1 Chronicles 13: 1 - 14
Read the Directions
13 Then David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader. 2 And David said to all the assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you, and if it is of the LORD our God, let us send out to our brethren everywhere who are left in all the land of Israel, and with them to the priests and Levites who are in their cities and their common-lands, that they may gather together to us; 3 and let us bring the ark of our God back to us, for we have not inquired at it since the days of Saul.” 4 Then all the assembly said that they would do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people. 5 So David gathered all Israel together, from Shihor in Egypt to as far as the entrance of Hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kirjath Jearim. 6 And David and all Israel went up to Baalah, to Kirjath Jearim, which belonged to Judah, to bring up from there the ark of God the LORD, who dwells between the cherubim, where His name is proclaimed. 7 So they carried the ark of God on a new cart from the house of Abinadab, and Uzza and Ahio drove the cart. 8 Then David and all Israel played music before God with all their might, with singing, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on cymbals, and with trumpets. 9 And when they came to Chidon’s threshing floor, Uzza put out his hand to hold the ark, for the oxen stumbled. 10 Then the anger of the LORD was aroused against Uzza, and He struck him because he put his hand to the ark; and he died there before God. 11 And David became angry because of the LORD’s outbreak against Uzza; therefore, that place is called Perez Uzza to this day. 12 David was afraid of God that day, saying, “How can I bring the ark of God to me?” 13 So David would not move the ark with him into the City of David, but took it aside into the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. 14 The ark of God remained with the family of Obed-Edom in his house three months. And the LORD blessed the house of Obed-Edom and all that he had.
A famous quote made by Lewis Carroll is ‘Read the directions and directly you will be directed in the right direction.’
The picture on the box makes putting together your new bike look so easy-why mess with long, complicated instructions when you can simply eyeball the picture design and get it done in half the time? If this sounds like you, you may be one of the many people who would rather “wing it” than sit down and go through a complicated instruction manual. Perhaps you get lucky sometimes and figure out how something works or can put the toy or equipment together, but for the most part you end up with five extra pieces and your daughter falls on her face because her bike disintegrates as she rides it. Like childbirth, people sometimes tend to forget some of the harshness associated with not reading the instructions first. However, for your safety and the safety of your family, here is how to force yourself to read the instructions.
Confront the reasons why you avoid instructions or instruction manuals. Some people consistently read the directions, cover to cover, but not you. Why?
You feel as though instructions are a waste of time. You just want the meat and potatoes of the new item and don’t need to know every detail about it.
You think that you already know what you are doing. Some people feel as though “they got this” and barrel through because assembling the item or administering the medication is easy.
You are too busy or in too big of a hurry to stop and read all the instructions. Many people work at the speed of light, trying to accomplish more in their day than there is time. One glance of the instruction booklet and you know reading the directions will be way too time consuming.
Make yourself at least glance at the instructions whenever you receive a new item. Whether it’s a new entertainment system that must be put together or an upgraded iPod, tell yourself to pull out the instructions and at least give them a chance.
Recall the last time you tried to assemble/use something new and it blew up in your face. Hopefully the item didn’t blow up in your face, however, there has to be a series of mishaps and misuses in your past if you’ve refused to read the directions. Think about what went wrong and why (most likely because you didn't consult with the instructions).
Have someone else hold you accountable. Tell your spouse, roommate or friend that he/she needs to back you up in your goal to read the instructions first.
Determine how important it is to read the directions. Ponder the ramifications of not reading the directions. In some cases, not reading the directions could put you or your family in harm’s way.
Is this an item that could put you or your family in jeopardy because you don’t read the directions? If you are administering medication or a safety device not reading the instructions could result in someone getting injured or possibly killed. For example, not reading the directions on how to safely install an infant seat in your vehicle could mean the difference between whether your infant makes it out of an accident alive or not.
Could you assemble or use the item incorrectly, which could cause harm to you or someone else? For example, if you are using an at home blood pressure reading system, could your avoidance of the instructions lead you to misread or misinterpret a reading (possibly making you miss lifesaving information)?
