Read: 2 Chronicles 26:16-23
Uzziah, the wealthy king, has achieved everything he could not even dream of at the age of sixteen.
Nobody contradicts him. Yet there is one area where Uzziah is not the absolute boss. Next to his palace is the temple and the king is not lord and master there.
The proud king cannot tolerate the high priest and the priests ruling the temple. And so the evil day dawns when Uzziah, blinded by his pride, deliberately breaks God’s rules.
The king enters the Holy Place to offer incense on the golden altar of incense. Horrified, the priests see him walk in like this, they warn the king not to go any further. Uzziah gets angry about this and still wants to continue.
Then God himself intervenes.
Suddenly a white spot appears on the king’s forehead. God strikes Uzziah with leprosy because the king would not recognize God’s Holiness. Now Uzziah must leave the temple, his palace, his family and his people.
God is a Holy God, which means we cannot treat the Lord as we treat a friend. In our speaking and praying and singing we should show reverence. Reverence for God, who in His great Love sent His Son to earth to teach us how we may serve Him with reverence.