Why did Uzzah die when he touched the Ark of the Covenant?
7-Jul-09
Long after David was anointed as king of Israel, King Saul died in battle & David then took the throne. When his reign first began & he started to setup shop in Jerusalem, he decided to bring in the Ark of the Covenant. After all, this was David, the “man after God’s own heart” (1 Sam 13.14). In contrast, King Saul was unfaithful, didn’t keep God’s Word, consulted mediums & failed to inquire of the Lord (1 Chr 10.13-14). But King David “became more & more powerful, because the Lord Almighty was with him” (1 Chr 11.9). David was bringing the ark to the political capital so that it could now be the spiritual capital.
David conferred with his officers & high commanders, and then put word out to all of Israel that they were bringing God back the rightful forefront of the nation (1 Chr 13.1-4). (Boy, wouldn’t that be great if someone did that in the U.S.!?!) Old Saul would never have done that. This is God’s man & he’s going to do it up right. So, the whole nation went out to bring up the ark in style. They “celebrated with all their might before God” with songs & every kind of instrument they could find (1 Chr 13.8). That must have been quite the sight!
Then, something happened… something that has always struck me & seems almost unfitting to the scene. The oxen that were transporting the ark stumbled & as a result, a man who surely was concerned about the Ark & an earnest worshipper of God, genuinely reached out to steady the ark. Then, POW… he instantly died! You can almost hear the musical instruments fade out off key. I mean, what gives? (1 Chr 13.9-10). Understandably, David was angry & afraid (1 Chr 13.11-12). I’m sure he was thinking something like, “What in the world was that all about!?! Here I am trying to do something Godly, trying to bring this nation back to God. Now this innocent man died!”
Now, the Scripture says that Lord was behind this & struck down Uzzah, the ark-toucher (1 Chr 13.10). God doesn’t do things randomly, but all things with purpose (Eccl 7.14, Isa 46.10-11). Apparently, David’s plan for the ark wasn’t as well thought out as it seemed:
There was nothing wrong with bringing the ark to Jerusalem as it certainly was honoring to God & ultimately His purpose because it eventually happened safely. There was nothing wrong with seeking human counsel (Pr 15.22). There was nothing wrong with singing, dancing, celebrating & making music because they did this when it finally arrived (1 Chr 15.28). David’s wife, Michal, was even cursed for rebuking David for doing so (2 Sam 6.16, 23). Psalm 150 is dedicated to such musical praise. David had good intentions, but he simply didn’t do things God’s way.
With most everything in life, but specifically with spiritual issues & things regarding worship, there is God’s way or the wrong way. Doing things the wrong way results in personal injury (physical, emotional or spiritual) &/or the detriment of others. This is particularly eternally lethal with respect to salvation. Maybe you have all the right intentions about worshipping God & seeking His salvation, but you are not doing it His way. Maybe there’s even a large consensus of people who condone the way you are doing things, but just as all the Israelites & their leaders were party to David wrong way, they too are not dealing with God in His way (Mt 7.21-23).
Proverbs 14.12 says, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” Perhaps you need to do what David did & make sure you are doing things in accordance with God’s Word, the Bible. The timeless truths of the Scriptures tell us God’s way for our life, our worship &, most importantly, our salvation (Rom 10.17, Eph 1.13). Jesus tells a parable about 2 people who build their spiritual beliefs on different foundations, one on a rock & one on sand (Mt 7.24-27). “But each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ” as is said in 1 Cor 3.10b-11. Christ Jesus is the Rock (1 Cor 10.4). We must exclusively trust in Him to give us eternal life & nothing else, not even religion.
Just as David prepared a place for the ark, the Bible tells us of how we can prepare a place for God in our life. It is by repentance or turning from our wrong doing (sin), including that of seeking God in the wrong way (Ac 3.19, 2 Cor 7.10), then turning fully to God & His ways (Mt 6.33). He will graciously forgive us & freely give us salvation (Rom 3.23-24). No one can earn God’s favor or turn away His wrath by any other means (Ac 4.12).
