2 Samuel 6:1-8
Again David gathered all the choice men of Israel, thirty thousand. And David arose and went with all the people who were with him from Baale Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, whose name is called by the Name, the Lord of Hosts, who dwells between the cherubim. So they set the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill; and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart. And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill, accompanying the ark of God; and Ahio went before the ark. Then David and all the house of Israel played music before the Lord on all kinds of instruments of fir wood, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on sistrums, and on cymbals.
And when they came to Nachon’s threshing floor, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. Then the anger of the Lord was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his error; and he died there by the ark of God. And David became angry because of the Lord’s outbreak against Uzzah; and he called the name of the place Perez Uzzah to this day.
Context:
When Saul was the king over Israel, the ark of the covenant, the holiest object in Israel symbolizing the very presence of God (which God commanded Moses to make more than 400 years before David’s time), resided at the temple in Shiloh where Eli and his sons ministered as priests. The ark of God was 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide and 30 cubits high. In it were the tablets of the law that Moses brought down from Mount Sinai, a jar of manna, and Aaron’s rod that miraculously budded. During the battle against the Philistines, Phinehas, the son of Eli, took the ark into the battle, to ensure victory. However, Israelites, including Eli’s sons were corrupt and the Lord was not with them in the battle. Naturally, the Philistines won the battle and also captured the ark (1 Samuel 4). The Lord struck the Philistines because of the ark and so they returned the ark to Israel (1 Samuel 6). The ark remained at Kiriath-jearim in the house of Abindadab for twenty years.
1 Samuel 7:1-2 - Then the men of Kirjath Jearim came and took the ark of the Lord, and brought it into the house of Abinadab on the hill, and consecrated Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the Lord. So it was that the ark remained in Kirjath Jearim a long time; it was there twenty years. And all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord.
Following the tragic death of Saul and his three sons in the battle against the Philistines, David began the king over Judah and then Israel. After his kingship, David intended to bring the ark to the city of David. He wanted to enjoy the presence of God and his blessings.
David made all the preparation to bring the ark from Kirjath Jearim to the capital city Jerusalem. Kiriath-jearim was located 9 miles (15 km) west northwest of Jerusalem. He gathered 30000 men of Israel to bring up the ark to Jerusalem. They set the ark of God on a new cart. The two sons of Abinadab, Uzza and Ahio were driving the cart. David and all Israel played music before God on all kinds of instruments – harp, tambourines, cymbals and trumpets.
And when they came to the threshing floor of Nachon, the oxen stumbled. So, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God to take of hold of it and prevent it from falling. At that time, the anger of the Lord arose against Uzzah and he struck him there. Uzzah died.
Imagine how the entire situation would have changed in a second. In verse 5, everyone were rejoicing, dancing and playing music before the Lord. Now, suddenly, death took place. A sudden terror took over the rejoicing crowd. The joy turned into occasion of grief and mourning. So much so that even David questioned the justice of God. David was more upset at God for striking Uzzah, instead of Uzzah for touching the ark. David even named the place of the death as Perez-Uzzah because he was angry because of the Lord’s outbreak against Uzzah.
It is a troublesome paragraph for many. Uzzah appeared to have done something good - reaching out his hand to steady the ark, which was in danger of falling—but the Lord became angry and struck Uzzah so that he died. On reading this passage, we get the impression of an unpredictable God imposing a punishment out of proportion.
However, a deeper look into the scripture provides a greater insight.
1. Failure to follow God’s pattern of transporting the ark – When the Lord struck the Philistines because of the ark, they returned the ark to Israel by setting it on a new cart. The Lord allowed them to do so since they knew nothing about the ark of God and had no Levites or priests to teach them the proper way to transport the ark. However, Israel was commanded a pattern for transporting the ark. The sons of Kohath, the son of Aaron, were responsible for transporting the ark of the covenant (we are not sure if Uzzah was a Levite and a descendent of Kohath). They were to carry the ark on their shoulders and not place it on a cart. (Num. 4:1-15). God had a purpose behind this instruction. If the ark was placed in an oxen-drawn cart, and the oxen stumbled, or were spooked by something, there were chances that the ark would fall. Thus, the ark was supposed to be carried on long poles upon the shoulders of the sons of Kohath.
However, the instructions were not followed correctly. Perhaps, people had backslidden so much and there was such a lack in the knowledge of God and his commandments. Perhaps there was lack of the degree of reverence which God required. They placed the ark of God on a new cart. And where did get this idea from? Philistines had done this in the past. David and the people with him were so much affected by the ways of the Philistines.
Worldly ways are not acceptable when we are children of God. Many times, we are so affected by the ways of the world that we begin to trust in them. The world’s music, dress, standards of justice etc… We have standards of God in the Bible which we need to abide.
2. Uzzah was not supposed to touch the ark
Numbers 4:15 - And when Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all the furnishings of the sanctuary, when the camp is set to go, then the sons of Kohath shall come to carry them; but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die.
First, we are not sure if Abinadab and his sons Uzzah and Ahio were Levites. Even if they were, not all Levites but only the sons of Kohath could touch the ark.
Uzzah’s death was the direct result of the violation of the command of God as in Numbers 4:15.
