The account of Uzzah’s death during the transportation of the Ark is quite well known, and somewhat shocking. David had arranged to take the Ark to Jerusalem but when the oxen pulling the cart stumbled, Uzzah reached out his hand to touch the Ark, and was struck down as a result.

If we read carefully, we will soon realise, as David did, what the problem was. The Lord had given very strict instructions about how the Ark was to be handled. It was not to be touched. It was to be carried on two poles inserted into the rings created just for that purpose, and not on a cart. It was to be raised up on the shoulders of the Levites who were warned not to touch any of the holy things on pain of death (Numbers 4:15). So, we see that both David and Uzzah had ignored the very specific commands of the Lord.

Yet at other times, in other circumstances, people disobeyed the Lord but were not struck down, so why was the consequence so severe this time?

The answer is in the holiness of the Lord and David and Uzzah’s complete disregard of that holiness. This was not just a beautiful object, but something that a holy God had declared also to be holy, sacred and set apart. By ignoring God’s instructions on how the Ark was to be treated, David and Uzzah disrespected and dishonoured God.

If God had ignored David and Uzzah’s actions, he would have been sending a message that his holiness wasn’t that important after all. Instead, God chose to act to protect his people from making such a serious mistake again.

As Christians, we call God ‘abba’ – father – and we enjoy the privilege of entering into his presence, and rightly so. These privileges were given to us by God himself through his great sacrifice. Yet we should never forget that as well as being our loving father, the Lord God is utterly holy. He is to be loved, but also revered, worshipped, esteemed and honoured. Complacency can be a terribly dangerous thing, as Uzzah discovered. May the Lord impress on us the fullness of his holiness.

next devotional >>

NEWBOLD BAPTIST CHURCH