The story of David bringing the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem is an interesting one. It’s interesting to see how God works in the life of this man described as being “after God’s own heart.”
The Israelites had lost the Ark to the Philistines. Someone thought it would be a good idea to take the ark into battle, which God hadn’t instructed them to do (despite what you may have seen in Raiders of the Lost Ark). There’s not a lot of detail about how they did that; I’m curious as to whether or not they followed the instructions from the Law about how to carry the Ark.
The Israelites lost the battle and the Ark was captured. However, the Philistines soon discovered that it was a bad idea for them to keep God’s Ark, and they sent it back in a cart pulled by two milch kine (gotta love the KJV), that is, two milk cows. The Ark ended up in Kiritah Jearim, where it stayed until David decided to take it to Jerusalem.
David didn’t return the Ark to the Tabernacle; he set up a tent in Jerusalem for the Ark. He also failed to transport it as the Law said. The Ark was to be carried by the Levites, covered by a curtain. Instead the Israelites placed it on a cart, and nothing is said about it being covered.
This lack of attention to God’s instructions led to disaster, but only when Uzzah went to touch the Ark. God is slow to anger and overlooks a certain degree of ignorance. However, the actual touching of the Ark was too much. Uzzah was struck dead when he touched the Ark.
This first part of the story reminds us that God’s holiness is a serious matter. It’s not merely a question of obedience and disobedience, else many more people would have died on that day. In some ways, David was the guiltiest of all, yet he is not reprimanded; he even becomes angry with God over what happened.
What happened to Uzzah should remind us why we worship God with reverence and holy fear; our God is a consuming fire.
We’ll look some more at this story over the next few days.
There are so many interesting things in that narrative!
The Israelites treat the Ark of YHWH as if it is actually YHWH, and how does YHWH interact with them? Allowing them to suffer defeat.
But when the Philistines treat the Ark like an idol, YHWH acts that way, defeating their idol. Doubly ironic is that, when Dagon falls TWICE because the One True God overpowers him, how do the Philistines respond? Do they embrace this new, more powerful god? NO – they push Him away because they want things to carry on as usual. Just like us.
But the point that really surprised me there, and changed my thinking about God, is how he interacts differently with the Philistines than He does with the Israelites. He expects His own people to know Him better, while He interacts with the Philistines according to their limited understanding of divinity.
I also wonder if maybe God struck down Uzzah because He’d made unconditional promises to David that could not be honored if He struck David – and I think David got mad because he knew Uzzah’s death was his fault, that he deserved the punishment that Uzzah received. Also, could God have caused the milch kine to stumble in order to thwart David’s syncretic attitude towards the Ark, and Uzzah’s action (defending David’s honor rather than God’s) caught him up in an attempt to thwart one of God’s self-revelatory moments?
No matter what, this narrative deserves far more respect and investigation than it gets when it becomes a proof-text in the worship wars. I look forward to this discussion.
“This lack of attention to God’s instructions led to disaster,”
Mat 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Mat 22:38 This is the first and great commandment.
(this don’t leave much room for worshipping anyone else, does it?)
“This first part of the story reminds us that God’s holiness is a serious matter.”
Mat 19:17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? [there is] none good but one, [that is], God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
Laymond,
I am a little slow. Can you help me connect the dots on your post, and how it connects with what Mr. Archer wrote?
James, it is a long story, but Mr Archer connected the dots. If God did to Uzzah, what he did out of instinct to try to steady the ark, what might he do to someone who deliberately defies what is said many times in Isaiah.
Isa 43:11 I, [even] I, [am] the LORD; and beside me [there is] no saviour.
Laymond,
I long ago quit trying to “connect the dots” when you post proof texts out of context with no attempt to explain what they mean.
Grace and peace,
Tim Archer
P.S.—The invitation still stands for you to discuss the divinity of Christ in the threads where that was being discussed: http://www.timothyarcher.com/kitchen/?tag=divine-nature
No wait! Don’t sing that song ever again, because clearly Laymond is correct and Jesus does NOT save. *sigh* Maybe he collects.
Uzzah may have been taken from this life, but that doesn’t mean he is being punished for eternity. I used to think it was a great tragedy that Uzzah was punished for trying to steady the ark, but after studying this story recently, I came to the conclusion that it wasn’t an eternal punishment he suffered. If Jesus’ blood covers the sins of those who went before Him, I think we can believe Uzzah was forgiven for touching the ark. I’m looking forward to some more discussion about it.
