Angry People – Merciful God
19. Then Uzziah was angry, and had a censer in his hand to burn incense: and while he was angry with the priests, the leprosy even rose up in his forehead before the priests in the House of the Lord, from beside the incense altar.
20. And Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked on him, and behold he was leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him out from there, yes, he also hasted to go out, because the Lord had smitten him.
21. And Uzziah the king was a leper until the day of his death, and lived in a separate house, being a leper, for he was cut off from the House of the Lord: and Jotham his son was over the king’s house, judging the people of the land.
2 Chronicles 26:19-21
Why Are People Angry?
The study of Old Testament Scripture reveals that King Uzziah was a good king and executed his office in an honorable way until pride led him to commit an act that desecrated the Sacred Temple of God. 2 Chronicles 26:16, But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the Lord his God and went into the Temple of the Lord to burn incense upon the altar of incense. The Priests of God withstood the king, in attempt to help him not make a bad choice. Uzziah’s pride would not allow him to see the error of his way and instead enraged the king. … Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him, eighty priests of the Lord that were valiant men … And they withstood Uzziah the king and said to him, “It does not belong to you Uzziah, to burn incense unto the Lord, but to the priests the sons of Aaron that are consecrated to burn incense: go out of the sanctuary; for you have trespassed; neither shall it be for your honor from the Lord God” … Then Uzziah was angry. Something evil happens when you combine pride with anger. The toxicity of pride and anger destroys the very container that holds them. The Bible declares that God struck Uzziah because of his rebellious act against God. What drove this king to this point? Three sinful culprits emerge as the evil attitudes that drove his decisions. First was the need to be right exclusively. Second was the demand to be heard and to express himself. Third was the anger against his opposers. All of these can be summed under one heading: PRIDE.
Many in our nation have taken on the attitude of Uzziah. While there are many who pray and seek God, those numbers are few and dwindling. The events of January 6, 2021 illustrate how domestic terrorism can not only happen but can become the common practice of disgruntled people. The attack on the Nation’s Capital demonstrates how far people will go to make their assertion that they are right, that they demand to be heard, and that anger justifies their actions. These are actions taken by people who say they love their country and yet their speech does not match their actions. Common sense would tell us: if you destroy your own house, what do you expect from your enemy?
Looking past the events of January 6, 2021 we need to ask why are people angry? How will anger solve the nation’s problems? In reference to King Uzziah, we observed that in his rise to power he merely tolerated the guidance and direction of others. He did not take instruction and wisdom to heart. This led to Uzziah’s unwise actions causing him to assume that he could “go anywhere he wished and do whatever he wanted.” Uzziah, for all intents and purposes, was living above the Law. Sound familiar? He was the king and no one would stand in his way. Why did Uzziah believe such a lie? He believed the lie because it fit well with his prideful attitude.
Sadly, this nation and many nations around the Globe have become extremely angry, feeling that expressing the anger is the way to solve problems, and that their way is the only way for things to work. The results are mobs protesting and anarchy becoming the norm in these uncivil times. Some people would argue, we don’t know what is true and what is false anymore. We don’t know whose lying and who is for real. Strange that argument should come up, because Jesus said, “don’t be deceived.” In John 8:32 Jesus said, you shall know the truth and the truth will make you free. In another passage (John 16) Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth. So the problem with deception is not due to a lack of truth. The truth is there. The problem of deception stems from the sources of information that people turn to. Uzziah turned to sources that led him down the path of self will, anger, and ultimately, destruction. You cannot play with God nor take His Holy things for granted without paying the cost.
God Shows Mercy
I want to focus now on Uzziah’s demise and disgrace. Then Uzziah was angry, and had a censer in his hand to burn incense: and while he was angry with the priests, the leprosy even rose up in his forehead before the priests in the House of the Lord, from beside the incense altar. Like Uzziah, there are people who become extremely angry when they are challenged and told they are wrong. Anger is never a solution it is always a reaction. We find something amazing in this passage that points to God’s Mercy. God could have immediately struck Uzziah down and that would have been the end of the matter. Instead God punished him with a two-year bout with leprosy. Uzziah had time to get over his anger. Uzziah had time to think through his callous actions. Uzziah had time to repent and ask God’s forgiveness.
Today, I want to look at three important things we can do to keep our own anger in check and keep us humble before God. It would be easy for us to look at Uzziah and make the statement that we would never do that. It would be easy for us to say I would never take part in a protest that destroyed property and ended in the loss of lives. The fact is, we don’t know where our sinful nature will take us without the Holy Spirit’s power.
