In the midst of a high-spirited celebration, the long-awaited moment finally arrived. The ark of Covenant that led the Israelites through numerous perils across the Red Sea, the Jordan River, and the great and terrible wilderness was finally returning to Jerusalem from the land of the Philistines. Suddenly there was a great commotion. The oxen lost its footing. Uzzah took hold of the ark and was struck dead onsite. Shock and fear ran through the crowd. Fanfare instantly turned into silence. King David was displeased. He subsequently named the place Perez Uzzah–meaning “to burst out against Uzzah” or “breach of Uzzah” (2 Sam 6:8). Instead of receiving the ark into Jerusalem, the king dispatched it to Obed-Edom’s house. Yet, for the three months it was there, God blessed his entire household (2 Sam 6:11). Upon learning the news, King David was pleased. He sent for the ark of God to be carried into Jerusalem.
What if Uzzah did not take hold of the ark of God? Would the ark fall on the ground and break? What if it did? Would Uzzah’s life be spared? Or would God be even more angry and strike him anyway? Or would God send angels to protect the ark if Uzzah didn’t catch it? Afterall, Uzzah and Obd-Edom encountered the same ark. What went wrong? What can we learn about our service to God through Uzzah’s incident? Below are some reflections:
Attitude of service
Who is Uzzah? He is a Levite, the son of Abinadab. The ark was kept with his family for 20 years before it was retrieved by King David (1 Sam 7). Based on Number 4:15, we know that no one, not even Levites, could touch the ark directly. There was a set of protocols that the priest had to go through, such as self-cleansing and offering of sacrifices, before they could enter the Holy of Holies to be in close proximity to the ark. Perhaps having grown up around the ark of God in his house, Uzzah began to see it not as a sacred but an everyday object? Or perhaps just a piece of furniture even?
In 2 Sam 6:7, Uzzah’s incident is clearly described as an ‘error’ in the eyes of God. In the original text, the term ‘shal’ is used in the verse. In its original text, the term connotes being haphazard, ungodly, and carnal. In other words, through this incident, God asserts that man’s carnal strength cannot fulfill or support God’s holiness. God is omnipotent. If He could wrought wonders and miracles, is there anything, such as preventing the ark from falling, too big a task to accomplish?
Intention and method of service
According to Deuteronomy and Numbers, the ark of God was meant to be borne by humans rather than animals. But we may wonder, it seemed that God acquiesced when the Philistines used an oxen and a cart to transport it? Yes, there is a double-standard that attests to God’s justice. The Israelites belong to God. God has given them very comprehensive instructions on how to handle the ark. More specifically, it must be hand-carried by the Levite Priests (Num 4:15). They had no reason for not complying. The Philistines are different. They are gentiles. God did not give them His laws. They handled the ark based on the knowledge of their own existing customary and religious practices (1 Sam 6). The severity of Uzzah’s punishment shows exactly how seriously God insists on His servants to serve Him His ways. Good intention without being complemented by the right method in service can lead to severe consequences.
A man after God's own heart
1 Chronicle 15 accounts in detail how David eventually retrieved the ark from the house of Obed-Edom. He became wiser after Uzzah’s incident. He gathered the Levites and instructed the head priests to cleanse themselves and offer sacrifices. They man-carried the ark. In the end, the ark arrived in Jerusalem, bringing peace, joy and blessings.
King David is not the main character in Uzzah’s incident. Yet throughout, we see how a man after God’s own heart respond to God. The interaction was a dynamic one in which David proactively observed God’s reaction, reflected, and adjusted his responses to God accordingly. In the process he came to better understand God’s likes and dislikes. Uzzah perished for a lack of knowledge in God (Hosea 4:6). David gained knowledge of God through Uzzah’s lack. A national crisis was subsequently turned into a national revival where the search for God’s will and knowledge of Him began.
A fatal touch isn’t a place where we stop to pass judgement. It is the beginning of our search to become a person after God’s own heart.
Reflection questions:
What are some of the services that I offer to God?
What are some of the challenges I encounter in my services to God?
How do I overcome these challenges? Be specific and practical when thinking about the approaches I can take.
How do I know God is pleased with what I do?
How do I know God is not pleased with what I do?
What adjustments do I need to make, and how?
