"Random smite function." That's what one of my old students called it whenever God seems to just reach down and off someone in some shocking way in the Scriptures. It's terrifying - and not just for what could happen to us but also for what it seems to imply about who God is. How could we ever approach a God like that? Would you even want to? This week we come to the death of Uzzah, a seemingly well-meaning guy who just reaches out and touches the ark to keep it from falling out of the ox cart. And he's zapped. Dead. Instantly. No wonder skeptics say: 'who would worship a god like that?!' But also note well: who would make up a god like that? If this is the living God, how could that be good news for us? Let's talk about the terrifying and terrific joy of coming into the presence of the living God. "You Can't Touch This" (2 Samuel 6:1-15).
