I. Uzziah's marvellous prosperity. He was a clever, enterprising, busy, practical man, just the sort of man to advance the arts of civilisation, to develop a country's resources, and further its prosperity. And indeed this is what he did. God made him to prosper. "He was marvellously helped till he was strong."
II. His marvellous presumption. "When he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction." Not satisfied with being king, he must be high-priest also. Horror-struck with his profanity, Azariah, the real priest, with a band of faithful coadjutors, entreated him to go out of the sanctuary. But he persevered in his impious attempt, when suddenly an awful judgment from Heaven arrested him. He was smitten with a loathsome leprosy, and in terror and dismay rushed forth from the courts he had desecrated.
III. The note of warning. A man may be "lifted up to his destruction" (1) by the pride of money; (2) by the pride of intellect; (3) by the pride of wit. Our place of security is at the foot of the Cross.
J. Thain Davidson, Forewarned Forearmed,p. 107.
References: 2 Chronicles 26:15. G. Matheson, Moments on the Mount,p. 190. 2 Chronicles 26:15; 2 Chronicles 26:16. Homiletic Magazine,vol. x., p. 266.