Here is the good news, God gives us some powerful principles that will work to keep us from developing that prideful anger. The first merciful thing that God did was to make sure that people were in place to hold King Uzziah accountable. These were not “yes men.” They were God’s anointed that could not be borrowed, bought, begged to differ with because of their allegiance to God Almighty. And when Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him, eighty priests of the Lord that were valiant men … And they withstood Uzziah the king. These priests did not want to destroy Uzziah or humiliate him, they were holding him accountable. Accountability is lacking in our world today. People want to do wrong and be told that “all is well.” Accountability is good and when it is heeded it is a guiding light to those who are wise. Accountability does more than keep us in check, it helps us to stay on the right path. Azariah and the other eighty priests were a Holy force from God to help the king and to keep him from doing the wrong thing.
Who do you have surrounding you? Do you listen to those people in order to get a better perspective on what to do? More importantly, do you allow the Bible to correct your thinking. Yes, Scripture is given for inspiration, but it is also given for correction in righteousness. 2 Timothy 3:16. God is not pleased when you fail or commit some act that could have been avoided. For that reason, He sends His Word, other people, and even circumstances to hold you accountable. If His Mercy was not great, He would leave you to your own evil ways and the consequences that would follow.
The second merciful thing that God does is to reveal His Presence. While it is implied in the verse, God was in the Temple. Notice the Scripture says, And Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked on him, and behold he was leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him out from there, yes, he also hasted to go out, because the Lord had smitten him. When did God “smite or strike” Uzziah? God struck Uzziah while He was angry at the priests. That act at that moment, invited God’s wrath. Here is the point, God could have killed Uzziah instantly. God revealed his presence by responding immediately to Uzziah’s action. It could have been a lot worse. Remember what happened to Uzzah in the days of King David. Uzzah was struck dead immediately because he did not reverence the Ark of the Covenant. This event upset David to the point that he called it “Perez-Uzzah.” God made a breach or breaking forth on Uzzah. But what really happened? God could have destroyed the entire group of people for mishandling His Holy Ark. God presence was there even if it did result in tragedy. When God’s presence is revealed in this manner it is for our correction. God’s judgment prepares us for future service. (Aha). God’s correction is always to be remembered. Why would God correct us by destroying us? The purpose of correction is to bring back or to reconcile. Unholy Uzziah did a terrible thing, but God gave him two-years to ponder the action and correct his thinking. Did it work? Yes. And Uzziah the king was a leper until the day of his death, and lived in a separate house, being a leper, for he was cut off from the House of the Lord.
The third merciful thing God does is to use our experience as an example for others. As we read about Uzziah it can help us today to take our relationship and responsibility to God seriously. It helps us understand that there is a line that we must not cross when it comes to respecting God’s Holiness. Do not play with God, but rather worship and honor Him for His Holiness. It is no wonder that Isaiah wrote, in the year of King Uzziah’s death, I also saw the Lord. Isaiah 6:1. That young priest was able to put things in perspective and more importantly was willing to serve God, because he saw examples of what not to do and what to do. Isaiah saw how a couple of important points that we, as Christians today, need to take to heart.
When it comes to God’s Holiness, Isaiah saw how sinister and evil people really are without God. He cried out, woe is me – I am undone … I am a man of unclean lips and I dwell among a people of unclean lips. The only way for us to recognize God’s mercy is to admit our own sinful condition. That’s not a bad thing; that’s a good thing. Those who are well don’t go to a doctor and those who are without sin don’t need a Savior. It is God’s mercy that causes us to see ourselves as we really are.
God’s mercy causes us to see others as they really are. Isaiah said, I dwell among a people of unclean lips. He was recognizing that people needed the same Mercy of God that he needed. When we see the need of people then we are better prepared to help each other rather than criticize each other.
God’s mercy then gives us an opportunity for service. After God touched Isaiah’s lips and cleansed him from sin, he was able to volunteer for God’s work. When God Almighty said, who will go for us and whom shall we send, the Prophet responded, here am I – send me. If you and I have ever received anything from God, we will want to share it with someone else.
What would happen if all across the world, people had the attitude of service? What would happened if they cared enough to pray? What would happened if they opened their heart enough to give? What would happen if they loved enough to reach out a helping hand and said, “Here am I send me?” I’ll tell you what would happen – the world would be changed in a moment. God’s mercy would extend to every corner of the planet. Love would prevail where hate once abounded. Grace would cover us all. Let’s press forward to make that happen.