A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation.
Search Daily Encouragement
(Click refresh or reload for current message)
Friday, April 25, 2025
"Lessons From Uzziah (Part 2)"
Message summary: The ancient king Uzziah reminds us of the peril of pride and that we should always seek the Lord. The Bible records the lives of these kings not only as history, but also for the lessons we can learn from them.
Listen to our message on your audio player.
“He (Uzziah) sought God during the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God. As long as he sought the LORD, God gave him success” (2 Chronicles 26:5). “But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the Lord his God” (2 Chronicles 26:16).
In yesterday's message we considered how Zechariah had taught a young sixteen year old King Uzziah to fear the Lord which led to God's blessings. "As long as he sought the LORD, God gave him success".
Uzziah’s
success is
described in
verses 6-15. I
like a tiny
detail about
his life: “he
loved the
soil” (v.
10). Another
interesting
verse states “In
Jerusalem he
made engines
of war
invented by
skillful men
to be on the
towers and on
the corners
for the
purpose of
shooting
arrows and
great stones”
(v.15a).
This section
ends with a
transitional
phrase, “His
fame spread
far and wide,
for he was
greatly helped
until he
became
powerful”
(v.15b).
His life took
a sad turn
summed up in
our second
daily text: "But
after Uzziah
became
powerful, his
pride led to
his downfall.
He was
unfaithful to
the Lord his
God". He
even tried
some spiritual
shenanigans
such as
entering the
temple of the
Lord to burn
incense on the
altar of
incense, an
act he was
strictly
forbidden to
do.
This is an
excellent
example of one
who is filled
with pride.
When an
individual
gets to
thinking he or
she is above
following the
commands of
God, pride
will spring up
in that
person’s heart
and lead him
or her further
into the paths
of
unrighteousness.
Uzziah’s
downfall led
to isolation
and death by
leprosy as
described in
v.21: "in
a separate
house—leprous,
and banned
from the
temple of the
Lord".
Uzziah reminds
us that we
should always
seek the Lord.
Do not let
your success
(or apparent
lack thereof)
deceive you.
The
presumption of
God’s
blessings
based upon the
appearance of
“success” is
one of the
great
deceptions of
the modern
church.
The first call of God in our lives is to seek Him (Matthew 6:33). God ever remains a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).
Let us make it our lifelong quest to seek Him first!
Be encouraged today! Hebrews 3:13
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father,
due to the
influence of
Zechariah,
Uzziah was
taught in the
ways of the
Lord. You
blessed,
prospered, and
honored him as
he learned to
fear You and
followed the
commands of
Scripture.
But, much to
his demise and
that of the
people he
served, he
took his eyes
off Your
truths and
pride led to
his downfall.
Pride entered
his heart and
its tentacles
spread to his
head giving
him an
inflated sense
of
self-importance
which began
the downward
spiral to
being
unfaithful to
You. We’ve
seen it many
times when
Christian
leaders take
their eyes off
the Master and
begin to think
more highly of
themselves
than they
ought. When
pride creeps
into our
thoughts, help
us to
recognize it.
Perhaps it
will be a
Scripture, a
messenger sent
from You, or a
consequence
resulting from
our pride that
will get our
attention and
get us back on
track to
recognize that
all gifts,
skills,
knowledge and
abilities come
from You, not
within
ourselves.
Keep us
submitted to
Your will and
seeking You
all the days
of our lives,
in the name of
Jesus we pray.
Amen.
Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
"Seek Ye First" Watch on YouTube Maranatha! Music
"Worth"
Watch
on YouTube
Jason
Crabb
Regarding yesterday's message on absent fathers and the need for people like Zechariah we received the following from an African reader:
Dear Webers,
Good day.
Thank for this is a very touchingly sad story... No relationship with the father.
I can imagine the void in his heart much more that he sees the challenge he faced, his son is facing it too. Literally, such people cannot easily connect to the heavenly father's love. May this chain of events be broken from him and his son, as many are reading and praying for them. Thank you also for sharing the story, it calls for self examination hence a check on our lives and how we relate to the children God places in our lives.
In Africa generally, the relationship with a dad is not well tapped into as most children grow up not wanting to see their parents eye to eye due to a number of issues especially that most fathers are absent land lords, either due to work, or alcoholism.
In South Sudan where we minister men spend long hours hanging out sitting in void talks and rarely have time for the children. Others are actively involved in rebel work so the children grow without a father's touch in their lives... we have very rebellious youths... A fatherless generation.
Just a little update. We keep ok and thankfully as my husband fervently preaches the word of God while he mentors those that come to him in church.
During
Easter the
country was on
the verge of
another war
but
thankfully, it
never took
place.
In His
service,
Moses and
Jackline.
Click on photo to enlarge
Click on photo to enlarge
Click on photo to enlarge
To donate
directly
online click
here.
(This will
open to a page
that
designates the
offering to:
Stephen and
Brooksyne
Weber -
700001-237376
serving in
specialized
chaplaincy
(Daily
Encouragement
is our
endorsed
special
chaplaincy
ministry).
In considering support we are so pleased when we hear from you, our readers, that our messages are a source of teaching and encouragement to you. We also urge you to consider the mission aspect of these daily teachings that are freely available and read by many all over the world.
Stephen & Brooksyne
Daily Encouragement on:
Wordpress
iHeart
radioPermissions: Please feel free to pass on, reproduce and distribute any material on Daily Encouragement Net, in part or in whole, in any format, provided that you do not alter the wording in any way or charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. It is our desire to spread this material, not protect or restrict it. We do request that you keep the contact, copyright and subscription information intact.
Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version and a variety of other versions.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
© Copyright 2025 Stephen C. & Brooksyne Weber - All Rights Reserved
Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA