2 Chronicles 26:6-15: a reflection

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.

King Uzziah rose to great strength and success: he defeated enemies, built cities and towers, gathered a great army, and his fame spread far. And the account tells the source of it, and sounds a note of warning in the telling: God helped him... he was marvelously helped until he was strong. His success came from God's help; he was marvelously helped. But the phrase until he was strong hints at what would follow: the strength God gave him would become the seedbed of pride and downfall. The very success and strength that came from God's help would, when he grew strong, tempt him to forget the God who had helped him.

Notice the double truth: Uzziah's strength came from God's help, and that strength would become a danger. He was marvelously helped; his success was God's gift, not his own achievement. Yet the account warns, until he was strong, hinting that the strength itself would prove a peril, tempting him to pride, to forget the God who had helped him. Success and strength, though they come from God, carry a danger: they can lead us to forget their source, to take credit ourselves, to grow proud in the very strength God gave. The gift can become a snare when we forget the Giver. Uzziah's God-given strength would become the occasion of his pride and fall.

That is worth taking to heart, for success and strength, though they come from God, can breed pride and lead us to forget the God who gave them. When we succeed, grow strong, prosper, we can forget that our strength came from God's help, take the credit ourselves, and grow proud in the very strength he gave, as Uzziah was helped until he was strong and then fell. Success and strength carry a danger: they can make us forget their source. Do not let success and strength breed pride or make you forget the God who gave them; remember that your strength is his help, lest, like Uzziah, your strength become your snare. Remember, when you succeed and grow strong, that your strength comes from God's help, lest success breed pride and make you forget the God who gave it, as Uzziah was marvelously helped until he was strong and then fell into pride; for success and strength, though gifts of God, can become a snare when we forget the Giver, and it is wisdom to remember that our strength is his help even as we grow strong.

Lord, King Uzziah rose to great strength and success: he defeated enemies, built cities and towers, gathered a great army, and his fame spread far. And the account tells the source of it, and sounds a note of warning in the telling: God helped him, he was marvelously helped until he was strong. His success came from your help; he was marvelously helped. But the phrase until he was strong hints at what would follow: the strength you gave him would become the seedbed of pride and downfall. Show me the double truth: Uzziah's strength came from your help, and that strength would become a danger. He was marvelously helped; his success was your gift, not his own achievement. Yet the account warns, until he was strong, hinting that the strength itself would prove a peril, tempting him to pride, to forget the God who had helped him. Success and strength, though they come from you, carry a danger: they can lead us to forget their source, to take credit ourselves, to grow proud in the very strength you gave. The gift can become a snare when we forget the Giver. Take that to my heart, for success and strength, though they come from you, can breed pride and lead me to forget the God who gave them. When I succeed, grow strong, prosper, I can forget that my strength came from your help, take the credit myself, and grow proud, as Uzziah was helped until he was strong and then fell. Keep me from letting success and strength breed pride or make me forget you who gave them; help me remember, when I succeed and grow strong, that my strength is your help, Lord, lest, like Uzziah, my strength become my snare.