What I learned From Uzziah’s Misfortune
Lessons from 1 Chronicles 13
The deeper I think about this chapter the deeper I think…
David, the man after God’s own heart, the man God anointed to take over the kingdom, the man who was to unite Israel, wanted to bring the Ark back to its rightful place.
As we read, we can see that He is already bringing unity to the kingdom by consulting people from across the land. He brings them all together to bring back the ark.
The people are celebrating and worshiping with all their might. I can picture the parade vividly in my mind with dancing and timbrels, singing and shouting.
The ark was being transported on a cart being pulled by oxen, which seems innocent enough.
Just as they were coming to the threshing floor the oxen stumbled and Uzziah was concerned the Ark would fall off the cart, so He put his hand out to steady it and died instantly.
I stumbled at this myself. I am sure Uzziah’s motives and heart was pure in his action, so why would he be struck down? Part of me says that is not fair, He didn’t know any better. I want to argue his heart was pure, he was trying to help.
The Bible does not tell us that was how David felt but it did say He was angry. So much so that He left the Ark there and named the place after Uzziah.
So why did it happen?
First, there were rules set out of how the Ark was to be moved and who may move it. It was after all the manifest presence of God among the people. These things were disregarded, it was treated like any other piece of cargo, pulled by oxen on a cart. When there were specific instructions for it to be carried on poles by specific priests.
I still have my little voice saying but God knew their hearts. Was He not pleased that David and the people wanted to bring back the Ark to its rightful place?
I believe He was very pleased with the people and the motives, but He is Holy and must be treated as Holy. He wanted His presence to be with them more than they could even have begun to desire. However, there are still parameters. We can not touch the Holiness of God.
We must come to Him in reverence respecting not only who He is but also His statutes and guidelines.
Could it be that the Holiness of God is so powerful that man may not touch it and live and that is why God said don’t touch it? Was it for our own good that He said don’t do that, instead of an attitude of I don’t want you to touch my stuff?
The more I read the word of God and get to know the character of God the more it is revealed to me that He gave his statutes and rules based on the fact that He doesn’t want the bad things that follow, the consequences, of those actions to come to us. His rules, statues are not meant to be a mean judgelike being, but to be a loving father. ‘don’t get too close to the edge you will fall’
God is Holy, that is who he is, it is not just a cloak he puts on and can take off. So, His holiness has to be taken seriously. He wants us to come close, He wants us to want Him as much as He wants us. His father's heart aches for us.
Uzziah’s death was a consequence, not just a slap on the hand as it were. God’s Holiness was on that Ark it was the embodiment of His presence on earth. God told them how to handle the Holiness, the Ark.
What did I take away from this reading this morning? I learned that God does want us to be close to him, He does want us to pursue Him, to bring Him into our lives into our abode. But we can never take for granted who He is and How we have to come to Him.
He has provided a way, just as He did in the Old Testament. A way to come into The Presence of His Holiness without the consequences of sin taking us out as suddenly as Uzziah. That way is Jesus. He wants everyone to come to him!
Does he hear everyone’s call? Yes, I believe He does. He will draw them to himself. It is His desire that all come home.
Once we have become His children that doesn’t give us a free for all, He is still Holy, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Yet He is our Father with the heart of a father who loves his children dearly.
And as I said at the beginning the deeper I think, the deeper, I think…
So, in my everyday life, how do I treat Him?
How do I interact with Him?
Do I walk my life keenly aware of His presence, provision, protection with gratitude?
Do I press prayer buttons like a slot machine and hope for a jackpot?
Do I converse with Him every step of the way like my best friend?
Is He reserved as a panic button when things go wrong?
Not that praying when you are in a panic or needing an answer to prayer is wrong, they are not but is that the only way we interact with Him.
He wants a relationship with us, He wants to share our everyday. He blesses us daily in so many ways that we don’t even recognize.
He says His sheep hear His voice… how can they recognize His voice? They have heard him speak often, they have tuned their hearing and have become acquainted with his voice. Even as I write this my heart’s cry is Father, help us hear Your voice louder than all the other voices that clamor for our attention.
Let us never forget who He is and hold that in a special place not only in our hearts but in everyday life, yet love and worship and trust him with childlike exuberance and faith.
