From Prosper to Leper: the story of Uzziah
by Ivan Ho 21 Apr 2025
I’ve been reading the stories of kings of Israel and Judah in the books of Chronicles, one of whom was called Uzziah.
When Uzziah was 16 he became king of Judah. He did that which was right in the sight of the Lord and sought after God, and God made him to prosper.
Sixteen years old was Uzziah when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name also was Jecoliah of Jerusalem. And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah did. And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper.
God also helped him to overcome the enemies of Israel when he defeated the Philistines.
And he went forth and warred against the Philistines, and brake down the wall of Gath, and the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod, and built cities about Ashdod, and among the Philistines. And God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians that dwelt in Gur-baal, and the Mehunims.
The early signs of Uzziah’s decline, after he was victorious and grew in strength and prosperity, became apparent when he relied on his own strength instead of God. The bible tells us that “he strengthened himself exceedingly” by building his own towers to safeguard his position and digging many wells to provide for his livelihood. He strengthened the armies that he built, and resorted to new technologies invented by cunning men to fight against his enemies. He no longer looked to God to be his strong tower and source of provision.
And the Ammonites gave gifts to Uzziah: and his name spread abroad even to the entering in of Egypt; for he strengthened himself exceedingly.Moreover Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the corner gate, and at the valley gate, and at the turning of the wall, and fortified them. Also he built towers in the desert, and digged many wells: for he had much cattle, both in the low country, and in the plains: husbandmen also, and vine dressers in the mountains, and in Carmel: for he loved husbandry.
Moreover Uzziah had an host of fighting men, that went out to war by bands, according to the number of their account by the hand of Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the ruler, under the hand of Hananiah, one of the king’s captains. The whole number of the chief of the fathers of the mighty men of valour were two thousand and six hundred. And under their hand was an army, three hundred thousand and seven thousand and five hundred, that made war with mighty power, to help the king against the enemy. And Uzziah prepared for them throughout all the host shields, and spears, and helmets, and habergeons, and bows, and slings to cast stones.
And he made in Jerusalem engines, invented by cunning men, to be on the towers and upon the bulwarks, to shoot arrows and great stones withal. And his name spread far abroad; for he was marvellously helped, till he was strong.
Moreover, when he became strong and prosperous, his heart was lifted up and began to become familiar with the things of God, and did whatever he felt was right. He burnt incense in the temple of God which only priests appointed by God were permitted to do under Old Testament laws. In other words, he ignored any protocols set up by God and bypassed the God ordained priesthood for performing temple duties.
In his early years, Uzziah did what was right in the sight of God, but when he became strong and prosperous with God’s help, he became proud and did what he felt was right in his own eyes.
But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense.
Not only that, instead of being repentant, he became angry when the priests of God withstood him against his unlawful behaviours. As a result, judgement of God came upon Uzziah and he became a leper until the day of his death.
And Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him fourscore priests of the LORD, that were valiant men: and they withstood Uzziah the king, and said unto him, It appertaineth not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto the LORD, but to the priests the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated to burn incense: go out of the sanctuary; for thou hast trespassed; neither shall it be for thine honour from the LORD God.Then Uzziah was wroth, and had a censer in his hand to burn incense: and while he was wroth with the priests, the leprosy even rose up in his forehead before the priests in the house of the LORD, from beside the incense altar. And Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked upon him, and, behold, he was leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him out from thence; yea, himself hasted also to go out, because the LORD had smitten him. And Uzziah the king was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a several house, being a leper; for he was cut off from the house of the LORD: and Jotham his son was over the king’s house, judging the people of the land.
Many of us may serve God zealously in our youth but the real challenges come when God blesses us, and we become successful and prosperous. Will we remain humble and show reverence to God, or will we become familiar with God and do whatever we feel is right to do? Will we continue to trust in God as our only strength and source of supplies, or will we begin to rely on our own strengths and dig our own wells?
When Jesus died on the cross, the veil in the temple separating the holy of holies was torn so that we can now approach God directly through Jesus Christ. The Aaronic priesthood has been replaced by Jesus Christ who is the mediator and everlasting priesthood between God and man. We cannot gain access to God through any other ways apart from Jesus. The resurrection of Jesus makes it possible for us to approach God the Father without fear.