II Chronicles 26 Uzziah, also called Azariah, was 16 when his father died and he was made king of Judah.  He ruled for 52 years.  "And he did right in the sight of the Lord according to all that his father Amaziah had done. And he continued to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding through the vision of God; and as long as he sought the Lord, God prospered him." 

Uzziah built up Jerusalem and Judah. He had a great and skilled army. He "made engines of war invented by skillful men to be on towers and on the corners, for the purpose of shooting arrows and great stones. Hence his fame spread afar, for he was marvelously helped until he was strong." (v15)

Uzziah was an impressive man and he served the Lord... but... "his heart was so proud that he acted corruptly, and he was unfaithful to the Lord his God, for he entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense." (v16)

Uzziah was confronted by the priests but failed to listen.  Because of this willful sin of disobedience.. the Lord struck him with leprosy.  It was an immediate judgement, right there in the temple.  King Uzziah remained a leper the rest of his life, living separately from his family while his son took on the responsibility for leading Judah. 

We see again that God honors those who seek Him, but those who choose to turn to their own ways and desires "will have no honor from the Lord God." (v18)  Pride is a sin that God denounces over and over again.  Uzziah "lifted up" himself and that is not pleasing to the Lord. 

Isaiah saw King Uzziah's life and his death. It was then that the vision was given to him... that Isaiah saw the great holiness of the Lord God and cried out, "Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts." ( Isaiah 6:1-5)

Father, search our hearts and reveal those areas where we have lifted up ourselves or have been unfaithful to You.  Forgive us Lord, when we have become proud in our prosperity or in our strength. Forgive us for not honoring You and Your Word as we should. Cleanse our unclean lips and our whole hearts..  as You did for Isaiah, so that our iniquities will be taken away and our sins forgiven also.  We live in a world in great need of redemption, Lord God. May Your grace and mercy flow through us, Your people, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ be preached in all the earth.  Yours is the Kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever.. Amen.