Consider that you could be missing out on important/exciting features. Remember the last time you “winged it” when putting together your entertainment system and only found out years later that the system had an extra component for storage.
You already spent the money for the item so make sure you make use of every penny. You may be paying for extra features that you aren’t utilizing, simply because you blow off the instructions.
Ignoring the instructions could delay progress. For example, if you receive an antibiotic from the doctor and the only way the pill is absorbed is if you take it on an empty stomach, it would be important to know this to hasten your recovery. You could be taking the pill with meals only to have to hit round two of the same medication because you aren’t getting well.
Your item’s features could save you both time and money. What if the feature you blew off finding more about could make your day run more efficiently or save you money in the long run? For instance, many new computers provide you with the “plug and play” capabilities, but until users read the instruction manual they will never realize that their system has built in features that can help them do their job or manage their day.
In his enthusiasm and hurry David did not read God’s Instruction paper. The directions reported how The Ark of the Covenant was to be transported. The failure to have taken the proper steps ultimately caused the death of one of his men, Uzza.
God having turned over the kingdom of Saul to David, and having provided him with a powerful army, David now recognized the importance of bringing the Ark of God into Jerusalem for the sake of himself and his people (‘unto us’). It would enhance the status of Jerusalem in the eyes of the people and would focus their hearts on the fact that God dwelt there among them. He did not want to reign as king there unless God was there. We should note the emphasis throughout both on David’s activity, for his was the moving hand behind the act, and on the cooperation of ‘all Israel’. King David, having mounted his righteous throne, now aims to ensure that God Is central in the thoughts of all his people, and he seeks to do this by bringing the Ark of God into Jerusalem. Here was the Great Deliverer of Sinai come among them.
When the Ark had been captured by the Philistines, and had wrought devastation among them, it had been returned to Israel, but after an unfortunate incident it had ended up in Kiriath-jearim.
A truth our Precious Holy Spirit wanted in instill in all of us is that fact of the holiness and untouchability of the God Whom the Ark represented, and the care that had to be taken when dealing with sacred things. And a prime example which brought out both those things was the smiting of Uzzah. That would be a reminder to the returnees from Exile that their God was not to be trifled with. Of course, for them the Ark was no more. It had disappeared at the destruction of Jerusalem. But what it stood for, the presence of a holy God among His people, still stood firm.
To modern man the striking of Uzza was a shocking thing. For modern man has no sense of the awesomeness of God. He thinks only of God as someone rather weak who gives in to our susceptibilities. That is why the Flood offends him. He does not like the thought that God brings all men into judgment. But what happened to Uzza is what should happen to us all. We have all done things for which we deserve to be struck down. It is only due to God’s compassion and longsuffering that it does not happen. And one day we will all be judged. We should rather be grateful that God sometimes gives us such salutary warnings to shake us up and awaken us to the truth concerning His justice and holiness. (Uzza’s eternal destiny would not have been affected by it).
The Ark of God was the golden chest, made at the instigation of Moses at the command of God, which contained the tablets of the covenant, and on which was the Mercy Seat where the people, through the High Priest, could approach God for atonement. There, symbolically, God reigned over His people. It was surrounded with the aura of the very presence of God. It symbolized His presence with His people, for the Mercy Seat from which God pronounced judgment and forgiveness was between the cherubim with their outstretched wings (Exodus 25.18-22), and the prophets had brought home that it was the earthly throne of God (Numbers 7.89). It was, furthermore, the place at which, through the High Priest, the people would seek God (Exodus 25.22), and from which God would speak with them, initially through Moses (Numbers 7.89). It was thus, in David’s eyes supremely holy, and of prime importance to the worship of God’s people. Nothing was therefore of more importance to him than that it should be in its rightful place in Jerusalem, in the Tabernacle which he had erected there to receive it. Now that David was ruling in Jerusalem it was important to him that the visible indicator of the presence of God was there too.
