1 Chronicles 13:8-12 - David and all the Israelites were
celebrating with all their might before God, with songs and with harps, lyres,
tambourines, cymbals and trumpets. When they came to the threshing floor of
Kidon, Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the ark, because the oxen stumbled.
The LORD's anger burned
against Uzzah, and he struck him down because he had put his
hand on the ark. So he died there before God. Then David was angry because the LORD's wrath
had broken out against Uzzah, and to this day that place is called Perez Uzzah.
David was afraid of God that day and
asked, "How can I ever bring the ark of God to me?"
The pathway to Jerusalem was lined with all the Israelites…celebrating
the return of the Ark Of The Covenant to the city where they felt it belonged. They danced before the oxen cart….and sang
songs of praise to God….rejoicing with each other as they returned the tablets
with God’s commands to Jerusalem. David
led the group….so happy that God had finally allowed him to begin his reign as
king…so overjoyed from his love of God…that he danced in sheer ecstasy.
But David’s joy quickly turned to fear and anger as he
watched Uzzah die before his eyes. The cart he had rigged to carried the Ark
hit rough terrain...and Uzzah reached out a hand to steady the Ark before it
fell to the ground…. breaking the orders of God to never touch the Ark. God struck him dead instantly…while all
watched on in horror. David ordered the Israelites
to stop…and carry the Ark to a nearby home…where it stayed for 3 months…while David
just wondered how he would ever be able to move it the entire distance to
Jerusalem without further calamity.
We almost always bring about disaster in our lives when we
step out on our own understanding of what God wants in our life. David’s mistake was not stopping to research
the rules of moving the Ark…before he decided a simple cart and two priests
would suffice. They had neglected God’s word for so long that they had no clue
they were doing anything wrong.
Our lives with God require careful balance…we can only use
the spirit he gives us …if we understand the boundaries he described in the
word he left us…to know how he wants us to live our lives. Disaster will come upon us in a moment’s
notice when we step outside of the rules he gave us to live. The joy we think we have will be turned to
sorrow and fear in an instant if we fail to follow his word.
Father...thank you for this story that reminds me I am only
smart and wise when I allow you to reveal your true wisdom through your word. Help me to never be so confident in my own understanding
that I try to move ahead of you again.
Help me to embed so much of your word in my heart and soul that I know
the way to go without bringing sorrow on those around me because I step out on
my own. Amen.
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