2 Samuel 6:6-12: a reflection

6When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached for God’s ark and took hold of it, for the cattle stumbled. 7The LORD’s anger burned against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his error; and he died there by God’s ark. 8David was displeased because the LORD had broken out against Uzzah; and he called that place Perez Uzzah to this day. 9David was afraid of the LORD that day; and he said, “How could the LORD’s ark come to me?” 10So David would not move the LORD’s ark to be with him in David’s city; but David carried it aside into Obed-Edom the Gittite’s house. 11The LORD’s ark remained in Obed-Edom the Gittite’s house three months; and the LORD blessed Obed-Edom and all his house. 12King David was told, “The LORD has blessed the house of Obed-Edom, and all that belongs to him, because of God’s ark.” So David went and brought up God’s ark from the house of Obed-Edom into David’s city with joy.

As David brings the ark of God to Jerusalem, a solemn event teaches the reverence God's holiness demands. When the cattle stumble and Uzzah reaches out to steady the ark, he is struck down; the holy things of God were not to be handled casually, even with good intentions. David is afraid, and for a time will not bring the ark further. But then the ark rests in the house of Obed-Edom, and the LORD blesses his household greatly; and hearing this, David brings the ark up with joy. The same holy presence that must not be treated casually becomes a great blessing to the house that receives it rightly. God's holiness is real and not to be approached with careless familiarity; yet his presence, received with reverence, brings blessing. Reverence, not casual familiarity, is what God's holiness calls for, and his presence rightly received is a blessing.

Notice the two things this account holds together: the reverence God's holiness demands, and the blessing his presence brings. On the one hand, God is holy, not to be approached with casual familiarity, as the striking of Uzzah soberly shows; his holy presence is not a thing to be handled carelessly. On the other hand, that same presence, resting in the house of Obed-Edom, brought great blessing on his household. God's holiness is not reason to keep him at a fearful distance forever; it is reason to approach him with reverence rather than careless familiarity. And his presence, received with reverence, is a blessing, not a threat. To hold both together, the reverence God's holiness demands and the blessing his presence brings, is the lesson here. God is holy and to be revered; and his presence, rightly received, blesses those who welcome it.

That is worth taking to heart, for God's holiness calls for our reverence, and his presence, rightly received, brings blessing. We can drift toward a casual familiarity with God, approaching him carelessly, forgetting his holiness; but the striking of Uzzah soberly reminds us that God is holy, to be approached with reverence, not careless familiarity. Yet his holiness need not keep us at a fearful distance; his presence, received with reverence, brought blessing to the house of Obed-Edom, and blesses those who welcome it rightly. Do not approach God with casual familiarity, forgetting his holiness; revere him, and welcome his presence, which blesses those who receive it rightly. Approach God with the reverence his holiness demands rather than casual familiarity, welcoming his presence, which blesses those who receive it rightly, as the ark that struck Uzzah when handled casually brought great blessing to the house of Obed-Edom that received it; for God is holy and not to be approached carelessly, yet his holiness need not keep us at a fearful distance, and his presence, received with reverence, is a blessing to those who welcome it.

Lord, as David brings the ark of God to Jerusalem, a solemn event teaches the reverence your holiness demands. When the cattle stumble and Uzzah reaches out to steady the ark, he is struck down; the holy things of God were not to be handled casually, even with good intentions. David is afraid, and for a time will not bring the ark further. But then the ark rests in the house of Obed-Edom, and you bless his household greatly; and hearing this, David brings the ark up with joy. The same holy presence that must not be treated casually becomes a great blessing to the house that receives it rightly. Show me the two things this account holds together: the reverence your holiness demands, and the blessing your presence brings. On the one hand, you are holy, not to be approached with casual familiarity, as the striking of Uzzah soberly shows. On the other hand, that same presence, resting in the house of Obed-Edom, brought great blessing on his household. Your holiness is not reason to keep you at a fearful distance forever; it is reason to approach you with reverence rather than careless familiarity. And your presence, received with reverence, is a blessing. Take that to my heart, for your holiness calls for my reverence, and your presence, rightly received, brings blessing. I can drift toward a casual familiarity with you, approaching you carelessly, forgetting your holiness; but the striking of Uzzah reminds me that you are holy. Yet your holiness need not keep me at a fearful distance; your presence blesses those who welcome it rightly. Keep me from approaching you with casual familiarity, forgetting your holiness; help me revere you, Lord, and welcome your presence, which blesses those who receive it rightly.