David fails in his first attempt to introduce the Ark into Jerusalem because he ignores the requirements of the Law (chapter 13), and yet reveals blessing on his house (14.1-2). He shows him as multiplying wives to himself contrary to Deuteronomy 17.17 (14.3), and yet as being blessed with many children (14.4-7). He shows him as revealing his pride by numbering Israel and bringing disaster on the people (chapter 21), and yet as blessed in thereby finding the Temple site (21.21-22.1). Thus, David’s failure continually results in the revealing of God’s goodness. Nevertheless, by this very fact of his failures room is left for the coming of a Greater to whom David points.
13 Then David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader.
As the king, David, on determining to bring the Ark into Jerusalem, consults with all the leaders, including the captains of ‘thousands’ and the captains of ‘hundreds. However, the most important thing overlooked was that he did not consult with YHWH’ or research the proper directions in transporting the Ark.
You would think that David grew up learning about the history of Israel. The Jews celebrated ‘Passover’ so the stories must have spoke about how the priests would carry the Ark.
2 And David said to all the assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you, and if it is of the LORD our God, let us send out to our brethren everywhere who are left in all the land of Israel, and with them to the priests and Levites who are in their cities and their common-lands, that they may gather together to us; 3 and let us bring the ark of our God back to us, for we have not inquired at it since the days of Saul.”
David called on ‘the assembly of Israel’. That consisted of all the adult males in Israel within the gathering area of Jerusalem. And his proposition was that if it seemed good to them, and was in accordance with the will of YHWH, they should gather together all the adult males in Israel, among whom the priests and Levites were living, so that they may come together to bring the Ark back into Jerusalem.
Please notice the verse again which says, ‘if it is of the LORD our God’. Do you notice anything strange about this? It is one thing to serve the Lord, but it is even more important that we spend time with the Lord. There is no mention if David enquired directly with God relative to His thoughts.
4 Then all the assembly said that they would do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.
All Israel agreed. David had brought a new religious spark to the people. But one thing was lacking. In their enthusiasm they have not paused to think about what they are about to do. The Ark of the Covenant of YHWH was not just some object to be moved about at will. It was the holiest object in Israel’s religion, and a sign of the very presence of God among His people. Men’s attitude to the Ark brought out men’s attitude to God. More concern should therefore have been shown as to what God thought on the matter and how it was to be brought about. They should have considered the words, ‘Be still and know that I am God’ and have moved with caution. God was not to be treated so lightly. In the past, when the Ark was carried across the Jordan the people had had to keep their distance (Joshua 3.3-4). And the restriction about the bearing of the Ark were very severe. They should have remembered this and asked, how can we move the Ark with due regard to its sacredness?
5 So David gathered all Israel together, from Shihor in Egypt to as far as the entrance of Hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kirjath Jearim.
In accordance with his now popularly confirmed opinion, (but not in accordance with any instruction from God), David assembled all Israel together to bring the Ark into Jerusalem from Kiriath-jearim. Men flocked from all parts of Israel to be present. Not one would want to be missing. It was a huge moment in Israel’s history.
Here David’s sin was that he did not enquire of YHWH for what he intended to do. Had he done so he would have been reminded that the Law was quite clear on how the Ark should be moved. But instead he follows the Philistine method of moving the Ark, with the consequence that God steps in and prevents it.
What follows is paralleled in 2 Samuel 6. In it is described the initial movement of the Ark, accompanied by great celebrations, a movement which continued in that way until disaster struck. The very exuberance of Israel beforehand is in total contrast with the stark horror which resulted from the action of Uzza. But while we may be shocked at what happened, because Uzza was struck down, Israel was shocked because Uzza had dared to lay hold of the Ark. It was something which was unprecedented. Furthermore, we must remember that Uzza was of priestly stock and should have been more aware than most that to touch the Ark of YHWH was total blasphemy. It was one of those things that must not on any account be done. And he had been brought up to that idea from childhood. But instead he revealed a casual disregard for its holiness in the same manner as Nadab and Abihu for the holy fire (Leviticus 10.1-2). It was like trespassing on the holy Mount when God was there (Exodus 19.12-13). It was asking for judgment in the face of harsh warnings.