One important point to notice here was that Uzzah’s intentions were good. As the oxen stumbled, he was concerned that the ark of the covenant might fall off the new cart. With the intention of steadying the tottering ark, Uzzah reached back and touched the ark. Uzzah's long familiarity with the ark, and the constant attendance he had given to it cannot be the excuse for the lack of the degree of reverence expected by God.
Sins committed with good intentions were also punished by God. Wrong actions cannot be sanctified by good intentions.
We find Paul warning the Romans about this. The Romans had a zeal for God. However, Paul condemned them that this zeal was not according to the knowledge of God. They failed to practice God’s righteousness. Rather, with their zeal, they were going to establish their own righteousness.
Romans 10:1-3
Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.
This is very true in today’s Christianity. Many have a zeal for God. However, rather than committing to the will of God, they follow their own mind and their self-righteousness.
Let us read the words of the Lord as in Matthew 7:22.
Matthew 7:22, 23 - Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
Jesus talks about a group of people who would prophesy in the name of Jesus, cast out demons and even perform the miracles. Perhaps they were telling the truth. Jesus did not say that they lied. However, Jesus called them as those who practices lawlessness. What was the lawlessness they committed?
Jesus already mentioned the reason in Matthew 7:21
Matthew 7:21 - “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
They would have prophesied, cast out demons and done many miracles. However, they did not do them in accordance with the will of God in their lives. They were not obedient to the calling of God in their lives. Thus, even if they had done much wonders in their zeal for Christ, that was not approved. Unlawful means of attaining the end purpose is not acceptable.
3. Counsel of great men cannot be taken as Godly counsel
According to 1 Chronicles 13:1, David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader before bringing the ark of God. However, he did not seek God’s counsel nor searched His word.
Something right in the eyes of the people and the captains and the leaders does not necessarily make it right in the eyes of God.
We also need to take the counsel of God in everything.
We find similar such instance in the Bible.
Joshua 9 - Then the men of Israel took some of their provisions; but they did not ask counsel of the Lord. So Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them to let them live; and the rulers of the congregation swore to them.
The neighbouring Gibeonites approached Israel as if they were faraway sojourners seeking asylum. Here, Joshua and the elders of Israel sampled their provisions but failed to consult the Lord. They entered into a covenant of peace treaty with them. This was against the command of God which required that no covenant should be made with the people of Canaan (Exodus 23:32).
Now, one can understand why the justice behind the Lord’s outbreak. The people failed to follow God’s instructions for transporting the ark, David sought the counsel of men but did not approach God and finally Uzzah touched the ark which he was not supposed to.
David’s reaction:
1. David became angry because of the Lord’s outbreak against Uzzah; and he called the name of the place Perez Uzzah to this day (2 Samuel 6:8)
Why should David be angry with God? Was God wrong? David was too quick to conclude that God did not appreciate his good intention of bringing the ark back and Uzzah’s good intention of preventing the ark from falling. David resented for the sudden punishment that came upon Uzzah that changed entire atmosphere of joy. Most of us act like David. When we face troubles, we are too quick to blame God and conclude that He is unfaithful.
2. David was afraid of the Lord
2 Samuel 6:9 - David was afraid of the Lord that day; and he said, “How can the ark of the Lord come to me?”
This was not Godly fear out of reverence but fear out of His anger. See what he spoke out of his fear, “How can the ark of the Lord come to me?” David, who once so eagerly wanted to bring back the ark to the city of David, now doesn’t want the ark with him in his city. He doesn’t want the presence of God with him. Our anger with God often leads us to making wrong decisions. In their anger, many give up prayer, reading the Bible, going to church etc. This is backsliding. This would make our situation worse than better.
3. David realized his mistakes
I am glad for David, who although was quick to be angry, did not sink down. I believe, he had the Spirit of God, convicting him of his errors.
- He realized that it was not the mistake of God but himself and the people and spoke saying:
1 Chronicles 15:12, 13 – “For because you did not do it the first time, the Lord our God broke out against us, because we did not consult Him about the proper order.”
He realized that the outrage of God was because David and his men did not consult Him about the proper order
4. He did everything in an orderly manner according to the Word of God
- He made sure that it was the Levites who carried the ark
1 Chronicles 15:2 - Then David said, “No one may carry the ark of God but the Levites, for the Lord has chosen them to carry the ark of God and to minister before Him forever.”
-He made sure that the priests were sanctified
1 Chronicles 15:12 - He said to them, “You are the heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites; sanctify yourselves, you and your brethren, that you may bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel to the place I have prepared for it.”
1 Chronicles 15:14 - So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel.
-The Levites bore the ark on shoulders instead of placing it on a cart
1 Chronicles 15:15 - And the children of the Levites bore the ark of God on their shoulders, by its poles, as Moses had commanded according to the word of the Lord.
Results of repentance and following God’s instructions
1. The joy returned
1 Chronicles 15:25 - So David, the elders of Israel, and the captains over thousands went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord from the house of Obed-Edom with joy
1 Chronicles 15:28 - all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of the horn, with trumpets and with cymbals, making music with stringed instruments and harps.
2. God Himself helped the Levites because they followed God’s way
1 Chronicles 15:26 - And so it was, when God helped the Levites who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord
3. They reached their destination
1 Chronicles 15:9 - the ark of the covenant of the Lord came to the City of David
If we are careful to obey the Lord, we will have the peace and joy of the Lord in our hearts and the Lord will be with us amidst all our difficulties. He will help us reach our destination.
