:18:44.740 where we care more about honoring God than just keeping some fragile, prosperous peace. 00:18:47.440 --> 00:18:49.700 But tragically, notice what happens. 00:18:50.960 --> 00:18:54.200 God, in His mercy, sends a rebuke Uzziah's way. 00:18:54.200 --> 00:19:03.700 But when Uzziah hears this godly rebuke, this loving and timely correction, how does he respond? 00:19:05.279 --> 00:19:06.720 In anger. 00:19:08.319 --> 00:19:13.779 He rejects the word meant for His good, and He rages against the priests. 00:19:13.779 --> 00:19:22.500 Brothers and sisters, do you see how pride leads to our destruction? 00:19:23.480 --> 00:19:27.559 We need the loving words of correction from our fellow church members. 00:19:28.559 --> 00:19:32.500 This is one good reason to become an actual member of a local church, 00:19:32.559 --> 00:19:35.619 so that you can tell the other people of that church, 00:19:35.619 --> 00:19:38.219 I want your correction in my life. 00:19:38.619 --> 00:19:40.059 I want the discipleship. 00:19:40.139 --> 00:19:45.199 Yes, I want the discipline that comes from being a known member of a church family. 00:19:46.439 --> 00:19:51.279 We need those loving words, but pride puts us above that rebuke. 00:19:52.000 --> 00:19:55.379 And instead of melting our hearts in repentance and sorrow, 00:19:56.119 --> 00:19:58.259 pride inflames our hearts in anger. 00:19:58.259 --> 00:20:05.339 And so pride makes us fools. 00:20:07.299 --> 00:20:10.799 Loving correction in the church is like medicine for our souls. 00:20:11.980 --> 00:20:14.160 Medicine rarely ever tastes good, right? 00:20:14.359 --> 00:20:18.160 It's bitter at first, but then it brings healing. 00:20:20.119 --> 00:20:23.700 And pride would have us reject this medicine like fools, 00:20:23.779 --> 00:20:26.619 not because it's bitter, but because we think we don't need it. 00:20:26.619 --> 00:20:31.859 We think, who are they to tell me what I'm doing wrong, right? 00:20:34.759 --> 00:20:37.899 Pride will make you reject godly correction, 00:20:38.399 --> 00:20:40.639 and that will lead you to destruction. 00:20:42.159 --> 00:20:45.479 But finally, pride leads to destruction 00:20:45.479 --> 00:20:49.599 because it will ultimately separate you from God. 00:20:50.899 --> 00:20:55.119 When Uzziah rejects the rebuke of Azariah and the other priests, 00:20:55.119 --> 00:20:56.039 what happens? 00:20:57.459 --> 00:21:00.959 And isn't it interesting that God gives Uzziah the chance to turn and repent? 00:21:01.059 --> 00:21:03.359 In his mercy, God sends correction. 00:21:04.279 --> 00:21:08.000 But after Uzziah rejects that rebuke, what happens? 00:21:09.299 --> 00:21:13.079 God immediately causes him to break out in leprosy. 00:21:14.339 --> 00:21:19.619 Now, in the Old Testament, leprosy was a term used for kind of any sort of contagious skin disease. 00:21:19.619 --> 00:21:24.779 And if you had a condition like that, you were immediately barred from the temple 00:21:24.779 --> 00:21:27.579 and from nearly all forms of public life for that matter. 00:21:29.179 --> 00:21:34.019 Now, on the one hand, this exclusion was a means of maintaining public health. 00:21:34.079 --> 00:21:35.959 It just prevented diseases from spreading. 00:21:35.960 --> 00:21:41.920 But more importantly, that exclusion had a very symbolic function as well. 00:21:43.319 --> 00:21:47.480 You see, in the Old Testament, God gave Israel a whole set of rules 00:21:47.480 --> 00:21:51.539 about what it meant to be ritually clean or unclean. 00:21:51.539 --> 00:21:59.879 And these rules were meant to teach them a spiritual lesson about God's holiness and human sinfulness. 00:21:59.880 --> 00:22:06.840 Sinful human beings cannot have fellowship with a holy God. 00:22:08.520 --> 00:22:11.340 It's like holding wax up to a flame. 00:22:12.420 --> 00:22:16.740 The wax will melt and burn up in the face of the fire. 00:22:17.640 --> 00:22:23.920 You know, whatever shape it might have had, it proves to be nothing in the face of that great heat. 00:22:23.920 --> 00:22:30.360 And because of our sin, humans are like wax in the face of God's holiness. 