Scripture Reading: 1 Chronicles 13 (also 2 Samuel 6:1-11)
One of the first things David did after he became king (following the death of Saul) was to move the Ark of the Covenant from the little village of Kiriath-Jearim to Jerusalem. The ark of God was the most sacred item in all Israel, representing the very presence of an almighty and holy God. It was a box, approximately 4 feet long, 2 feet wide, 2 feet high, and made of wood and overlaid with gold. It had a golden cover with cherubim over it. For over 60 years the ark had been neglected and now David wanted to bring it to Jerusalem and make it, again, the center of worship.
During the transporting of the ark, on a cart drawn by oxen, the animals stumbled and the cart began to tip. One of the men supervising the task, Uzzah, reached out to steady it and was immediately struck dead by God.
The story illustrates the awesome holiness of the living God. When the wicked stand before God, He is a consuming fire and the wicked are condemned. Our reaction of surprise to the story of Uzzah demonstrates that our understanding of the holiness of God is far too superficial and man centered.
The idea that God is holy means that He is:
... (1) set apart from His creation and utterly unique - Hosea 11:9; Exod 15:11; 1 Sam 2:2. Our response ought to be a trembling reverence - Exod 3:3-6.
... (2) set apart from what is sinful - Hab 1:12,13; Job 34:10; 1 Jn 1:5. Our response ought to be a shameful confession - Isa 6:1-5.
The holy Ark of the Covenant was defiled more by the touch of the sinful hand of Uzzah than it ever would have been by falling into the dirt of Judah.
