The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Samuel 6:6-10,
"When they came to the threshing floor of Nakon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. The Lord's anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down, and he died there beside the ark of God. Then David was angry because the Lord's wrath had broken out against Uzzah, and to this day that place is called Perez Uzzah. David was afraid of the Lord that day and said, 'How can the ark of the Lord ever come to me?' He was not willing to take the ark of the Lord to be with him in the City of David. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite."
The ark of the Lord, following its possession by the Philistines, was at this time in Kiriath Jearim. David prepared a place for it in Jerusalem and pitched a tent for it. The above took place when they attempted to bring the ark to Jerusalem.
One might think Uzzah's actions where quite appropriate, yet the Lord struck him dead. However, the manner in which David went about moving the ark altogether failed to demonstrate an appropriate reverence for the Lord. Note the comment David made about the event, "It was because you, the Levites, did not bring it [the ark of the Lord] up the first time that the Lord our God broke out in anger against us. We did not inquire of him about how to do it in the prescribed way." 1 Chronicles 15:13. David was busy doing things his own way without regard for the Lord and it resulted in the death of Uzzah.
"When they came to the threshing floor of Nakon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. The Lord's anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down, and he died there beside the ark of God. Then David was angry because the Lord's wrath had broken out against Uzzah, and to this day that place is called Perez Uzzah. David was afraid of the Lord that day and said, 'How can the ark of the Lord ever come to me?' He was not willing to take the ark of the Lord to be with him in the City of David. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite."
The ark of the Lord, following its possession by the Philistines, was at this time in Kiriath Jearim. David prepared a place for it in Jerusalem and pitched a tent for it. The above took place when they attempted to bring the ark to Jerusalem.
One might think Uzzah's actions where quite appropriate, yet the Lord struck him dead. However, the manner in which David went about moving the ark altogether failed to demonstrate an appropriate reverence for the Lord. Note the comment David made about the event, "It was because you, the Levites, did not bring it [the ark of the Lord] up the first time that the Lord our God broke out in anger against us. We did not inquire of him about how to do it in the prescribed way." 1 Chronicles 15:13. David was busy doing things his own way without regard for the Lord and it resulted in the death of Uzzah.
I am reminded that the healthy fear of the Lord we should all maintain requires an ongoing reverence for him and the things that are his, even in the midst of our celebration of him. Doing things any old way we see fit when we come together to worship just might reflect irreverence for who it is we are worshiping! How often I have not sought out the Lord to seek what it is I should be doing and how I should be doing it when it comes time for the things of God in my life.
Something to consider...
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment