1 Chronicles 13 : Faithful to the Fundamentals
1 Chronicles 13 < Faithful to the Fundamentals >
1. David conferred with each of his officers, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds.
2. He then said to the whole assembly of Israel, "If it seems good to you and if it is the will of the LORD our God, let us send word far and wide to the rest of our people throughout the territories of Israel, and also to the priests and Levites who are with them in their towns and pasturelands, to come and join us.
3. Let us bring the ark of our God back to us, for we did not inquire of it during the reign of Saul."
◇ This is the story of a celebration that turned into horror. David sought to bring the long-neglected Ark of the Covenant of the LORD to Jerusalem. There was likely a political motive as well—to strengthen the unity of all Israel by establishing the Ark, the symbol of God's presence, in Jerusalem, the center of the new kingdom.
David did not make this decision unilaterally. He consulted with his commanders, who were like his right and left hands, sought the counsel of the entire assembly of Israel, and considered whether it aligned with the LORD's will. I believe this was a wise decision aimed at uniting God, king, and people.
People gathered from across the nation and together gave their all to transport the Ark of the Covenant. They placed God's Ark on a new cart and began the procession. The king and the people danced with all their might before God, singing and playing all kinds of musical instruments. It was a nationwide celebration.
But suddenly the oxen pulling the cart stumbled, and Uzzah, who reached out to steady the Ark to prevent it from falling, died instantly. King David and all the people were frozen in shock. The celebration became a house of mourning. Joy and hope turned to fear, terror, and despair.
Uzzah had not touched the Ark with selfish motives or an irreverent heart, yet God's anger burned against him and He struck him down with death.
The parallel account in 2 Samuel 6:7 tells us that God's anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act. But what did he do wrong? He reached out to steady the Ark as it was about to fall from the cart—what was his offense that caused God's anger to burn and strike him down with death?
In Leviticus 10:1-2, Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu were killed for offering unauthorized fire before the LORD, fire different from what He had commanded them. This demonstrates the critical importance of obedience to God's appointed commands.
Deuteronomy 10:8 tells us that the LORD set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the Ark of the Covenant.
Numbers 4:15 warns that when moving camp, the Kohathites (who were Levites) were to carry the Ark, and that anyone who touched the holy things would die.
I believe this reveals how solemn and strict God's appointed ordinances and commands truly are.
Scripture tells us that David became angry when he saw Uzzah's death. We too might think Uzzah's death was terribly unjust and that God was too harsh.
However, God's commands must absolutely be obeyed. God's holiness must remain unshakeable and firmly established, influenced by nothing. Especially during times of upheaval that need correction, when a new kingdom is beginning, when people must make a fresh start from the ruins of Jerusalem—they need an unwavering standard to unite them. That standard is God's commands, God's law.
No matter how good our intentions may be, we must not deviate from God's commands. Even for the growth and revival of the church, injustice and lawlessness are not acceptable before God.
♧ Good and righteous God, help us to be a church that faithfully keeps Your fundamentals, a church that remains true to Your basics. Holy Spirit, make us strong and courageous. Amen.