"When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. The LORD's anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down and he died there beside the ark of God."
2 Samuel 6:6-7
This story is one of the most difficult for all of us who believe God is Love. The usual explanations are:
a) Uzzah ought to have known better because the bible says the ark can only be carried on poles by Levites. It should not have been on an ox cart in the first place.
b) Uzzah's act was irreverent and it defiled God's holiness. He had to die so that the Israelites will continue to show proper respect for the ark.
I have problems with either explanation. The Lord did not strike dead the people who picked up the ark at Uzzah's home and placed it on the cart. He didn't strike dead the Philistines who captured it in the first place and moved it from place to place. They did suffer for having the ark in their midst but the people who carried it did not die instantly or the ark could not have toured the Philistine cities. He didn't strike dead the Israelites who brought the ark to battle which began this whole episode even though God did not sanction this irreverent act.
Uzzah acted instinctively with an impulse to protect. The ark stayed at his family home for 20 years and his brother, Eleazar was consecrated to guard it when it first arrived. Uzzah and his brother Ahio were responsible for bringing it to Jerusalem. He knew about the ark and he was doing his job.
I do take seriously the holiness of God but I consider that to be an aspect of His Love, not a separate characteristic so I have trouble with the second explanation as well. The Lord can dial up or tone down His Presence at will. He is not tied to the ark like some genie caught in a bottle and does not have to be there in full force or even there at all.
His Spirit entered people like Kings Saul and David and the prophets and He did not kill them. Even when Saul performed the sacrifices. Even when David committed adultery and murder. Even when Elijah lost faith. Elijah also didn't do two of the three things God told him to on Mount Horeb but God still took him up to heaven in His fiery chariot but that's another blog all together.
When Joab was running from King Solomon, he fled to the tent of meeting and took hold of the horns of the altar. The Lord didn't strike him down but Benaiah did on King Solomon's command. The Lord didn't strike down either Benaiah or Solomon for spilling human blood inside the tent. When King Solomon first built the temple and the ark was brought in, the Lord dialed up His presence so high, the priests could not perform their service because His glory filled the temple.
Theologians have always referred to God as both transcendent and immanent; both far above us and very near to us.
I have a different explanation for Uzzah's death. I believe that there are different consequences to the same action. Sometimes you run a red light and nothing happens; sometimes you run a red light and you kill another person. One time it is as it you didn't do anything; another time you've affected adversely a number of lives. There are consequences for Uzzah's act that has nothing to do with Uzzah himself, consequences that we don't know and can't imagine. God, who is Love, can see what Uzzah had invoked for himself and for those near him so in His mercy decided it was best to remove Uzzah from the scene even though it hurt King David and will continue to hurt and confuse generations of Jews and Christians. Sometimes mercy is severe and Love follows inscrutable reasons.
I believe Uzzah lives. He lives with God. And he lives in this story that confounds us and asks us so who do you say that I AM and what do you say the bible says about Me?
2 Samuel 6:6-7
This story is one of the most difficult for all of us who believe God is Love. The usual explanations are:
a) Uzzah ought to have known better because the bible says the ark can only be carried on poles by Levites. It should not have been on an ox cart in the first place.
b) Uzzah's act was irreverent and it defiled God's holiness. He had to die so that the Israelites will continue to show proper respect for the ark.
I have problems with either explanation. The Lord did not strike dead the people who picked up the ark at Uzzah's home and placed it on the cart. He didn't strike dead the Philistines who captured it in the first place and moved it from place to place. They did suffer for having the ark in their midst but the people who carried it did not die instantly or the ark could not have toured the Philistine cities. He didn't strike dead the Israelites who brought the ark to battle which began this whole episode even though God did not sanction this irreverent act.
Uzzah acted instinctively with an impulse to protect. The ark stayed at his family home for 20 years and his brother, Eleazar was consecrated to guard it when it first arrived. Uzzah and his brother Ahio were responsible for bringing it to Jerusalem. He knew about the ark and he was doing his job.
I do take seriously the holiness of God but I consider that to be an aspect of His Love, not a separate characteristic so I have trouble with the second explanation as well. The Lord can dial up or tone down His Presence at will. He is not tied to the ark like some genie caught in a bottle and does not have to be there in full force or even there at all.
His Spirit entered people like Kings Saul and David and the prophets and He did not kill them. Even when Saul performed the sacrifices. Even when David committed adultery and murder. Even when Elijah lost faith. Elijah also didn't do two of the three things God told him to on Mount Horeb but God still took him up to heaven in His fiery chariot but that's another blog all together.
When Joab was running from King Solomon, he fled to the tent of meeting and took hold of the horns of the altar. The Lord didn't strike him down but Benaiah did on King Solomon's command. The Lord didn't strike down either Benaiah or Solomon for spilling human blood inside the tent. When King Solomon first built the temple and the ark was brought in, the Lord dialed up His presence so high, the priests could not perform their service because His glory filled the temple.
Theologians have always referred to God as both transcendent and immanent; both far above us and very near to us.
I have a different explanation for Uzzah's death. I believe that there are different consequences to the same action. Sometimes you run a red light and nothing happens; sometimes you run a red light and you kill another person. One time it is as it you didn't do anything; another time you've affected adversely a number of lives. There are consequences for Uzzah's act that has nothing to do with Uzzah himself, consequences that we don't know and can't imagine. God, who is Love, can see what Uzzah had invoked for himself and for those near him so in His mercy decided it was best to remove Uzzah from the scene even though it hurt King David and will continue to hurt and confuse generations of Jews and Christians. Sometimes mercy is severe and Love follows inscrutable reasons.
I believe Uzzah lives. He lives with God. And he lives in this story that confounds us and asks us so who do you say that I AM and what do you say the bible says about Me?
Lance just introduced me to your blog. I nominate it to be the go-to website for confused Christians. The essays are like the expression of a cat, unfathomable in profoundness, yet always carrying a hint of smile. Did a cat really write all this good stuff?
Posted by: Adam Chen | March 20, 2005 at 11:23 AM