DEATH FOR IRREVERENCE
Uzzah’s death described in 2 Samuel 6 is tragic.
David ….. and all his men went to …. Judah to bring up from there the ark of God …….. They set the ark of God on a new cart and brought it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab, were guiding the new cartwith the ark of God on it……David and all Israel were celebrating with all their might before the Lord, with castanets, harps, lyres, timbrels, sistrums and cymbals…..When they came to the threshing floor of Nakon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. The Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore, God struck him down, and he died there beside the ark of God. (v 1-7)
After a brief period of captivity of the ark of God, it resided for around 20 years at the house of Abinadab. David, spurred by his enthusiasm for the Lord, decides to bring the ark to Jerusalem. And while the zeal was evident, what was forgotten were the specifications God had given Israel regarding the manner in which the ark was to be transported. The ark was to be transported on poles with Kohathites carrying the poles. The ark itself and the contents within were never to be touched and the ark signified the very presence of God and touching the ark was punishable with death (Numbers 4:15). Instead, David had the ark being brought in a cart being pulled by oxen. The oxen stumble on the way and Uzzah reaches out to hold and steady the ark. Immediately, God’s anger strikes Uzzah down and he dies by the ark.
Several lessons can be learnt from this tragic but interesting story. First, zeal for God should be matched by careful obedience. Zeal and enthusiasm by itself cannot please God. God issues specifications for our lives and finding the will of God diligently and following it is the sure way to abundance and success. Even when it comes to God’s ministry, being enthusiastic without waiting to find the will of God is being too simple and can at times be very costly.
Second, proximity to God should never be underestimated. We often think of the love of God which knows no bounds but often forget that the holiness and perfection of God cannot coexist with the sinfulness of human nature. So when we get close to God or the things of God, utmost care and reverence needs to be observed so that we are not consumed by the fire of God, because of our sinfulness. Often people desire to experience and manifest the powerful signs of God without recognizing how risky such proximity can be.
While Uzzah’s death was tragic, David learnt a valuable lesion and made sure that when the ark was transported next, utmost care was taken and the specifications were carefully followed.
