Doing a Good Thing The Wrong Way

After its return by the Philistines, the Ark of the Covenant had remained in Gibeah, throughout Samuel’s lifetime and Saul’s forty year reign.  During this period, the Tabernacle remained at Shiloh, and as a result Israel was unable to keep some of the sacrifices God had commanded.  Finally, after about a hundred years, David set out to bring the Ark and the Tabernacle together and fully restore the worship of God, in II Samuel 6:1-2.  “Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand.  And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the LORD of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubims.”

The Tabernacle had not been moved since being set up at Shiloh in Joshus’s day, almost seven hundred years before, and the Ark had not been moved since it had been at Gibeah, when it had been sent back in a cart by the Philistines.  Eager to restore proper worship, David decided to to use a cart to bring the Ark to Jerusalem, in II Samuel 6:3-5.  “And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart.  And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab which was at Gibeah, accompanying the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark.  And David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals.”

It was a time of great celebration, with bands playing and dancing in the streets.  Everyone was excited about restoring the worship until the cart hit a pothole and one of the priests died as a result of touching the Ark, in II Samuel 6:6-11.  “And when they came to Nachon's threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it.  And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.

And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzzah: and he called the name of the place Perezuzzah to this day.  And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and said, How shall the ark of the LORD come to me?  So David would not remove the ark of the LORD unto him into the city of David: but David carried it aside into the house of Obededom the Gittite.  And the ark of the LORD continued in the house of Obededom the Gittite three months: and the LORD blessed Obededom, and all his household.”

David and Israel had been shocked that their efforts to serve God resulted in Uzzah’s death.  Afraid to go any further until they knew what was wrong, they left the Ark in Obededom’s house for three months.  During that time the researched the law and learned that while most of the Tabernacle was to be transported on wagons, the items used in worship were only to be carried by the Kohath Levites in a certain manner.  Upon learning that Obed Edom had been especially blessed during the time the Ark was in his home, David decided to bring it on to Jerusalem. 

This time the followed God’s commands, avoiding the risk of another death, as II Samuel 6:12-15 describes.  “And it was told king David, saying, The LORD hath blessed the house of Obededom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God.  So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obededom into the city of David with gladness.  And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings.  And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.  So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.”

The Philistines had used a new cart and Israel undoubtedly thought what worked for them would work for Israel as well, but as we have seen, it resulted in Uzzah’s death.  Unfortunately, in the modern church, sincere well-meaning pastors and leaders, like David, have tried to use the world’s techniques or programs in the belief they would be more efficient or produce faster results, not realizing the risks such techniques and programs may entail.    God has reasons for specifying a particular way of doing things, and doing them a different way may put others in danger.