King David plans to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. David asks everyone for advice, seeking counsel for his heart’s desire to move it. He sought out the leaders and the people; yet failed to ask God how the ark should be treated.
The Lord gives strict instructions for transporting the Ark, found in Numbers 4:4, 15, 17-20. His commands include who could carry it, how to transport it, how to treat it, and where to keep it.
The end of the verse, Numbers 4:15, is abundantly clear. “But they must NOT touch the holy things or they will die.” God says the penalty for touching the ark is DEATH. That was the Lord’s command that David and his people disregarded.
The account of Uzzah is found in 2 Samuel 6:1-8 and 1 Chronicles 13:9-12. Uzzah merely steadied the ark with his hand when the oxen stumbled. God’s anger burned against Uzzah and He immediately struck him to death. What Uzzah did was in direct violation of God’s law and punishable by death
God brought about His wrath to defend His holiness. We need to listen carefully to what God says to us, and in obedience and attention obey all He commands. Yes, God is loving and merciful, but He is also holy and defends His holiness with His power.
Luke 11:28: But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”
~ Kim Snyder
Christ Fellowship