Context No. 2904 of 4322 · 2 Chronicles

2 Chronicles 26:6-15: in context

6He went out and fought against the Philistines, and broke down the wall of Gath, the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod; and he built cities in the country of Ashdod, and among the Philistines. 7God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians who lived in Gur Baal, and the Meunim. 8The Ammonites gave tribute to Uzziah. His name spread abroad even to the entrance of Egypt, for he grew exceedingly strong. 9Moreover Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the corner gate, at the valley gate, and at the turning of the wall, and fortified them. 10He built towers in the wilderness, and dug out many cisterns, for he had much livestock, both in the lowlands and in the plains. He had farmers and vineyard keepers in the mountains and in the fruitful fields, for he loved farming. 11Moreover Uzziah had an army of fighting men who went out to war by bands, according to the number of their reckoning made by Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the officer, under the hand of Hananiah, one of the king’s captains. 12The whole number of the heads of fathers’ households, even the mighty men of valor, was two thousand six hundred. 13Under their hand was an army, three hundred seven thousand five hundred, who made war with mighty power, to help the king against the enemy. 14Uzziah prepared for them, even for all the army, shields, spears, helmets, coats of mail, bows, and stones for slinging. 15In Jerusalem, he made devices, invented by skillful men, to be on the towers and on the battlements, with which to shoot arrows and great stones. His name spread far abroad, because he was marvelously helped until he was strong.

Uzziah grows into a strong and celebrated king. He defeats the Philistines, breaks down their walls, subdues Arabians and Ammonites, builds towers and cisterns, raises a large army, and even commissions engines of war for his walls. His fame spreads far, and the account keeps naming the reason: God helped him. He was marvelously helped until he was strong.

That last phrase carries a warning. Everything Uzziah achieved is credited to God's help, yet the clause is "until he was strong," and the next part of the chapter tells the turn: once he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction, and he presumed to do what was not his to do. The very strength God had given became the occasion of his pride. Success granted by God can quietly become the thing that makes us forget God. The man who was helped came, in the end, to think himself self-made.

When God helps me to strength or success, do I keep remembering it was help, or start to believe I built it all myself?

Sources

2 Chronicles 26:15: "His name spread far abroad, because he was marvelously helped until he was strong."
2 Chronicles 26:16: "But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up, so that he did corruptly."
Deuteronomy 8:17: "You may say in your heart, My power and the might of my hand has gotten me this wealth."