King Uzziah of Judah did what was right in the eyes of the Lord...for most of his reign but then turned away - prideful:
16 But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the LORD his God, and entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense. 17 Azariah the priest with eighty other courageous priests of the LORD followed him in. 18 They confronted King Uzziah and said, “It is not right for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the LORD. That is for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who have been consecrated to burn incense. Leave the sanctuary, for you have been unfaithful; and you will not be honored by the LORD God.”
19 Uzziah, who had a censer in his hand ready to burn incense, became angry. While he was raging at the priests in their presence before the incense altar in the LORD’s temple, leprosy[c] broke out on his forehead. 20 When Azariah the chief priest and all the other priests looked at him, they saw that he had leprosy on his forehead, so they hurried him out. Indeed, he himself was eager to leave, because the LORD had afflicted him.
I am more prideful than I care to think. I believe I am better than others in many ways and my behavior bears this out as I talk as if I know and this is not so - Lord forgive me!
My Prayer: Lord, you are great and it is ONLY you that is great. For I say or I think that I am great and it is not so and I desperately seek your forgiveness for this and also seek to be purified of this pride. Help me remain humble and in fear of you, in reverence of you and help me stay close to you - by coming to you, worshipping you, praying to you, listening to you, trusting you, and obeying you.
