Continuing with our series “When a moralistic mission goes awry”, now we come to its penultimate part …
Miscalculation…
The obvious offshoot of neither prayerfully looking unto the Lord before embarking on a major spiritual mission nor seeking the Levitical guidance resulted in a gross miscalculation on David’s part. He went by recent history–the Philistines had transported the Ark in a Cow-driven cart (see1 Sam 6:1-14) instead of Scriptures. Yes, the Philistines who were ignorant of the Biblical precepts on Ark transportation (Numbers 4:15/Numbers 7:19) were divinely excused; but how could the Covenantal people to whom the Law was given plead innocence or ignorance in this vital issue (Luke 12:48)? No way! Divine anger was only waiting to spill over, and it did when…
Mishap…
As per the Divine scheme of things in order, the Lord’s response to a reprehensible mishandling of a vital subject is publicly manifested. The oxen stumbled, and what followed is too well-known to be documented again. Mind you, the oxen stumbling was no accident, but a Divinely-ordained occurrence (Matt 10:29)!
Now for a subject within a subject…The ark had stayed for a period of time at Abinadab’s house (2 Samuel 6:3), where his sons, Uzzah and Ahio, may well have become accustomed to its presence. There’s an old saying, “familiarity breeds contempt,” that could apply in this case. Uzzah, having been around the ark in his own home, could very likely forget the holiness that it represented. There are times when we, too, fail to recognize the holiness of God, and we also become too familiar with Him with an irreverent attitude. Time for making amends!
Prayer: Father, we love you and fear You. Enable us always to walk with You in reverential fear and the comfort of the Holy Spirit like the early Christians. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Suresh Manoharan
An unworthy servant
J and SM Ministries
(To access the entire “Moralistic Mission Gone Astray” Mini-Series, please clickhere.)