Tim, we always come back to context, can you show me a place in scripture, where God’s commandments do not apply, in any situation? Just name any situation in which God’s commandments become nul and void.
Nick, I believe, Tim and I are alike in this regard, I don’t participate in songs that don’t give all glory to God.
Isa 42:8 I [am] the LORD: that [is] my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.
Lisa,
That’s an interesting point. I’m OK with the concept, otherwise nobody could have been saved in the Old Testament. Specifically, how are we to regard those that God punished directly? That would make for a good discussion. I’ll have to think some before I can say much of value.
Grace and peace,
Tim
OK, I’ll play the proof-text game with you once. If you are serious about discussing this, you’ll do it in the place I’ve asked you to, rather than once again hijacking a discussion. If not, well…
Anyway Isaiah 43:11 deserves to be compared with all the verses that call Jesus “Savior,” especially:
“while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,” (Titus 2:13)
“Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:” (2 Peter 1:1)
As for songs that give glory to Jesus, I follow the New Testament example and sing them loudly and proudly.
“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” (Revelation 5:12)
Grace and peace,
Tim Archer
I’m really looking forward to this series on God, holiness, and Uzzah. You gave me a lot of good material when you did Lev. 10. :)
Mark,
I’ve stolen enough ideas from you… glad I can give one or two back.
Grace and peace,
Tim Archer
Laymond,
Matt 1:21 (crazy angels… they’ll say anything)
Matt 18:11 (apostolic witness… what do they know?)
Luke 19:10 (red-letter passage; I know how highly you prize them)
Luke 23:35 (even his enemies know)
John 12:47 (red-letter passage)
Nick, I do believe it all started farther back, than what you quoted.
Isa 42:1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, [in whom] my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.
Anyway, Jesus himself said it did.
Mat 12:17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,
Mat 12:18 Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.
Jhn 8:50 And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.
You’re missing your own point, Laymond. You quote Isaiah 43:11 all the time, because you believe that it nullifies any claim that Jesus saves. Yet, when Jesus himself says, “The Son of Man came to seek and SAVE the lost,” you will not address his plain words, but pop off some unrelated quotes from the KJV.
Isaiah 43:11 says YHWH saves.
Luke 19:10 says the Son of Man saves.
That’s good enough for me.
Nick, do you believe Jesus could have saved the souls of men, if he did not stick to God’s plan of salvation. What if, God had answered Jesus request,
Mat 26:39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou [wilt].
Then could Jesus have been the vessel by which God saved mankind. evidently not.
Do you believe that the almighty God Jehovah could have chosen a different way to save the souls of mankind ? I do! If Noah had not followed instructions explicitly do you think the ark would have saved his family ? I don’t ! so what is the saving power behind both vessels, the belief in God’s word. The trust in the One God Almighty.
and that, sir, is yet another place where we deeply differ.
No one offers up their One and Only Son if there is another way.
God did answer the prayer of Jesus. He always answered the prayers of Jesus. It was impossible for both the will of God to be done and the cup of judgment to pass from Him.
Nick, I am amazed at some of the things these (new age) Christians argue. You argue that ” The Father, The Son, And The Spirit” are all of equal status within the Godhead,
then, you argue one of them offered another up for sacrifice for human sins, then you say hold on, they are both the same person.
If I didn’t know better, I would be confused.
Here’s what we have. The Bible says that Jesus is Savior. (God and Savior, but we’ll leave that point for now)
Laymond says Jesus isn’t Savior.
I’m sticking with the Bible.
Grace and peace,
Tim Archer
P.S.—One more time, by the way. If you SERIOUSLY want to discuss this topic, you have been sent the link where to do so.
Tim, If you are drowning in the deep water, have gone down many times and expect this to be the last, someone throws you a life preserver who is your savior, the preserver or the one who threw it ? although I know that preserver was sent by someone else, I am going to hold on with all my might, Just as I am going to hold on to Jesus Christ. Until I see the one who threw it. my ultimate savior.
I too await the appearance of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.
Now, Laymond, I don’t think you’re stupid. But I’ll spell it out anyway. Post about the question of the divinity of Christ on this post or any other post that isn’t addressing that topic and your comments will be deleted. I have told you on several occasions where to post about that if you are interested in serious study. Apparently you aren’t, which is sad.
Read and discuss this post: http://www.timothyarcher.com/kitchen/?p=244. Or take your discussion back to your blog.
Grace and peace,
Tim Archer