Scripture: 2 Samuel 6:1 – 11
Title: “Divine Speed-Bumps”
Introduction: David and his men were trying to handle the Holy Presence and glory of God with “Human Hands.”
God will only let you do things your way just so far.
It appears that David’s caravan “hit a bump” in the road at the threshing floor.
Who put that “bump” in the road?
That would be like God!
God has a way of putting “Speed-Bumps” in the middle of the highway of man’s reasoning.
They force us to slow down and ask. “Is this the right thing?”
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David’s problems came when he and his troupe tried to continue on as normal past God’s “Speed-Bump.”
The Lord never intended for His glory to creak along on the back of “Man’s Mechanisms, Vehicles, or Programs.”
God has always ordained for His glory to be transported by sanctified or set apart holy human vessels who reverence as respect His holiness.
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Abinadab’s sons had spent up to 20 years around the ark.
To them, it was an ornate but ordinary box or chest.
They were probably honored when they were chosen to drive the cart carrying the ark, but neither one those young men was PREPARED, and they didn’t know about the “Ancient Warnings” concerning God’s holiness.
Religion without relationship. – Being involved with religion does not insure salvation! – Uzzah perished right beside the ark!
You can go to hell sitting on a church pew!
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I. A SHAKING PLACE.
a. When David’s procession came to “God’s Shaking Place” (Speed-Bump) in the road, the oxen stumbled and Uzzah reached out to steady the ark.
Uzzah’s name literally means “strength, boldness, majesty, security”
b. God’s presence never needs the assistance or guidance of man’s strength to hold its rightful place.
c. Neither will God ever allow the arm of flesh to glory in His presence without “Tasting Death.”
d. Uzzah lost his life because of his honest effort to do something he thought was “Good.”
e. Uzzah didn’t know any better, but “Ignorance is no Excuse” when it come to handling the “Things of God’s Presence.”
II. GOD’S SPEED-BUMPS.
a. A “Speed – Bump” is designed to slow you down. – This is exactly what happened in this situation. (The “Greenwood Mall at Bowling Green, Ky. has some of the roughest “Speed – Bumps” I’ve ever driven over!)
b. A “Speed – Bump” is designed to get your Attention – This is exactly what happened when Uzzah fell dead. – Sometimes God uses a:
“Burning Bush.” – Moses Ex. 3:3
“A ‘Talking Donkey.’” – Balaam Num. 22:23
“A Prison Cell” – Paul & Silas Acts 16:25
“A Firey Furnace” – The Three Hebrews Dan. 3:25 (A fourth man)
c. A “Speed – Bump” is designed to Protect other people – It was better for one to lose his life than for thousands to have the glory of God break out upon them and for them to die.
d. You may not like “Speed – Bumps” but a higher authority than you put them there. – You may not think so, but they are for your own good.
e. Story of the woman who brought her kids to school while I was driving the school bus – She never slowed down, day after day she did the same thing.
III. WHEN GOD’S GLORY BREAKS OUT!
a. They were a happy little “church” taking the presence of God to the place where it belonged. – Then they hit a “Holy Bump” in the road at the threshing floor of Nachon, a Hebrew word which ironically means “prepared.”
b. God’s glory “broke out” on the flesh that drew near to it in a living state and Uzzah was instantly killed. – Obviously they were “unprepared.”
c. God’s STANDARDS of “holiness” have not changed. – Only “dead” men can see God’s face, and only repentant dead flesh can touch His glory!
d. God seemed to be saying, “Look, I’ve let you come this far in your own manner; enough is enough. If you really want My presence back in Jerusalem, then you’re going to have to do it MY way.”
e. Moses asked God to see His face and God said, “And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.”
f. Let us not forget Adam & Eve, “In the day you eat of this tree you shall die.”
g. Also, let us include the story of “Ananias & Sapphira” – God brought judgment upon them for lying to the Holy Ghost. (Acts 5:1-11)
IV. A TIME FOR EVALUATION.
a. When the “Real” presence of God falls on us we begin to ask ourselves the same questions David must have asked, “Should we be the one to take care of this sacred Presence?”
b. Evidently no one else in Israel had seen this side of God, neither has the Church of today seen it.
c. David decided to CANCEL the trip to Jerusalem and pull aside to leave the Presence he now feared at the house of Obededom in nearby Gath (formerly a Philistine stronghold). – The ark stayed there for three months, and the Lord blessed Obededom, his family, and everything that he owned.
d. David had been doing everything he knew to do in the most respectable manner that he knew of. (In fact, David’s methods resemble the methods used by the Philistines years earlier to transport the ark into Israelite territory according to 1 Sam. 6:7) (We may need to change the route we are traveling on)
e. David was dancing at the head of the procession and around the cart along with the rest of the people while they played and sang. – David obviously believed that God would be pleased with his efforts that day.
V. WHEN GOD BREAKS OUT OF HIS BOX.
a. Too often we reach out in “Fleshly Presumption” to stop the God we’ve carefully contained in a box from falling off our rickety man-made MINISTRY program or tradition.
b. We shouldn’t be surprised when God’s glory breaks out of our doctrinal or traditional boxes and shocks us.
c. Something always dies when God’s glory encounters living flesh.
d. It would take David three (3) months to – Recover, Repent, Research, and Return for God’s glory.
CONCLUSION: Something always dies when God’s glory encounters living flesh.
One half (1/2) of the ills of life come because men are unwilling to sit down quietly for thirty minutes to think through all the possible consequences of their acts.
Perhaps, when Uzzah saw the ark sliding off its cart, he should have hit his knees in prayer, rather than put his hand to the divine container. He should have let God worry about keeping the ark on the cart.
You can be angry with God, like David was for three whole months. But God will give your blessings to someone else. Or you can humble yourself in the sight of God.
