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23 July 2007
2 Samuel 6 v 6-11
When David's men came to the threshing floor of Nacon, the oxen stumbled. So Uzzah reached out to steady the Ark of God. The LORD was angry with Uzzah and killed him because of what he did. So Uzzah died there beside the Ark of God. David was angry because the LORD had killed Uzzah. Now that place is called the Punishment of Uzzah.
David was afraid of the LORD that day, and he said, "How can the Ark of the LORD come to me now?" So David would not move the Ark of the LORD to be with him in Jerusalem. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-Edom, a man from Gath. The Ark of the LORD stayed in Obed-Edom's house for three months, and the LORD blessed Obed-Edom and all his family.
If any of you have seem the film, "Raiders of the Lost Ark" you would realise you don't mess with God. When the Nazi soldiers tried to unleash the power of the Ark of God for their own evil ends they were all fried. That's fiction, but the story of Uzzah being stuck down for reaching out to steady the Ark seems a bit unjust. Even David was angry with God for killing Uzzah.
There are a few things we need to realise before we take sides. The Ark contained tablets of stones with the 10 commandments on them written by God. Only certain people were allowed to carry the Ark. It shouldn't have been carried on a cart but only on long poles (Exodus 25 verse 13). Clearly, David and Uzzah had done wrong. The Ark represented the presence of God and when we are in the holy presence of God we had better make sure we are right with him. 1 Samuel 6 verse 20 says, "Who can stand in the presence of the LORD, this holy God? None of us measure up to God's commands and that's why we all need the forgiveness of God.
We should fear God (or should I say respect him) but he doesn't want us to be ruled by fear because fear isn't a good motive for obeying God. There is a delicate balance needed here. God wants us to love him and respect him. Perhaps it's worth noting that this passage ends with the blessing and not the fear of God. This is the lasting impression we should take from this story.
Lord, help me to have a healthy fear of you but let my life be ruled by love and not fear. Love, which comes from knowing that you sacrificed your life for me so that I could serve you without fear.
Written by Jon Clarke
2 Samuel 6 v 6-11
When David's men came to the threshing floor of Nacon, the oxen stumbled. So Uzzah reached out to steady the Ark of God. The LORD was angry with Uzzah and killed him because of what he did. So Uzzah died there beside the Ark of God. David was angry because the LORD had killed Uzzah. Now that place is called the Punishment of Uzzah.
David was afraid of the LORD that day, and he said, "How can the Ark of the LORD come to me now?" So David would not move the Ark of the LORD to be with him in Jerusalem. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-Edom, a man from Gath. The Ark of the LORD stayed in Obed-Edom's house for three months, and the LORD blessed Obed-Edom and all his family.
If any of you have seem the film, "Raiders of the Lost Ark" you would realise you don't mess with God. When the Nazi soldiers tried to unleash the power of the Ark of God for their own evil ends they were all fried. That's fiction, but the story of Uzzah being stuck down for reaching out to steady the Ark seems a bit unjust. Even David was angry with God for killing Uzzah.
There are a few things we need to realise before we take sides. The Ark contained tablets of stones with the 10 commandments on them written by God. Only certain people were allowed to carry the Ark. It shouldn't have been carried on a cart but only on long poles (Exodus 25 verse 13). Clearly, David and Uzzah had done wrong. The Ark represented the presence of God and when we are in the holy presence of God we had better make sure we are right with him. 1 Samuel 6 verse 20 says, "Who can stand in the presence of the LORD, this holy God? None of us measure up to God's commands and that's why we all need the forgiveness of God.
We should fear God (or should I say respect him) but he doesn't want us to be ruled by fear because fear isn't a good motive for obeying God. There is a delicate balance needed here. God wants us to love him and respect him. Perhaps it's worth noting that this passage ends with the blessing and not the fear of God. This is the lasting impression we should take from this story.
Lord, help me to have a healthy fear of you but let my life be ruled by love and not fear. Love, which comes from knowing that you sacrificed your life for me so that I could serve you without fear.
Written by Jon Clarke