For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. - Rom 10.2
My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. - Hos 4.6a
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. - Heb 11.6
David conferred with his officers & high commanders, and then put word out to all of Israel that they were bringing God back the rightful forefront of the nation (1 Chr 13.1-4). (Boy, wouldn’t that be great if someone did that in the U.S.!?!) Old Saul would never have done that. This is God’s man & he’s going to do it up right. So, the whole nation went out to bring up the ark in style. They “celebrated with all their might before God” with songs & every kind of instrument they could find (1 Chr 13.8). That must have been quite the sight!
Then, something happened… something that has always struck me & seems almost unfitting to the scene. The oxen that were transporting the ark stumbled & as a result, a man who surely was concerned about the Ark & an earnest worshipper of God, genuinely reached out to steady the ark. Then, POW… he instantly died! You can almost hear the musical instruments fade out off key. I mean, what gives? (1 Chr 13.9-10). Understandably, David was angry & afraid (1 Chr 13.11-12). I’m sure he was thinking something like, “What in the world was that all about!?! Here I am trying to do something Godly, trying to bring this nation back to God. Now this innocent man died!”
Now, the Scripture says that Lord was behind this & struck down Uzzah, the ark-toucher (1 Chr 13.10). God doesn’t do things randomly, but all things with purpose (Eccl 7.14, Isa 46.10-11). Apparently, David’s plan for the ark wasn’t as well thought out as it seemed:
- He seemed to have inquired of everyone else, but the Lord (1 Chr 13.1-4, 15.13).
- He went to great lengths about most everything, but did not ensure that the ark, which represented the presence of the Lord God Almighty, was transported properly. It was to be carried on poles, not on a cart (Ex 36.1, 37.4-5, 1 Chr 13.7-9). It was to be moved by Levite priests, not beasts.
- He acted hastily & did not even have a proper place prepared for the ark once it was in Jerusalem. The 1 Chronicles account seems to indicate that only afterward, he built a tent as sanctuary for the ark (1 Chr 15.1-2).
There was nothing wrong with bringing the ark to Jerusalem as it certainly was honoring to God & ultimately His purpose because it eventually happened safely. There was nothing wrong with seeking human counsel (Pr 15.22). There was nothing wrong with singing, dancing, celebrating & making music because they did this when it finally arrived (1 Chr 15.28). David’s wife, Michal, was even cursed for rebuking David for doing so (2 Sam 6.16, 23). Psalm 150 is dedicated to such musical praise. David had good intentions, but he simply didn’t do things God’s way.
With most everything in life, but specifically with spiritual issues & things regarding worship, there is God’s way or the wrong way. Doing things the wrong way results in personal injury (physical, emotional or spiritual) &/or the detriment of others. This is particularly eternally lethal with respect to salvation. Maybe you have all the right intentions about worshipping God & seeking His salvation, but you are not doing it His way. Maybe there’s even a large consensus of people who condone the way you are doing things, but just as all the Israelites & their leaders were party to David wrong way, they too are not dealing with God in His way (Mt 7.21-23).
Proverbs 14.12 says, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” Perhaps you need to do what David did & make sure you are doing things in accordance with God’s Word, the Bible. The timeless truths of the Scriptures tell us God’s way for our life, our worship &, most importantly, our salvation (Rom 10.17, Eph 1.13). Jesus tells a parable about 2 people who build their spiritual beliefs on different foundations, one on a rock & one on sand (Mt 7.24-27). “But each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ” as is said in 1 Cor 3.10b-11. Christ Jesus is the Rock (1 Cor 10.4). We must exclusively trust in Him to give us eternal life & nothing else, not even religion.
Just as David prepared a place for the ark, the Bible tells us of how we can prepare a place for God in our life. It is by repentance or turning from our wrong doing (sin), including that of seeking God in the wrong way (Ac 3.19, 2 Cor 7.10), then turning fully to God & His ways (Mt 6.33). He will graciously forgive us & freely give us salvation (Rom 3.23-24). No one can earn God’s favor or turn away His wrath by any other means (Ac 4.12).
For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. - Rom 10.2
My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. - Hos 4.6a
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. - Heb 11.6