The St. Louis Republic., 1903-02-02

ieles XVI. Is and rs &. He ss sad. % in part;
.'II this chapter we have an iIlustration r;n On
Tzziah. the King. e. was vas like some days we
a MONDAY filled with golden light. put put
winds and muttering thunders. At the age
of l6 all the people of Judah took uzzah
and made hi, him King in the room Of fraI his ns- fs
Ing prosperous. The nation had been
+, tlumbled al the battle OF Beth-Shemesh.
| and the city. of Their pride-the gseat Jeru,
saiem-had been fcarfully ravaged. Would
! the coming Of SO young King help mt
| ters. or would IT tend to the increase of the
disorders among the people?
THE outlook was anytn.n but promising.
and seemed to shadow forth impending
DOOM Such results, however. did not fol-
low. for almost Immediately his le.gn was
crowned with success. There was interna.
peace and external advancement. Jerusalem
was refort.fied and engines invented Dy
me bu."a.Ns 70 shot arr" no i,ieat
s;ones.' were placed in position for the
defense OF Zion lie a so built towers II
the desert: ana d.ssed many wells. for n,
had much catt:e. husbandmen also. and
husbandry.'
This clearly indicates the wisdom of the
King. the security CT the reop.e. and such
q measure OF advancement as had not been
name also was spread far abroad. even to
ened himself exceedingly
is the for this
What was the secret Of Uzziah's strength?
This Is the explanation and the secret: .Hs
as long as he sought the Lard. God made
him 10 prosper While he did that which
was right In the sight of the Lord, he was
Receiving such assistance. and having tie
record OF such dazzling success. the heart
OF UnElah must must have been made glad and
natural result: but. alas! hear the text. Ills
heart was lifted up to his destruction In
stead OF reverent praise to the sivsr of
his soul that his success was the result of
his own wisdom and skill. Then he ceased
to seek the Lord his God: He became self
became presumptuous. FOR he transgressed
against the Lord. and went into The tenn
pie Of the Lord to burn incense upon the
Then Azariah. the chief priest. went in
aIter him. and with him four score priests
they withstcod the King % to his faee .en saw a,,o
ing, II appertaineth not unto thee to burn
incense unto the Lord. but to the sons Of
aaron; aaron that are eonsecrated to burn In
cense he was told to go out Of the sanct-
ury. for thou hast trespassed neither shall
II It. be for thine honor from the Lord God
Then Uzziah was wroth. but in the midst
and himself hasted to go out HastinE,
however. did not cure him. his sin had been
AiAIttcu, anu lie WAS a lepeT unto the
day of his death. For seven long years he
dwelt in separate house. being a leper.'
fsIsd then he s, Slept with his fathers and they
Kings for they said: He is a leper'
If his sin had been committed at the be-
ginning Of his reign. when he. was young
lated: If 1t had been the result Of the great
dignity and responsibility which had been
thrust upon him. We might have found in
mat some basis for excuse. but 1t was not
during the days of youth and immaturity
II was when he had become strong and had
been marveously helped. 1t was after his
strengthened himself exceedingly: then his
How How SURPRISING! How aPpaliinsi
The hour OF strength is also fraught with
oanger, and the moment of greatest success
may be the moment Of prcfounded peril
How appropriate therefore is the prayer in
Good % LORD deliver lei sar US. a"e OF our prosperity
uzziah had disregarled the direct COM
mandment of God: His law declared that
fore the Lord This law % ei he set 'ese at def g
anee; a; desiring to be priest as well as King.
~ denounced the Kings presumption for
God had not chosen him for this office. In
himself hasted to 90 out Of the sanctuary
He was confused with shame and hu-
inflated by his transgression for God had
stricken him for his ingratitude and dis
Beloved. we also have received help of
GOO, In countless ways We have been the
recipients of his grace and favor, and have
been made strong. Are we grateful? or do
we take the palm branch and instead Of
waving it before the Lord. wave 1t over our
own heads? Has our growth in financial
power or In intellectual ability made us
proud? II so. let us beware, for there Is an
other step.
Pride goeth before destruction and
naughty spirit before a fan.' So spake one
who fell himself. Pride also goeth before
presumption. and naughty spirit before
disobedience Wherefore let him that think
eth he standeth take heed lest he fail!''