6 And David and all Israel went up to Baalah, to Kirjath Jearim, which belonged to Judah, to bring up from there the ark of God the LORD, who dwells between the cherubim, where His name is proclaimed.
Then David went up with ‘all Israel’ to Baalah (Baale-judah) to bring the Ark up to Jerusalem. In doing so the absolute holiness of the Ark is described. This description was to bring out the presence of the One Who was invisibly present on it, and to prepare for what follows.
These words prepare for what is to come. They are a reminder that the Ark was not just a religious object. It was ‘the Ark of God which is called by ‘the Name’, that is, ‘by the Name of YHWH of hosts’. It was so sacred that God’s very nature (His Name) related to it. For the use of ‘the Name’ by itself in this way compare Leviticus 24.16c where there is mention of ‘blaspheming the Name’. To be called by ‘the Name’ was to have imputed to it the whole character and nature of the One Whose Name it bore. In other words, it was to be the place where the invisible God made Himself known and could be met with, because His Name was there. He was there in His invisible presence. And that Name was the Name of YHWH Who sits between/above the cherubim, and thus on the Mercy Seat. It was the Name of the Creator and the Lord of Heaven. Thus ,nothing could be more ‘holy than something ‘called by His Name’.
7 So they carried the ark of God on a new cart from the house of Abinadab, and Uzza and Ahio drove the cart.
The Ark of God was then set on a new cart. But the bearing of the Ark on such a cart was an idea first conceived by the Philistines (1 Samuel 6.7). They may well have borne their own gods on such carts. It was on such a ‘new cart’ that it had been returned to Israel. Thus, this was treating God in accordance with Philistine ideas. Note that any such cart used in such a way had to be new so that it had not been soiled by any earthly activity. No cart that had been used for earthly purposes was acceptable. To use a second-hand cart would have been an insult, even blasphemy, for such a cart would have been seen as defiled.
But the way that YHWH had prescribed for the bearing of the Ark was not by such a cart but by Levites using long travelling poles which slotted through rings on the Ark, which not only prevented the need for touching the Ark but made clear that touching it should be avoided. Even the bearers would be at a distance from the Ark. We should therefore remember that had the correct method been used in obedience to God, all that followed would have been avoided. It stresses the need to obey God in all things.
8 Then David and all Israel played music before God with all their might, with singing, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on cymbals, and with trumpets.
As the Ark moved forward David and all Israel accompanied it with singing and with music. The main difference from 2 Samuel is that the idea of ‘songs’ is introduced. All seemed to be going well on what was a most joyous occasion. The whole of Israel was full of joy and gladness.
9 And when they came to Chidon’s threshing floor, Uzza put out his hand to hold the ark, for the oxen stumbled.
Then disaster struck. As they came up to the threshing floor of Chidon the oxen stumbled, and the cart lurched. This was what came of not using God’s prescribed method. And as a consequence Uzza reached out to make sure the Ark would not fall off the cart.
Laying hold of the Ark might seem to us a small thing, for we are of another age and treat holy things lightly, (and indeed mostly we do not have things which we consider as so holy), but for a priest, who had from birth been brought up to recognize that the Ark was untouchable, to do such a thing demonstrated his casual attitude towards holy things. For the untouchability of the Ark, and to allow God to look after Himself, should have been things that were ingrained within him.
In the past God had made it clear that it was of great importance that man should recognize the barrier between man and Himself. He had demonstrated this at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19.12, 24). The lesson there was that to trespass on the holy meant death. It was a vital lesson. Man has always been too prone to think that God can be treated lightly, and at such an important moment the lesson had to be taught that God had to be feared as well as loved. This was why such a thing as this happened. It made clear to all the absolute holiness and ‘otherness’ of God. None present would forget it. It was a reminder that there are times in history when what could at other times be treated more leniently must be treated with the utmost severity. For this was not just some private mistake. It had occurred openly before all the people, and if Uzza had escaped punishment they would never have seen the Ark in quite the same way again. The depth of Israel’s faith was at stake. For this was done to an object seen as so holy that none apart from the High Priest would ever even look on it again, and even he only in an almost pitch-black room. As YHWH’s ‘mercy seat’ (His propitiatory) it represented the presence of God Himself. It was as close as man could ever get to physically approaching the living God. It bore the holy Name of YHWH.
