January 21

Psalm 96-100, 2 Samuel 5-6

Why did God kill Uzzah?

Picture this, the ark of God is on a brand new cart, They are simply guiding and helping it along when the oxen stumbled that was pulling the cart. If he had not reached out and touched it, the ark would have fallen and it would have crashed to the ground.

So why did God kill him?

The answer to that goes back to the original intention for the ark.

But first, remember what the ark of the Covenant represented. It was the very place where the presence of God had come down and talked with Moses - right between the cherubim on the lid of the ark. God intended that the Israelites remember the sacredness and holiness of God when they were around the ark. There was a great respect that was demanded for the ark.

While they had built a new cart for the ark to go on, they had missed God’s intention. Now remember, the ark has sat in Abinadab’s house for over two decades. It is likely that the people had forgotten how the Ark was to be handled.

So let’s refresh ourselves. What was the violation here?

When you go back to Numbers 7, Moses is giving instructions for how to handle the things of God. Remember, at this time, Israel is mobile and moves quite often. So God gave them instructions on how to handle the things of the Tabernacle. Listen to the instruction of Numbers 7:8-9 he gave the Mararites four carts and eight oxen, as their service required, all under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest. But he did not give any to the Kohathites, since they were to carry on their shoulders the holy objects for which they were responsible.

The last part here about carrying it on their shoulders comes from Numbers 4. When we go back there, we find out that Aaron was to cover all the things of the tabernacle and prep them for moving while the Kohathites prepared themselves to be clean.

There was a pretty important ritual to moving the ark. So when David and the Israelites place it on a new cart and just move along with no regard to how it was supposed to be handled, they were breaking the rituals set in place for handling the ark.

Understand, this is the presence of the Lord they are mishandling.

So what’s the big deal? Why was God so angry?

In regards to the things of God, there is a lot of symbology that takes place. The ark, representing the presence of God, rested on the shoulders of the priests through the poles there were inserted into it. This was a reminder to the Priests that they carry the weight of bringing God’s presence with corrupt and perverse people. It was through respect of the presence of God, that the Levites were able to reconcile the relationship between God and his people. This was - and still is - a big deal.

Now the beauty is, Jesus, replaced the ark. We carry the name of Jesus with us wherever we go. This story is equivalent to the story of Ananias and Sapphira that we will read about in the book of Acts. There is a blatant disrespect for the reconciliation work that God is doing between himself and mankind. And he won’t put up with that.

Here is another key point to realize. When the Israelites stood in Abinadab’s house and decided to place the ark on the cart, they would have still had to insert the poles and lift the ark onto the cart. They saw the proper way to respect the presence of the Lord, yet for some reason ignored the respect of this holiness.

I think it is so easy for us to disregard the presence of the Lord today still.

We come to church and enjoy worship, we hear the Word of God, and even spend time in Holy communion, and fail to stop and realize the magnitude of the Holy God we serve. And here is why God was angry with Uzzah, later with Ananias and Sapphira, and maybe even with us today. . . .

His design is that the people of God, would carry the weight of reconciling people back to him. The priests interceded on behalf of the people and God, and Jesus did the same on the cross. Yet today, you and I, too, have the unbelievable opportunity to be part of the Mission of God. And that mission is still reconciliation. When we carry the weight of people, and help bring them to Christ for a new life in him, we are working in the same regard. So when we disrespect the presence of the Lord, or misrepresent him to the people around us, we are handling God no differently than Uzzah as he reached out and touched the ark.

WE must be people who join in the mission of God, by joining in his work to redeem all mankind. That has to start, with a holy respect for the presence of God!

So, may you represent Christ well today. May you take proper time to prepare your heart. May you slow down and look around you. And may God lead you as you carry the Holy name of Jesus, to the people around you.