00:22:31.160 --> 00:22:33.039 We think we have shape and form. 00:22:33.380 --> 00:22:34.800 We think we have strength. 00:22:35.720 --> 00:22:37.480 But it all proves to be nothing. 00:22:37.960 --> 00:22:42.740 It's of no avail in the presence of God's great holiness. 00:22:42.740 --> 00:22:53.620 And so, to teach the people of their drastic inward need for cleansing, for atonement, 00:22:54.000 --> 00:22:59.140 about the reality of sin and holiness, God gave them this outward lesson, 00:22:59.819 --> 00:23:05.720 this outward lesson that no one outwardly unclean could come into the public assembly. 00:23:06.940 --> 00:23:11.240 And one of the things that made you outwardly unclean was a skin disease. 00:23:12.740 --> 00:23:18.339 You see, what's happening here in verse 19, when God strikes Uzziah with leprosy, 00:23:19.400 --> 00:23:24.559 is that God is causing Uzziah's outer life to reflect his inner life. 00:23:25.819 --> 00:23:31.620 You see, Uzziah's pride had already separated him from God, had already led him into unfaithfulness. 00:23:32.740 --> 00:23:35.460 Uzziah's pride had already made him inwardly unclean, 00:23:35.500 --> 00:23:38.940 and now his outer life would demonstrate what was true on the inside. 00:23:38.940 --> 00:23:44.740 God brought Uzziah's hypocrisy to an end that day. 00:23:48.539 --> 00:23:52.380 Now everyone would see what his pride had truly made him. 00:23:53.200 --> 00:23:59.920 In his pride, Uzziah had elevated himself, but in reality, pride brought Uzziah down to nothing. 00:23:59.920 --> 00:24:09.800 And for the rest of his life, Uzziah, the greatest king since Solomon, is a non-entity. 00:24:12.279 --> 00:24:16.360 Not only is he barred from the worship assembly at the temple courts, 00:24:16.720 --> 00:24:21.120 he's also barred from the civil assemblies and his position as king. 00:24:21.119 --> 00:24:25.859 Uzziah's son Jotham has to be brought in as a co-regent to reign in his place. 00:24:27.259 --> 00:24:33.599 Uzziah is functionally dead even while he lives, all because of his pride. 00:24:37.359 --> 00:24:39.839 Pride leads to destruction. 00:24:42.219 --> 00:24:43.519 Uzziah exalted himself. 00:24:43.719 --> 00:24:46.179 He took the credit and praise that God alone deserved, 00:24:46.180 --> 00:24:51.180 and as a result of exalting himself, he became nothing, not just politically, but spiritually. 00:24:52.380 --> 00:24:56.259 He lost the most important thing a human being can ever have, 00:24:56.700 --> 00:25:00.880 the thing that's our highest good, the thing that's our only lasting satisfaction. 00:25:01.240 --> 00:25:03.500 He lost fellowship with God. 00:25:05.580 --> 00:25:07.539 And friends, pride will do the same to us. 00:25:08.220 --> 00:25:09.700 It will lead us to destruction. 00:25:10.340 --> 00:25:12.100 We will reject God's limits. 00:25:12.519 --> 00:25:14.360 We will reject God's correction. 00:25:14.359 --> 00:25:18.799 And in the end, God will exclude us from his presence. 00:25:20.299 --> 00:25:23.740 Because there is only one God who deserves worship. 00:25:26.159 --> 00:25:29.179 And when at last God removes his gifts from us, 00:25:29.399 --> 00:25:32.959 because in our pride we refuse to acknowledge him as God and give him thanks, 00:25:33.399 --> 00:25:36.379 then we will see on that day how empty we've become. 00:25:37.359 --> 00:25:40.419 And in that empty state, on the last day, 00:25:40.500 --> 00:25:43.139 we will be forever excluded from his presence and goodness. 00:25:43.140 --> 00:25:48.320 Pride will lead to our eternal destruction. 00:25:52.360 --> 00:25:56.200 So this is how pride grows, and this is where it leads. 00:25:56.880 --> 00:26:02.200 Like Uzziah, it grows in our successes, and it leads to our destruction. 00:26:02.200 --> 00:26:06.680 And that leads us to our last question. 00:26:07.680 --> 00:26:08.860 What do we do about it? 00:26:09.080 --> 00:26:09.680 What do we do? 00:26:11.240 --> 00:26:14.360 And who of us does not feel the urgency of this question? 