There are many questions, whenever 1 Samuel 6:1-11 is read. Most of these are actually directed at God. In the past I had questioned too as to why Uzzah was struck dead over what appeared to be a trivial matter. The background of this incident is to be found in the neglect of the ark for half a century from the day it was returned from Philistia. The Philistines seized the ark in the Battle of Aphek (1 Sam 4:11) but discovered to their dismay that it was a dangerous trophy. The Philistines expected blessings. On the contrary there was suffering wherever the ark went. Out of curiosity, some peered into the ark when it was returned to Israel. This was outright against the commandment of God and you may say it is contempt of reverence for God’s word. Disobedience. Death! 

To neglect the ark was to neglect God Himself. It was effectively to deny both the supremacy of truth and the covenant mercy of the Lord. David was eager to bring the ark back to Jerusalem so that it again can be the centre of Israel’s worship. Accompanied by a large cavalcade, David marched to retrieve the ark of God. The goal was simple enough; move the ark back to Jerusalem. They placed the ark on a new cart and fearing that the ark might fall off Uzzah put forth his hand to hold it. He was struck dead! Why was God so angry? We may even say that even if Uzzah sinned, it was so trivial and that it was done with good intent to prevent the ark from falling. God’s reaction was so fierce! How can the penalty of death be justified? We are only human to ask these questions. David was unhappy with God too. Obviously he did not think that God’s action was justified. What does it mean? Are we in danger of being struck dead like Uzzah too? What does it mean for us today, in the light of Jesus Christ? 

Let us look at the whole incident in the light of our scriptures. Firstly, there was no indication that David asked the Lord as to whether, when or how he should move the ark to Jerusalem. Secondly, had the scriptures been consulted, it would have been discovered that the ark was to be covered by a curtain of badger skins; that it be carried only on the shoulders of the Kohathite priests, of the tribe of Levi. Poles are to be run through the rings on the sides of the ark. No one was to touch the ark, not even a Levite (Num 4:5-15, 7:9). God’s purpose was to teach reverence and obedience of His word yet now the ark was placed on a cart albeit a new cart. Thirdly, the idea of placing the ark on a cart was the idea of the Philistines. They do not have the scriptures so they are forgiven of their ignorance. The Israelites had the written word of God. 

The death of Uzzah also reminds us that we are called to be completely satisfied with the straightforward practical obedience of God’s word. We are not to subtract or add to the scripture to justify our actions or for our convenience. It should never be! God is just in that He gave all the needed instructions and warnings. What God has not required of us in scripture is not to be required or enjoined by men, and indeed, by the church today. For any of us to go beyond or aside from what is commanded in the scripture is to presume to be wise above what God has written. He warns us of the consequences of sin and in particular of the sin in altering His word. We are to obey and accept for the word of God is truth. God also knows that we will fall short and cannot get out of sin by ourselves. For that He is gracious to give us a way out. Jesus Christ had to die because sin has to be paid for in blood. Only the pure sinless blood of Jesus is good enough to pay for all the sins of this world. Again for our own good and salvation we are to accept Jesus as our Saviour in simple faith. 

The method that David used was wrong because it was not what God has written. The problem was not the physical technique itself by placing the ark on a cart. It was a matter of self-centred pride that did not care to submit itself to God. We are so prone to try to improve on God’s methods. We are attracted to building our own carts. Think of the carts that have been built for worship, fellowship, doctrine and even church membership. We devised new plans and have our own self formed ideas to justify what we say rather than what God says. How easily we clothe our own ideas with the borrowed mantle of divine authority and end up “teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Matt 15:9). 

The ark that we read in the scripture is no longer physically present with us. Today we have Jesus Christ as our ark. He is the ark of covenant, the Saviour of all who trust in Him. Let us then approach our Lord Jesus with reverence and in obedience of His word and commandments.

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