Context No. 4127 of 4322 · 1 Chronicles

1 Chronicles 13:6-14: in context

6David went up with all Israel to Baalah, that is, to Kiriath Jearim, which belonged to Judah, to bring up from there God the LORD’s ark that sits above the cherubim, that is called by the Name. 7They carried God’s ark on a new cart, and brought it out of Abinadab’s house; and Uzza and Ahio drove the cart. 8David and all Israel played before God with all their might, even with songs, with harps, with stringed instruments, with tambourines, with cymbals, and with trumpets. 9When they came to Chidon’s threshing floor, Uzza put out his hand to hold the ark, for the oxen stumbled. 10The LORD’s anger burned against Uzza, and he struck him because he put his hand on the ark; and he died there before God. 11David was displeased, because the LORD had broken out against Uzza. He called that place Perez Uzza, to this day. 12David was afraid of God that day, saying, “How can I bring God’s ark home to me?” 13So David didn’t move the ark with him into David’s city, but carried it aside into Obed-Edom the Gittite’s house. 14God’s ark remained with the family of Obed-Edom in his house three months; and the LORD blessed Obed-Edom’s house and all that he had.

David sets out to bring the ark of God to Jerusalem with great celebration, but the joyful procession ends in tragedy. When the oxen stumble and Uzzah reaches out to steady the ark, God's anger breaks out against him, and he dies. The ark had been placed on a cart, contrary to God's command that it be carried by the Levites; and Uzzah's touching of the holy ark, however well-intended, violated the reverence God required.

This is a hard and sobering passage. David's intentions were good, his zeal genuine, but good intentions and sincere zeal did not override the holiness of God or excuse the failure to approach him on his own terms. God is holy, and cannot be handled casually, even in the name of enthusiasm. Yet the passage does not end only in fear. David leaves the ark at the house of Obed-Edom, and there the LORD blesses Obed-Edom and all his household. The same presence that was deadly when approached wrongly becomes a blessing to the household that receives it rightly. To draw near to a holy God with reverence, on his terms, is to find not danger but blessing.

Do I hold together reverence for God's holiness, approaching him carefully and on his terms even in my zeal, and confidence that his presence, rightly honored, is a source of rich blessing rather than something to handle casually?

Sources

1 Chronicles 13:10: "The LORD's anger burned against Uzza, and he struck him because he put his hand on the ark; and he died there before God."
1 Chronicles 13:12: "David was afraid of God that day, saying, How can I bring God's ark home to me?"
1 Chronicles 13:14: "God's ark remained with the family of Obed-Edom in his house three months; and the LORD blessed Obed-Edom's house and all that he had."