In today's reading we see King David working to bring the sacred ark back to Jerusalem. However, something sad happens along the way as Uzzah, who had evidently been a caretaker for the ark, reached out to steady it as the ox cart went over some bumpy road, and he was immediately struck down by God. Suddenly all the rejoicing and merry making comes to a stop.
We often ask, "Why did God strike down Uzzah? Afterall, he was only trying to protect the ark?"
I found the answer in Patriarchs and Prophets. Here's what EGW says:
"The fate of Uzzah was a divine judgment upon the violation of a most explicit command. Through Moses the Lord had given special instruction concerning the transportation of the ark. None but the priests, the descendants of Aaron, were to touch it, or even to look upon it uncovered. The divine direction was, “The sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die.” Numbers 4:15. The priests were to cover the ark, and then the Kohathites must lift it by the staves, which were placed in rings upon each side of the ark and were never removed. To the Gershonites and Merarites, who had in charge the curtains and boards and pillars of the tabernacle, Moses gave carts and oxen for the transportation of that which was committed to them. “But unto the sons of Kohath he gave none: because the service of the sanctuary belonging unto them was that they should bear upon their shoulders.” Numbers 7:9. Thus in the bringing of the ark from Kirjath-jearim there had been a direct and inexcusable disregard of the Lord’s directions.
David and his people had assembled to perform a sacred work, and they had engaged in it with glad and willing hearts; but the Lord could not accept the service, because it was not performed in accordance with His directions. The Philistines, who had not a knowledge of God’s law, had placed the ark upon a cart when they returned it to Israel, and the Lord accepted the effort which they made. But the Israelites had in their hands a plain statement of the will of God in all these matters, and their neglect of these instructions was dishonoring to God. Upon Uzzah rested the greater guilt of presumption. Transgression of God’s law had lessened his sense of its sacredness, and with unconfessed sins upon him he had, in face of the divine prohibition, presumed to touch the symbol of God’s presence. God can accept no partial obedience, no lax way of treating His commandments. By thejudgment upon Uzzah He designed to impress upon all Israel the importance of giving strict heed to His requirements. Thus the death of that one man, by leading the people to repentance, might prevent the necessity of inflicting judgments upon thousands." (Patriarchs and Prophets, 705)Let us pray that we will not be guilty of presumptuous sin, but cast ourselves wholly at the feet of Christ asking Him to wash away every stain of sin that we can come boldly before His presence with exceeding joy!
[Just finishing my time in Australia! God really blessed the Queensland Prayer Conference in Brisbane. About 250 people in attendance. I gave 7 messages, so it was a very packed speaking weekend for me, but God really gave me the strength. He is so good! After the conference I flew down to Newcastle, near Sydney, to visit a friend and speak at a church near Avondale College. Got to see Sunnyside, Ellen White's Australian home, and then took a day trip to Sydney to see the harbor. Also saw some kangaroos... so now I feel like I've really seen Australia! God has been good. Soon I will be preparing for the next leg of my travels as I head to the Philippines for three weeks.]
Tomorrow's Reading: 2 Sam. 8-10 and 1 Cor. 5
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