The Pilgrim Path---First Chronicles 13: 7 – 10 (2—17—23)

And they carried the ark of God, on a new cart, from the house of Abinadab, and Uzzah and Ahio were driving the cart. And David and all Israel were celebrating before God with all their might, with song and lyres and harps and tambourines and cymbals and trumpets.

And when they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzzah put out his hand to take hold of the ark, for the oxen stumbled. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah, and he struck him down because he put out his hand to the ark, and he died there before God.

“HE PUT OUT HIS HAND TO THE ARK…”

We are easily troubled by such a passage. We need not be. Uzzah meant well. For a moment---he forgot that we humans are more defiled than the ground itself. We carry original sin---and actual sin (the sins we commit daily, in thought---word, and deed). There were directions given by the LORD for the movement of the ark of God. The ark of the covenant---in a very real way---represented The LORD’S meeting place among HIS People…

Only the LORD Jesus Christ absolutely fulfills “all” the requirements of the Old Testament Law Code. These obligations remained in the New Testament---but HE satisfied them perfectly for HIS People. Once and for all---the debt has been paid for sin, and Jesus Christ forms a Holy People for Himself by the power of His Spirit. This is “how” we may come into the Heavenly Throne Room---and find grace to help in our time of need (Hebrews 4: 16). We follow HIM and we follow HIS Word. We never “make it up” as we go along…

From Charles Haddon Spurgeon: This great undertaking of bringing up the ark of the Lord seems to have been entered with much enthusiasm but not with any preparatory supplication or spiritual consideration. There is not even a mention of humiliation of heart or of solemn awe in the presence of the God whose symbol was the ark. We must take care how we worship God.

From Jack Miller: One of the deepest compulsions of my flesh is to say to my Father, “Let me be in control. Let my will be done now. I’ll do your will later.”

From John Duncan: Sinner, take Christ, you will get everything.

Grace & Peace in Jesus, the Only Redeemer of broken and wretched souls, Pastor Jason