Was God just having a bad day when he broke out against Uzzah striking him dead for touching the ark when it was tipping over? Critics accuse God of having capricious anger. Modern Christians are perplexed at this story; often ascribing these actions to an Old Testament version of God reacting out of wrath and judgment. But isn’t there more to this story?
The ark had actually been in Uzzah’s house. It had been away from the tabernacle for almost two decades and not mentioned in scripture since First Samuel seven. David has become king and is making one of his first acts to bring the ark of God into the tabernacle in his newly crowned capital Jerusalem. Thousands were celebrating this occasion. In many ways it was the coronation of God as king with David as his prince and shepherd (2 Samuel 5:2). But David failed to consider God’s rules in moving the ark. Either out of ignorance or neglect, David chose to move the ark on a cart, as it was last moved by the Philistines (1 Sam. 7:1-2).
During the move the oxen stumbled, Uzzah reached out to steady the ark and touched the holy ark (2 Sam. 6:1-11). He was struck dead. This sparked the anger of David at the Lord. He was probably embarrassed politically and spiritually before his nation. Why would God do such a rash act? In actually, it seems God’s patience had reached its limits. He had withstrained his anger, but it “burst forth against Uzzah” (2 Sam. 6:8). You see David, Uzzah, and the other participants were disobeying God’s laws. The ark of the covenant was never to be placed on a cart. At its creation by Moses, rings were installed on the side and poles were given to be used to carry the ark. The priestly levitical tribe were to carry the ark (Exodus 25:12-14; 37:4-5; Number 4:6, 15). David used the wrong people and the wrong method. He presumed upon his close relationship with God and overstepped the line of God’s holiness. The ark was a sacred, holy emblem and was to be treated with extreme care and reverence.
After three months, David carefully considered his prior mistakes and decided to try again to move the ark to Jerusalem. David then said, “no one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, for the Lord had chosen them to carry the ark of the Lord and to minister to him forever” (1 Chron. 15:2). They consecrated themselves and offered sacrifices before the ark. Chronicles records, “Because you did not carry it the first time, the Lord our God broke out against us, because we did not seek him according to the rule” (1 Chron. 15:13). This time the Levites carried the ark on poles as “Moses had commanded according to the word of the Lord” (1 Chron. 15:15).
God wasn’t just having a bad day or acting rashly, man messed up and God had enough! We must realize that sincere good intentions, even out of ignorance or negligence, does not make wrong actions right before God. We must take his commands seriously.
