“Then David was angry because the Lord’s wrath had broken out against Uzzah, and to this day that place is called Perez Uzzah.” – 2 Samuel 6:8
As a former soldier in the United States military, the importance of following instructions and paying attention to detail is something that has always stuck with me. So as I read the 6th chapter of 2nd Samuel, I’m reminded yet again that decisions bear consequences, and often times those consequences go far beyond what the eye can see.
David whipped the Philistines so badly that they would never bother him again. And now he’s ready to march into Jerusalem with the Ark of the Covenant and declare victory for God’s kingdom.
As David and his men were transporting the sacred Ark, the oxen that was pulling the cart that carried it stumbled on the rocky ground. The cart suddenly shifted to one side, and one of his men, Uzzah, reached out to steady the Ark to keep it from falling to the ground. But the moment Uzzah touched the sacred Ark, God struck him dead then and there.
At first glance, God’s response may seem harsh or even unfair. Why would He punish someone for simply trying to help? Great question.
The Ark of the Covenant was a sacred object that represented the sovereignty of God. This meant it was to be handled only by the priests. Uzzah, though he was acting with good intentions, nevertheless was not a priest and therefore was not authorized to touch the Ark.
Not only that… David and his men had not followed the proper protocol for transporting the Ark. They had not consulted with the priests or sought God’s guidance before transporting it. Instead, they acted impulsively and without regard for the holiness and sanctity of the Ark.
The Bible says that David became incredibly angry. His march into Jerusalem with the sacred Ark before thousands of his people giving him a king’s welcome would now have to wait. But David only had himself to blame. And he recognized this, albeit much too late after the fact. After David composed himself, he then had the Ark properly stored and guarded until he felt the Lord prompt him to continue with it on into Jerusalem.
David’s disobedience offers us a couple of really important things to consider.
The first is that no matter how enthusiastic we may be in showing our love for God, obedience always comes first. Our enthusiasm is not more important than our obedience to Him.
Secondly, God’s authority is not to be disrespected. When we walk into church on Sunday morning, is it with the same attitude as though we are walking into a coffee shop? Or do we take a moment to recognize that God Himself has consecrated His house as a holy and sacred place? Many of us recall how angry Jesus became when he walked into the temple in Jerusalem to see how the local priests had desecrated his Father’s house by turning it into a marketplace; “A den of robbers!” he would call them. (Matt 21:13)
Lastly, we clearly see the value of seeking God’s guidance before we act. Like David and his men, we may be tempted to jump into action without prayerfully considering God’s will. But when we seek His guidance, He will direct our steps and keep us on the right path. How often do we seek his guidance when we’re faced with making important decisions? Do we take a moment to think about the potential consequences of our decisions and who else might be impacted by them?
David’s poor decisions were recorded in the Bible for a reason. Although he was the greatest king in Israel’s history and was always faithful to God, he would still completely miss the mark occasionally. And even though God loved him and chose him to lead His people, there were consequences for his sin no less. And sometimes those consequences impacted others.
So let us meditate on the deep respect and reverence God commands, and the importance of continually seeking His guidance. In our morning prayer, let us ask Him to guide our thoughts and actions for the day. Let us seek His wisdom when we’re faced with decisions that might potentially impact others. And let us be ever mindful of just how kind and merciful He is to us.
May everything we do today honor and glorify Him. Amen.
Former Blackout Artist 