00:26:16.059 --> 00:26:20.500 Because who of us doesn't feel some of those same tinges of pride that Uzziah felt 00:26:20.500 --> 00:26:24.480 as he won his first battle, or built his first tower, 00:26:24.600 --> 00:26:26.740 or received his first accolade of human praise? 00:26:26.740 --> 00:26:31.420 Who of us is immune to this seed of pride that will surely grow to our destruction? 00:26:32.500 --> 00:26:34.420 And what is the answer to human pride? 00:26:35.380 --> 00:26:39.920 How will pride not drag us all down into the depths of nothingness? 00:26:42.120 --> 00:26:43.720 What hope is there for us humans? 00:26:45.660 --> 00:26:47.599 And you know, here's the real problem with pride. 00:26:47.599 --> 00:26:58.419 If I try to fight pride on my own, how can I not be the one who then takes pride in my victory? 00:27:01.819 --> 00:27:07.259 It seems that the moment I defeat pride, it comes right back to defeat me. 00:27:07.839 --> 00:27:09.719 Because look how humble I've become. 00:27:10.500 --> 00:27:12.879 I'm probably the most humble person I've ever met. 00:27:13.439 --> 00:27:15.039 I wrote a worship song about it. 00:27:15.240 --> 00:27:16.019 It's called Humility. 00:27:16.019 --> 00:27:16.059 Humility. 00:27:16.639 --> 00:27:17.759 Let's all sing it together. 00:27:21.019 --> 00:27:23.119 It's a bit like boxing a shadow, you know. 00:27:23.180 --> 00:27:29.700 With every swing at pride I take, I miss the substance, and it still clings to my every move. 00:27:32.920 --> 00:27:39.139 So you see, friends, the answer to pride must come from outside of ourselves. 00:27:41.119 --> 00:27:44.879 It's first and foremost something that must be done for us. 00:27:46.019 --> 00:27:46.799 By another. 00:27:46.799 --> 00:27:46.900 By another. 00:27:49.440 --> 00:27:51.019 And what if there was another? 00:27:51.980 --> 00:27:56.339 What if there was one who could deal our pride a lethal blow? 00:27:57.819 --> 00:28:02.819 What if there was one who could enter into our human condition and undo pride at the very roots? 00:28:02.819 --> 00:28:12.399 What if there was one who could, in our own humanity, expose pride for what it is and then give us the gift of real humility? 00:28:12.400 --> 00:28:21.880 And in giving us real humility, restore to us our real humanity as creatures. 00:28:23.019 --> 00:28:26.360 Creatures forgiven and restored to God. 00:28:26.359 --> 00:28:28.359 Friends, listen. 00:28:28.359 --> 00:28:30.759 Friends, listen. 00:28:31.219 --> 00:28:32.379 This is the good news. 00:28:33.759 --> 00:28:38.299 The Bible is the story that culminates in a king. 00:28:39.579 --> 00:28:43.979 A king who actually does have the right to stand in the place of the priest. 00:28:43.980 --> 00:28:45.559 A king who actually does have the right to stand in the place of the priest. 00:28:45.559 --> 00:28:52.200 He can approach the holy God because he himself is one with God, being God's only son. 00:28:53.200 --> 00:29:01.460 And this king didn't consider his equality with God something to be exploited or used for his own gain, 00:29:01.579 --> 00:29:03.980 for his own glory, for his own fame. 00:29:03.980 --> 00:29:11.400 No, this king didn't puff himself up in pride, but emptied himself and took human form 00:29:11.400 --> 00:29:17.680 and entered our very human nature. And in our human nature, he humbled himself 00:29:17.680 --> 00:29:29.599 and became obedient to death. The one who deserved to live chose to die in the most humiliating way 00:29:29.599 --> 00:29:37.839 on a cross. He emptied himself. He limited himself. He was obedient to death 00:29:37.839 --> 00:29:48.980 for proud sinners like you and me. And because he humbled himself, God exalted him. 00:29:50.299 --> 00:29:55.959 God gave him a name that's above every name so that every knee should bow and every tongue confess 00:29:55.960 --> 00:30:03.259 that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. You see, friends, Jesus Christ is the only 00:30:03.259 --> 00:30:12.680 one who dealt the fatal blow to human pride. And if you see that his humiliation was for your sake, 00:30:13.220 --> 00:30:18.299 that it was your death he died, that it was your pride he came to atone