We do not know what went through Uzza’s mind when he did it (the realization of what he had done may well have been what gave him the stroke from which he died), but one thing is clear and that is that it revealed that he had lost his supreme awe of the Ark. His act of reaching out and touching the Ark was unquestionably the act of one to whom the Ark had become just another object, of one who had lost the realization that God was fully represented there. It may well be that he wanted the people to see that he himself was on especially good terms with the Almighty. Or he may have wanted them all to be in awe of him as ‘the man who could touch the Ark and live’. But it was certainly not just the involuntary action of an innocent man. The holiness of the Ark (and of all the Temple furniture) had been too deeply imbued into God’s people for that to be a probability. No other would even remotely have considered the possibility of touching the Ark. Had it fallen off the cart they would have drawn back to avoid it, not tried to save it. So, to do what Uzza did required someone who had grown totally casual and hardened about spiritual things.
10 Then the anger of the LORD was aroused against Uzza, and He struck him because he put his hand to the ark; and he died there before God.
God’s anger is not like our anger. He does not lose His temper or get annoyed. His anger is strictly the consequence of, and the acting out of, His aversion to sin. This is saying that what Uzza had done was unacceptable to the God, Who knows the very thoughts of our hearts, because it was the result of sin and a blasphemous attitude, of treating God casually in front of others. We must remember that God knew exactly what lay behind Uzza’s act, and He was displeased. As a consequence, He smote him so that he died, as all who treat God lightly will one day die. Notice that he died ‘before God’. That is, he died within His presence, as one who was being observed by God. Had his act been innocent he would not have died.
11 And David became angry because of the LORD’s outbreak against Uzza; therefore that place is called Perez Uzza to this day.
This does not mean that David was displeased with YHWH (he would hardly have dared to be). Rather it is saying that he was displeased at the consequences. He was displeased that his plans could not be fulfilled because of what had happened. He was upset at the disruption of those plans. Perez-uzza means ‘the breaking forth upon Uzza’. The name would ever stand as a reminder of what had happened and would have filled men with awe at the holiness of God.
12 David was afraid of God that day, saying, “How can I bring the ark of God to me?”
Uzza was not the only one who had been treating the things of God too lightly. David clearly realized at this point that he too had been doing so, and he was afraid. He now recognized that they had thought to move the Ark, the most holy object in Israel’s faith, without giving the matter proper consideration and without consulting God. Now it was time to think again. God was not there at his convenience. He was not just another god to be carried around on some earthly cart (Isaiah 46.1-2). How then was he to bring the Ark of God ‘to him’. It was going to require careful consideration. Note his desire to bring the Ark ‘to him’. He wanted God alongside him, and in that his heart was right.
13 So David would not move the ark with him into the City of David but took it aside into the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite.
Time had now to be given for seeking God and discovering His will in the matter. So, David did not at that time remove the Ark ‘to him’ to the city of David. Rather he had it carried aside into the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. Obed-edom (‘servant of Edom’) was probably not from Gath, but from Gath-hepher on the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali, the home of the prophet Jonah (2 Kings 14.25). If he was the Obed-edom the Levite of 15.18 this is almost a certainty and would fit in with the need for the Ark to be housed in the house of a Levite, as we would expect.
14 The ark of God remained with the family of Obed-Edom in his house three months. And the LORD blessed the house of Obed-Edom and all that he had.
The Ark remained for three months ‘with the family of Obed-edom, in his house’. And in that time YHWH blessed the house of Obed-edom and all that he had. The Ark was thus a means of blessing to those who housed it rightly. It is seemly that the passage ends with blessing and not cursing. God was not angry at the movement of the Ark, only at the fact that the Ark had been violated due to violation of His instructions.
