Tuesday
In Chronicles 2, we find the antithesis of Uzziah in the form of King Hezekiah. Both experienced the sin of "proud hearts," but the difference is in their response to exposed sin.
Hezekiah had won a great battle against the Assyrians and their king, Sennacherib. Sennacherib had mocked God and told the Jews that Hezekiah was at fault for tearing down all altars except for those to their God.
32:19 states, "And they spoke of the God of Jerusalem as they spoke of the gods of the peoples of the earth, which are the work of men's hands." And you know that's not wise to do. God delivered the Assyrians into Hezekiah's hands, and eventually, it went to his head and into his heart, where his chest swelled with pride.
This reminds me so much of myself!! Sometimes I neglect giving God the glory and begin thinking that I"M special, that I"M the one who accomplishes something, that I"M really something when I"M actually NOTHING! I can only do things through God, who gives me strength. To GOD be the glory, in all things.
Fortunately for Hezekiah, he came to his senses when faced with the impending destruction God was about to deliver to His people, and he "...humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah." (2Chr. 32:26)
Don't we need more leaders like this in our country, in our world? We need to be humble in all things and fill our hearts with love for God and for others. If we did this, we wouldn't have room for love of ourselves, which, boiled down, is the definition of pride.
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