for, 00:30:18.299 --> 00:30:25.099 if you're starting to see that, then the Spirit of God is beginning to work faith in you. 00:30:25.740 --> 00:30:31.779 And by that same Spirit, you must bow your knee to him and confess with your tongue that Jesus Christ 00:30:31.779 --> 00:30:42.200 is Lord. That is the only real answer to the problem of human pride. You can try to practice 00:30:42.200 --> 00:30:47.879 greater self-awareness. That's fine. You can work to receive criticism. That's good. You can learn to 00:30:47.880 --> 00:30:53.400 accept help and support from others. That's good. But the only thing that will get down to the root of 00:30:53.400 --> 00:31:00.280 pride, the only thing that will dislodge the root of pride in you, the pride that wants you to be your 00:31:00.280 --> 00:31:06.240 own master and receive the exaltation for your work, the only thing that will dislodge that for good 00:31:06.240 --> 00:31:17.600 is the message of grace, sheer undeserved grace, one through the humility of Christ and offered to you 00:31:17.599 --> 00:31:26.579 free of charge. You get all the blessing and he gets all the credit. Your sins are forgiven and he gets 00:31:26.579 --> 00:31:33.719 the praise. Your heart's made new and he gets all the honor. Eternal life is yours to enjoy, but you get 00:31:33.719 --> 00:31:40.759 none of the exaltation because this was not a work of your hands. He won the battle. He built the tower. 00:31:40.759 --> 00:31:47.379 He deserves the fame. He is the king who is also the rightful priest. 00:31:50.039 --> 00:31:53.240 And you know, this humility that the grace of Jesus Christ brings, 00:31:53.799 --> 00:31:59.700 if you receive it into your life, it'll begin to work its way through your whole life. 00:32:01.200 --> 00:32:05.079 You'll be able to go through times of adversity and times of prosperity. 00:32:05.079 --> 00:32:09.480 And though you may be tempted by pride, it won't get the upper hand. 00:32:11.099 --> 00:32:18.559 Why? Because if your very life is a gift of grace through Jesus Christ, if it's only by grace that you 00:32:18.559 --> 00:32:26.139 have any hope to stand before God, then is not everything a gift of grace through Jesus Christ? 00:32:26.140 --> 00:32:32.820 Is not the Father the one who sends rain on the just and the unjust? 00:32:34.300 --> 00:32:37.500 What do we have that we did not receive? 00:32:38.820 --> 00:32:46.020 And if I received it, then surely there's no cause for pride, but all the more cause for humility. 00:32:46.019 --> 00:32:52.000 Because who am I that I should be given such undeserved gifts? 00:32:54.279 --> 00:33:01.339 You see, brothers and sisters, the gospel will turn your successes into soil for greater humility. 00:33:02.400 --> 00:33:08.660 And humility will lead you into deeper communion with Christ and through Christ to eternal life. 00:33:08.660 --> 00:33:19.080 In humility we find our most lasting substance, because in our humility we'll be like Him, the exalted one. 00:33:20.180 --> 00:33:21.160 Let's pray together. 00:33:26.240 --> 00:33:32.480 Lord Jesus, we pray quite simply this morning that by Your Spirit, 00:33:32.480 --> 00:33:42.339 You would cause the same mind that was in You, our humble King, to reside in us, Your people, 00:33:42.940 --> 00:33:46.700 who have heard this message of grace and who have responded in faith. 00:33:47.799 --> 00:33:50.559 Lord, break down the pride in our hearts. 00:33:51.940 --> 00:33:58.620 Break down the pride that causes us to think that we deserve the good gifts we've received. 00:33:58.619 --> 00:34:03.099 Lord, make us a people of rich humility. 00:34:04.659 --> 00:34:11.900 And in making us a people of humility, God, make us a people who serve and who love, 00:34:12.500 --> 00:34:15.759 who are humble enough to receive and give correction, 00:34:17.039 --> 00:34:20.039 who are humble enough to accept Your good limits, 00:34:21.319 --> 00:34:26.139 who are humble enough to give You all the praise that You deserve. 00:34:26.139 --> 00:34:29.099 We ask this in Jesus' mighty name, Father. 00:34:29.440 --> 00:34:29.679 Amen.