Sometimes our greatest successes lead to our greatest failures. When life is going as we planned, it is easy for us to take our eyes off God and put them right smack back onto ourselves. That’s what happened to King Uzziah, and it led to a not-so-happy ending. Read more from the Life Application Study Bible, Third Edition.

“All the people of Judah had crowned Amaziah’s sixteen-year-old son, Uzziah, as king in place of his father. After his father’s death, Uzziah rebuilt the town of Elath and restored it to Judah. Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-two years. His mother was Jecoliah from Jerusalem. He did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight, just as his father, Amaziah, had done. Uzziah sought God during the days of Zechariah, who taught him to fear God. And as long as the king sought guidance from the Lord, God gave him success.” 2 Chronicles 26:1-5, NLT

We are never closer to failure than during our greatest successes. If we fail to recognize God’s part in our achievements, they are no better than failures. Uzziah was a remarkably successful king. His achievements brought him fame. He was successful in war and peace, in planning and execution, in building and planting.

But Uzziah overestimated his own importance in bringing about the great achievements he experienced. He did so many things well that a consuming pride gradually invaded his life like the leprous disease that finally destroyed his body. In trying to act like a priest, he took on a role that God did not mean for him to have. He had forgotten not only that God had given him everything he had but also that God had certain roles for others that he needed to respect.

Uzziah’s pride was rooted in his lack of thankfulness. We have no accounts of this king’s ever showing appreciation to God for the marvelous gifts he received. Our accomplishments may not compare with Uzziah’s, but we still owe a debt of thanksgiving to God for our very lives. If God is not getting the credit for your successes, shouldn’t you start looking at your life differently?

Strengths and accomplishments:

• Pleased God during his early years as king

• Successful warrior and city builder

• Skillful in organizing and delegating

Weaknesses and mistakes:

• Developed a prideful attitude due to his great success

• Tried to perform the priests’ duties, in direct disobedience to God

• Failed to remove many of the symbols of idolatry in the land

Notable facts:

• Reigned for 52 years

• Mentioned in Isaiah 6 because his death marked the beginning of the prophet Isaiah’s ministry

Lessons from his life:

• Lack of gratitude to God can lead to pride

• Even successful people must acknowledge the role God has for others in their lives

Vital statistics:

• Where: Jerusalem

• Occupation: King of Judah

• Relatives: Father: Amaziah. Mother: Jecoliah. Son: Jotham.

• Contemporaries: Isaiah, Amos, Hosea, Jeroboam, Zechariah, Azariah

Key verses:

“And he built structures on the walls of Jerusalem, designed by experts to protect those who shot arrows and hurled large stones from the towers and the corners of the wall. His fame spread far and wide, for the Lord gave him marvelous help, and he became very powerful. But when he had become powerful, he also became proud, which led to his downfall. He sinned against the Lord his God by entering the sanctuary of the Lord’s Temple and personally burning incense on the incense altar.” (2 Chronicles 26:15-16)

Where can I find him?

Uzziah’s story is told in 2 Kings 15:1-7; 2 Chronicles 26:1-23. He is also mentioned in Isaiah 1:1; 6:1; 7:1; Hosea 1:1; Amos 1:1; Zechariah 14:5.