Ruining the Party
It was a celebration. In 2 Samuel 6:5 we read, “Meanwhile, David and all the house of Israel were celebrating before the LORD with all kinds of instruments made of fir wood, and with lyres, harps, tambourines, castanets and cymbals.” The ark was finally returning to its proper place among the people of God. The people were united as it says in 1st Chronicles 13:4, “Then all the assembly said that they would do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people”.
However, the party
comes to a sudden stop when the ox pulling the cart stumbles, and a man by the
name of Uzza reaches out to steady the ark. He is immediately struck down by
God. Now the celebration turns to tragedy, and David's emotions go from rejoicing
to anger and then fear (2nd Samuel 6:8-9). Why has this happened? Why did God do this?
How can we bring the ark back?
David would later
come to the answer when he does what he should have done in the first place,
seek out God's commands concerning the ark and how it was to only be carried by
the Levites.
"Because you did not carry it at the
first, the LORD our God made an outburst on us, for we did not seek Him
according to the ordinance."
1st Chronicles
15:13
As important as that
lesson is I want to focus on another point. The oxcart plan was right in the eyes
of the people. It was popular. It felt good. It was what the Philistines had
done. But none of those things made it right with God.
Today many want to
draw closer to God. They do so with much celebration and fanfare. It is popular.
It is contemporary. It makes people feel
inspired. But that does not mean it is pleasing to God.
If we want our
actions before God to be pleasing rather than a tragedy we must start by
seeking out his commands.
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