Day1
Week9
2 Samuel
”They brought it with the ark of God from the house of Abinadab on the hill, and Ahio was walking in front of the ark. Meanwhile, David and the entire house of Israel were celebrating before the Lord with all sorts of instruments made of fir wood, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on sistrums, and on cymbals. When they came to the threshing floor of Nakon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen had stumbled. The Lord became angry against Uzzah, and God struck him down on the spot for his irreverence. He died there beside the ark of God. David became angry because of the outburst of the Lord against Uzzah; that place is called Perez Uzzah to this day. David feared the Lord that day, and he thought, “How can the ark of the Lord come to me?” So David did not allow the ark of the Lord to be brought to him in the City of David. Instead, David redirected it to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite.“
2 Samuel 6:4-10 MEV
Cross references
1 Chronicles 13:7; 8;
Psalm 150:3-5;
Numbers 4:15;
1 Chronicles 13:9;
1 Samuel 6:19;
1 Chronicles 15:13;
Psalm 119:120;
1 Chronicles 26:4-8
Cruel And Unusual Punishment
On the surface, this recount of events seems like cruel and unusual punishment.
Have you ever started something that you knew God had directed you to do?
Did you take off running in excitement before hearing all the instructions?
Uzzah made a decision in a moment to disregard God’s command and to do what seemed right to him. Even decisions made in a moment matter before God.
God struck him there for his error: God fulfilled the ominous promise of Numbers 4:15 and struck Uzzah. David wanted Israel to know the presence of the LORD and God showed up at Nachon’s threshing floor– but not in the way anyone wanted.
Uzzah’s error was more than just a reflex action or instinct. God struck Uzzah because his action was based upon a critical error in thinking.
· Uzzah erred in thinking it didn’t matter who carried the ark.
· Uzzah erred in thinking it didn’t matter how the ark was carried.
· Uzzah erred in thinking he knew all about the ark because it was in his father’s house for so long.
· Uzzah erred in thinking that God couldn’t take care of the ark Himself.
· Uzzah erred in thinking that the ground of Nachon’s threshing floor was less holy than his own hand.
“He saw no difference between the ark and any other valuable article. His intention to help was right enough; but there was a profound insensibility to the awful sacredness of the ark, on which even its Levitical bearers were forbidden to lay hands.” (Maclaren)
Good intentions do not excuse ignorance of God’s Word.
The Ark was never to be carried on a cart new or otherwise. It was to be carried by Levites who were in the family of Kohath. Even they were not to touch it. There were handles on the ark and that is the only part to be touched by them.
Even when the worship is exciting and the people are happy, there is no replacement for His Holy Word.
Action Step
Are you struggling with a decision?
Are you facing challenges?
Everything needed can be found in His Word.
Search and research=Seek and you shall find!