Did you know why Uzza died? It seemed that Uzza only had good intentions and wanted to prevent the ark of God from falling? Uzza touched the ark and died. What did Uzza do wrong? Why did God kill Uzza for touching the ark?
David decided to bring the ark of God back to Jerusalem
The ark of God stood in Kirjatjearim. During the days of Saul, the people of Israel didn’t inquire at all about the ark of God. No, no one cared about the ark of God. David decided to bring the ark of God back to his city and the whole congregation supported his plan. David’s plan was right in the eyes of all the people. But was the plan of David also right in the eyes of the Lord?
David and Israël went up to Baalah, to Kirjatjearim, which belonged to Judah, to bring up the ark of God.
They carried the ark of God in a new cart, out of the house of Abinadab.
Uzza and Ahio led the cart.
David and all Israel played before God with all their might, with singing, harps, psalteries, timbrels, cymbals, and trumpets. But then it happened…
On the threshing floor of Chidon, the oxen stumbled. Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark of God to prevent the ark of God from falling.
God smote Uzza and Uzza died
But the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzza and God smote Uzza. Why did God smite Uzza? Because Uzza had put forth his hand to hold the ark of God. And so Uzza died before God (1 Chronicles 13:9-10).
David was displeased. Why was David displeased? Why was David angry with God about Uzza? David was displeased because God had made a breach upon Uzza.
David became afraid of God and I think the whole congregation became afraid of God too. Therefore David didn’t bring the ark of God to himself, but to the house of Obededom, the Gettite.
The ark of the Covenant of God remained at the house of Obededom for three months. And the Lord blessed the house of Obededom (2 Samuel 6, 1 Chronicles 13)
Rebellion against the Word of God
When you read this story, it’s difficult to comprehend why God smote Uzza and why Uzza died when Uzza touched the ark. Considering that Uzza only had good intentions. Uzza wanted to prevent the ark from falling, which seems like a good deed.
But God didn’t see Uzza’s deed as a good intention, but as a rebellious deed against His Word and a violation of His law.
David’s first attempt was according to the plan of man
When we take a closer look at David’s plan, to bring back the ark of God, it is very clear that David’s plan was a plan of man and not a plan after God’s will.
David said to the people: and that it be of the Lord our God. But David’s actions showed that it was not according to God’s will, because;
David consulted man instead of God
First of all, David didn’t consult God about bringing back the ark of the Covenant. But David consulted the captains and every leader.
For because ye did it not at the first, the Lord our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought Him not after the due order (1 Chronicles 15:13)
The ark was not carried by Levites
Secondly, David didn’t keep God’s commandments: that the Levites were separated and appointed by God to care for and bear (carry) the ark of the Covenant of the Lord, after they had sanctified themselves.
At that time the Lord separated the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of the Lord, to stand before the Lord to minister unto Him, and to bless in His Name, unto this day. (Deuteronomy 10:8)
And Moses wrote this law, and delivered it unto the priests the sons of Levi, which bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and unto all the elders of Israel (Deuteronomy 31:9, read also a.o. Joshua 3:3-17, Joshua 4:10)
And David made him houses in the city of David, and prepared a place for the ark of God, and pitched for it a tent. Then David said, None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites: for them hath the Lord chosen to carry the ark of God, and to minister unto him for ever. And David gathered all Israel together to Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the Lord unto his place, which he had prepared for it (1 Chronicles 15:1-3)
They didn’t carry the ark upon their shoulders but on a self-made cart
Thirdly, they had put the ark of the Covenant of the Lord in a self-made cart, instead of carrying the ark with the staves upon their shoulders, as God had commanded Moses.
And thou shalt put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark, that the ark may be borne with them. The staves shall be in the rings of the ark: they shall not be taken from it (Exodus 25:14,15)
At that time the Lord separated the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of the Lord, to stand before the Lord to minister unto Him, and to bless in His Name, unto this day. (Deuteronomy 10:8)
Uzza died because Uzza wasn’t a Levite and touched the holy ark of God
And last but not least, which is also the reason why Uzza died: Uzza touched the ark of God, while Uzza wasn’t a Levite and was not sanctified and made holy to touch the holy ark of God. God had clearly warned the people of Israel, what would happen if someone, who wasn’t appointed and made holy, would touch any holy thing of the Lord.
When Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation (Numbers 4:15)
And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzza, and He smote him, because he put his hand to the ark: and there he died before God (1 Chronicles 13:10)
David’s second attempt to bring up the ark of the Covenant of the Lord was according to God’s plan
The ark of the Covenant of the Lord had stayed in the house of Obededom for three months. After three months, David decided to bring the ark of the Covenant of the Lord to his city. But this time, David did it according to the will of God. David kept God’s commandments. Due to the fact that David kept the commandments of the Lord, God helped the Levites to carry the ark
So David, and the elders of Israel, and the captains over thousands, went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of the house of Obededom with joy. And it came to pass, when God helped the Levites that bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord, that they offered seven bullocks and seven rams(1 Chronicles 15:25-26)
We can conclude from David’s and Uzza’s actions, that no action coming from a good intention, no matter how beautiful it may seem, shall justify any action that goes against the Word of God. God shall never approve something, that goes against His Word.
‘Be the salt of the earth’
