AI Summary
5 min readDay 172: Uzziah’s Pride — The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
The reading for Day 172 covers 2 Kings 3, 2 Chronicles 26–27, and Psalm 72. The centerpiece is the story of King Uzziah of Judah, a ruler who started well, prospered enormously, and then destroyed himself through pride—not by abandoning God, but by deciding he could worship God however he wanted.
The pattern of success and ruin
Uzziah became king at sixteen and reigned for fifty-two years in Jerusalem. The text says he “did what was right in the eyes of the Lord” and “set himself to seek God” while under the instruction of a prophet named Zechariah. As long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper—and the prosperity was dramatic. Uzziah defeated the Philistines, Arabs, and Meunites. The Ammonites paid him tribute. His fame spread to the border of Egypt. He fortified Jerusalem, built towers in the wilderness, dug cisterns for his herds, and maintained an army of over 300,000 soldiers equipped with shields, spears, helmets, bows, and even siege engines “invented by skillful men.”
But then comes the hinge: “But when he was strong, he grew proud, to his destruction.”
The specific sin: not idolatry, but unauthorized worship
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What you'll learn
- 1 (00:03) **Episode Opening & Reading Plan** - Fr. Mike introduces the podcast, day 172, and the day's readings: 2 Kings 3, 2 Chronicles 26-27, and Psalm 72.
- 2 (00:54) **2 Kings 3: Alliance Against Moab** - The kings of Israel (Jehoram), Judah (Jehoshaphat), and Edom unite to fight Moab but run out of water in the wilderness.
- 3 (02:38) **Elisha's Prophecy & Miraculous Water** - Elisha, out of regard for Jehoshaphat, prophesies that God will fill the dry stream bed with water without wind or rain, and give them victory over Moab.
- 4 (04:43) **The King of Moab's Desperate Sacrifice** - In defeat, the king of Moab sacrifices his eldest son as a burnt offering on the wall, causing "great wrath" upon Israel and their withdrawal.
- 5 (05:00) **2 Chronicles 26: Uzziah's Prosperous Reign** - Uzziah becomes king at age 16 and reigns for 52 years in Jerusalem, doing what is right in the Lord's eyes.
- 6 (07:10) **The Mechanism: Pride and Apostasy** - "But when he was strong, he grew proud to his destruction."
- 7 (07:34) **The Confrontation & Consequence** - Azariah the priest and 80 other priests confront Uzziah, telling him to leave the sanctuary.
+ Full timestamped outline available in the app
Guests on this episode
Show Notes
Fr. Mike zeroes in on how Uzziah's prideful desire to worship God in his own way led to his tragic death. We are reminded once again how easily the kings over Judea strayed away from God after achieving greatness. Today's readings are 2 Kings 3, 2 Chronicles 26-27, and Psalm 72.
For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear.
Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.
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