In Second Chronicles, chapter twenty-six, verse sixteen, Uzziah fails to realize that all he had accomplished had been with the help of God, as in verses five through seven, and others, as in verses eight, eleven to thirteen, accordingly. The result was pride, which led him into the sins of presumption and unfaithfulness.
The transgression of the kings before Uzziah was the forsaking of the temple of the Lord while burning incense upon idolatrous altars. But his transgression was going into the holy place and attempting to burn incense upon the altar of God. See how hard it is to avoid one extreme and not run into another. Pride of heart was at the bottom of his sin, a lust that ruined many. Instead of lifting the name of God in gratitude to him who had done so much for him, his heart lifted to his hurt.
Men’s pretending to have forbidden knowledge and seeking things too high for them are owing to pride of heart. The incense of our prayers must be, by faith, put into the hands of our Lord Jesus, the great High Priest of our profession, or else we cannot expect it to receive acceptance by God. Though Uzziah strove with the priests, he would not strive with his Maker. But he was punished for his transgression; he continued a leper to his death, shut out from society.
The punishment answered the sin was face-to-face in a glass. Pride was at the bottom of his transgression, and God humbled him and put dishonor upon him. Those who covet forbidden honors forfeit allowed ones. Adam by catching at the tree of knowledge. However, he might not eat of debarred himself of the tree of life which he might have eaten of. Let all that read say, The Lord is righteous.