Wednesday Bible Blurb: Pride, The Leper and Lucifer 6/19/2024
It was Spring break from college back in 1978 when I boarded a little one engine Cessna plane and flew between the islands of Hawaii. What a magnificent time for a young 19-year-old man. Deep blue oceans swirled below as we traversed from island to Island. The lush green of islands and the tremendous fields of pineapples growing down below will forever stand out in my mind. As we flew over the cost of Molokai the pilot pointed out we were over the Kalaupapa leper colony of Hawaii. Looking down with a chill in my spine I could see the homes below. The thought of leprosy strikes fear into the heart of many and I was no exception. Please do not land the plane near Kalaupapa.
Sixteen years old is a wonderful age for a young man but to be anointed King of Judah at such a young age must have given King Uzziah a bag of mixed emotions. Many of the Kings of Judah had done evil in the sight of the LORD but Uzziah “did what was right in the sight of the LORD… and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper.” (II Chron. 26:4a,5b [NKJV]). Young Uzziah reigned for 52 years as King of Judah and he prospered and along with his righteousness, Judea prospered too.
Success can bring pride and Uzziah was no different. When he had reigned many years, he pridefully lifted himself up and entered the temple in Jerusalem to burn incense to God. This was the job of the Priests and Uzziah was usurping their roll and God was not pleased with him. The priests intervened, ordered him out of the temple and he proceeded on to try to burn the incense. “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” (Pro. 16: 18 [KJV]). Uzziah became furious with the priests and “while he was angry with the priests, leprosy broke out on his forehead” and the priests thrust him out of the temple and he was a leper until the day of his death. (II Chron. 26:16-23). Uzziah, once so righteous in the eyes of God allowed his pride to lift him up and God struck him down.
As one of the three archangels of God, Lucifer was brilliant and beautiful until pride entered his heart. “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds,
I will be like the Most High.’ Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, To the lowest depths of the Pit.” (Isa. 14:12-15[NKJV]). Lucifer was oozing with pride and like prideful King Uzziah, he raised himself up and like a leper he will be cast out.
Uzziah and Lucifer, prideful and full of the leprosy of sin. Leprosy, the most feared of diseases in the Bible, brought utter fear to people. The concept of having your body rot away while alive, the loss of feeling in your affected parts would make even Kings cringe in fear. One day a leper came own off a mountain of isolation to beg Jesus for healing. With great humility the leper worshiped Jesus and asked for healing, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” (Matt. 8:2). Without pride and filled with fear and humility the leper begged for mercy. Jesus reached out His hand and touched him simply saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” (Matt. 8:3).
To touch a leper was unheard of. The fear of leprosy has existed until our day. When flying over Kalaupapa I felt a twinge of fear just being OVER the leper colony. Jesus, reached out and touched the leper. In 1873, Dr. Gerhard Hansen of Norway discovered leprosy is caused by a bacterium. In 1941 a sulfone drug was created and the ability to cure leprosy began. Today, leprosy is a curable disease.
Pride is also a curable disease. King Uzziah died alone, isolated from his kingdom because of his leprosy. Lucifer the prideful leper of the earth will be outcast and destroyed. King David, after his prideful sin with Bathsheba repented of his ways and asked God to “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” (Psalms 51:10). David recognized his pride and said to God, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and contrite heart- these God will not despise.” (Psalms 51:17). Humility is the cure for pride.
Pride lifted up King Uzziah to sin. Pride lifted up Lucifer to sin. Pride lifted up David to Sin. Pride lifts us up to sin. But a broken heart and a contrite spirit brings us down to humility and faith in God. Our hearts are washed from the leprosy of prideful sin when we humble ourselves to our God.
