The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1922-04-13
LESSON FOR APRIL %.
UZzIAH's PRIDE AND PUNISH
MENT.

MENT.
LESSON TExT.-u Chron. Bl-n.
GOLDEN TEXT-Pride goeth before
| destruction and an naughty spirit before
| q fall.-Prov 1918.
REFERENCE MATERIAL - Mum. II:
t ~: psu' ''ii''' II Kings '"-'' Dan
PRIMARY ToPIc.-The story of .
| Proud King
JUNIOR ToPIc.-A Man who Forgot
God.
INTERMEDIATES AND SENIOR
| TOPIC.-"Pride Goeth Before Destruo-
| ton"
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC.
The Periis OF Prosperity.
!. Uxxish Made King wv. 10y.
/. His Age ". ~. He became king
at the age Of sixteen.
2. Length OF His Reign ". 81. He
reigned fifty.two years. His mothers
name was Jecoiah, which means
Jehovah is able" or Made strong
Of Jehovah"
3. His Character ". ~. He did
that which was right In the sight Of
the Lord.
4. His Prosperity ". 81. He den-
Ditely sought God while Zechariah
/ lived, and because he sought him God
made him to prosper as long as he
| continued to seek him. He. like Joash
before him. turned aside when the in
fuence OF the man Of God was 70
moved.
u. Uxziah's Achievement wv. 615).
| 10 mi Filth (v This
q port on the Red sea which had been
lost to Judah. No doubt 1t was the
aim Of the father to get possession Of
this port, so the son makes its restOra-
ton his first duty. 1t was an i'm
portant trading point and the COM
mercial interests Of the nation would
be greatly increased by Its possession.
2. He Had Military Success wv.
8-s). U) He conquered the Phills-
tines ". 81. After subduing them he
dismantled their fortified cities and
built new cities In their stead. (2) He
defeated the Arablans ". y. (3) He
made the Ammonites across the JOr-
dan pay tribute ". 81.
8. He Fortified Jerusalem wv. O.
IL. He took advantage Of the peace
which was now enjoyed because Of the
subjugation OF his enemies to fortify
Jerusalem. He placed In the towers
great engines Of war for hurting
stones.
4. His Civic improvements ". 1Ol.
In the regions south and west Of
Jerusalem he built towers which
| Ill v,Alxt
observation. defense and shelter for
his cattle. This enabled him to carry
on his stOck-raising enterprises.
s. His Army wv. 11-15). II numbered
3O7,5OO. 1t was thoroughly equipped
and drilled. God was with him, and
his fame spread far and wide. The
source OF his strength was God.
~. U1ziah's Transoression wv. 16-
49,.
The prosperity bestowed upon him
by the Lord was too much for him
his heart was lifted up with pride.
This is always SO unless counteracted
by divine grace. In his pride he pre-
sumptuously intruded into the priests
office. This act was not because Of
forgetfulness. but of deliberate pur-
pose. Azariah and eighty other priests
demonstrated with him. but this only
made him angry This act was q
trespass against God.
". Uzziah's Punishment wv. 10
2D.
While raging In his wrath and about
to burn incense he WAS smitten with
leprosy, a dreadful. incurabe and I'M
clean disease. This judgment came
upon him as consequence OF his
overweening pride and vanity. He was
thrust out Of the sanctuary-excluded
from Gods house. Indeed. his own
conscience smote him. and he hurried
ly went out because he knew that the
Lord had smtten him. He not only
was excluded from the place OF wor-
ship, but was dethr0ned. His son
lothian was made regent. His judg-
ment was:
/. Sudden. The Lord smote him
while attired as priest. with censor In
hand. Frequently Gods Judgments
are speedy. 2. Severe. The lepr0sy
broke forth upon his forehead. The
same judgment befell Miriam for
speaking against Moses (Num. II ny.
and Gehazi for lying to Elisha III
Kings 5:2O. Great sins demand
severe punishment. 3. Conspicuous.
Azarah and all the priests looked up
and beheld the lep 'osy ". 20). The
spot on uzziah's forehead proclaimed
him as the object OF Gods wrath.
How many today are bearing about
the marks Of sln-God's Judgment
4. Illuminating. He was henceforth
uncean-cut OFF from the congrega-
ton. This is what sin always does.
5. Fatal. II ended In death. The
| s.yaaaa ~ all, IL daathu IRnn Il .D.A