Scripture Reading – 1 Chronicles 13-16
While our Scripture reading covers four chapters, today’s devotional commentary will focus on only one, 1 Chronicles 13.
1 Chronicles 13 – A Great Celebration Goes Terribly Wrong
Heralding a call for revival, David commanded the “Ark of God” (also known as the Ark of the Covenant) be brought to Jerusalem, for the nation had “enquired not at it in the days of Saul” (13:2-3). What a sad commentary on the reign of King Saul! The Ark, representing the heavenly Throne of God on earth and in the midst of Israel, had not been consulted nor a central point of worship in Israel for some seventy years.
Thirty thousand men of Israel (2 Samuel 6:1) had come to celebrate the Ark’s journey to Jerusalem; however, the joyous occasion was cut short when a man named Uzza “put forth his hand to hold (or steady) the ark” that was being carried on a cart pulled by oxen (13:7-10). Unfortunately for Uzza, neither David nor the Levites had consulted the scriptures on the God-appointed means and method for transporting the Ark (13:7-10).
“WHY?” becomes a question we should address.
Why would God punish Uzza whose impulse to steady the Ark on the cart was not only instinctive, but also arguably innocent (13:9-10)? After all, was it not a good thing that the desire of David and the elders of Israel was to have the Ark, the symbol of God’s presence, in Jerusalem the capital city?
David’s response to God’s swiftly striking Uzza reminds us that the king was quite human. We read, “David was displeased” (13:11), meaning angry or burning with anger. Frustrated and fearing God, David asked, “How shall I bring the ark of God home to me?” (13:12)
Is that not like you and me? Have you ever committed yourself to something, but then realized you failed to pray? The question David asked after Uzza was struck down was the one he should have asked before attempting to bring the Ark to Jerusalem.
Uzza was not struck down because he was insincere or impassionate in his desire to see the Ark moved to Jerusalem. He died because the manner in which the Ark was transported violated God’s instructions. The Ark was to be carried by means of staves or poles (Numbers 4). Touching the sacred Ark, the symbol of God’s heavenly Throne (which is holy), defied God’s instructions and defiled what God declared to be holy and sanctified for Himself (Numbers 1:51; 4:15, 20).
Regardless of how well-meaning or pious the motive was for moving the Ark to Jerusalem, employing any means other than that the LORD commanded was inevitably going to lead to a tragic end.
“It is never right to do wrong to get a chance to do right.” (Dr. Bob Jones, Sr.)
Copyright 2020 – Travis D. Smith