"And they withstood Uzziah the king, and said unto him, It appertaineth not unto thee Uzziah, to burn incense unto the Lord, but to the priests of the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated to burn incense: go out of the sanctuary, for thou hast trespassed: neither shall it be for thine honour from the Lord God." --- 2 Chronicles 26:18.
Here is the only blot we find upon the name of Uzziah; as long as he sought the Lord, and worshipped according to the Divine appointment, God made him to prosper; God helped him marvellously till he was strong, but when he was strong his heart was lifted up to his own destruction. He was not content with the honours God had put on him, but would usurp those that were forbidden him, like our first parents.
The chief priests and the other priests were ready to burn incense for the king, according to the duty of their office; and plainly acquainted him, that if, through a mistaken zeal, he offered to do it himself, he would incur the wrath of God, and suffer for it; but this only served to excite his wrath, till he felt the judgment of God's hand in his punishment. Though he strove with the priests, he would not strive with his Maker, but retired as soon as he was smitten with the leprosy. We see, in the present instance, as in many others, that "the God we have to deal with is a jealous God," who expects all that serve him shall do it according to his own institutions.
Do you reader, come to him in the way of his appointments? Take care that you come not with unhallowed fire before the Lord, lest you be also smitten. Our prayers, our graces, and our duties must all be put by faith into the the hands of our Lord Jesus, the great high priest of our profession, to be by him presented unto God along with the sweet incense of his merits, else we shall find ourselves deceived, and have no acceptance with God.
No strange incense let me bring
To present unto my King;
I renounce my own desert;
Jesus, thou my incense art.