There’s Always More To The Story….

I’ve always been intrigued by the story of Uzzah and the Ark. When King David was bringing it up to Jerusalem he never thought a man would die in the process. This joyous occasion was soon halted by Uzzah’s death. Why would God allow a man to die for trying to prevent the Ark from falling to the ground? Here’s the answer. First, the Ark was to be carried on poles, not on a cart pulled by oxen. Huge mistake. Secondly, no one was to touch the Ark for it was Holy. Only after being ritually cleansed was the one person appointed to care for the ark ever to come in contact with it. Thirdly, Who was Uzzah to think that dirt was far worse touching the Ark than his sinful hands. It’s as if he stepped into the role of God, determining the importance of his actions. God made dirt and He made human beings from that dirt. Human beings rebelled, the dirt didn’t. When we think for God, and prioritize our lives around our own thinking and priorities, we tred on Holy ground. It’s not our place, our right, or our priority to make those types of decisions. The end result for King David was a reverent fear that overcame him and humility followed. He left the Ark in a nearby town, until he figured out what he did wrong and what was necessary to make it right. When he eventually brought it into Jerusalem, he sacrificed an animal every few steps. This shows his change of attitude in handling something Holy. And by the way, when he brought it into his city, they were carrying it on the poles in which God told them is the only way to transport it. Doing things God’s way, with humility and a reverential respect, pleases God. It shows Him you know and accept your place in His grand scheme of things. There’s always more to the story than we perceive. And it’s not until we ask God for insight that we ever understand strange stories in His Word.

1 Then David again gathered all the elite troops in Israel, 30 ,000 in all. 2 He led them to Baalah of Judah to bring back the Ark of God, which bears the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, who is enthroned between the cherubim. 3 They placed the Ark of God on a new cart and brought it from Abinadab’s house, which was on a hill. Uzzah and Ahio, Abinadab’s sons, were guiding the cart as it left the house, 4 carrying the Ark of God. Ahio walked in front of the Ark. 5 David and all the people of Israel were celebrating before the Lord, singing songs and playing all kinds of musical instruments–lyres, harps, tambourines, castanets, and cymbals.6 But when they arrived at the threshing floor of Nacon, the oxen stumbled, and Uzzah reached out his hand and steadied the Ark of God. 7 Then the Lord’s anger was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him dead because of this. So Uzzah died right there beside the Ark of God.8 David was angry because the Lord’s anger had burst out against Uzzah. He named that place Perez-uzzah (which means “to burst out against Uzzah”), as it is still called today.9 David was now afraid of the Lord, and he asked, “How can I ever bring the Ark of the Lord back into my care?” 10 So David decided not to move the Ark of the Lord into the City of David. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-edom of Gath. 11 The Ark of the Lord remained there in Obed-edom’s house for three months, and the Lord blessed Obed-edom and his entire household.12 Then King David was told, “The Lord has blessed Obed-edom’s household and everything he has because of the Ark of God.” So David went there and brought the Ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the City of David with a great celebration. 13 After the men who were carrying the Ark of the Lord had gone six steps, David sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf. 14 And David danced before the Lord with all his might, wearing a priestly garment. 15 So David and all the people of Israel brought up the Ark of the Lord with shouts of joy and the blowing of rams’ horns. 2 Samuel 6:1-15