0218. A Disastrous Occurrence

A Disastrous Occurrence

"And when they came unto the threshingfloor of Chidon, Uzza put forth his hand to hold the Ark; for the oxen stumbled" (1Ch_13:9).

1. Let us observe a good thing done in the wrong way. It was right to bring home the Ark, it was wrong to cart it.

Of course, it was very pleasing to the natural man to cart the Ark. It looked so nice–and a new cart too. Others did it that way. The Philistines did. They were such nice people.

Yet things that are worldly and up-to-date may be an abomination unto the Lord. Let us beware when we pattern our service after the world.

Laodicea is thy name. World-pleasers. Walking according to the course of this age, Patterning after an age whose stage scenery is passing away.

But, everybody does it. Then, child of God, do it not.

But, everybody goes. Then, Christian, go not.

"Vox populi, vox Dei?" Never. The voice of the people is not the voice of God. The ways and the thoughts of the Lord are as far separated from the ways and the thoughts of the world as the heavens are far above the earth.

2. Let us observe a natural consequence of doing the right thing in the wrong way. "The oxen stumbled." Of course, they stumbled. But, the oxen had no right being there. If David had followed the Word of God, instead of the wishes of the people, there would have been no stumbling oxen and no swaying cart, with God’s holy Ark almost dashed to the ground.

We think our way is best. It is not. We think we can improve upon the Gospel message. We cannot.

Once God said unto Moses, "See that thou make it according to the pattern showed thee in the mount." And in the Book of Exodus how gracious do the seven times repeated words of the last chapter sound: "As the Lord commanded Moses." No marvel that when the work was completed, "Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle."

And if the Ark had been Scripturally carried, the glory of the Lord would have crowned that day with praise.

3. Let us note God’s judgment upon Uzza:

(1) Uzza did the natural thing, and seemingly correct thing, yea, he did the heroic and commendatory thing. The oxen stumbled, the Ark was about to fall, and Uzza leaped to the rescue. He put forth his hand to hold the Ark. Dear fellow! Shall we not put a laurel wreath upon his brow? Let us crown him as the hero of the hour!

What a catastrophe it would have been had the Ark actually fallen! The whole beauty of the day’s joy would have been marred. In Israel there had never been known anything quite so awful, as the Ark wherein the Lord met with His people, falling to the ground.

Uzza thought to save the day. He doubtless was moved by honest purpose, and even by sincere love when he leaped forward and held forth his hand to steady the reeling, tumbling Ark.

(2) "And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzza, and He smote him because he put his hand to the Ark: and there he died before God."

What! Uzza dead! Our hero slain! Horrors! But wait a moment–Uzza had no right to touch the Ark.

But the Ark was falling!–The Ark had no need to have been falling.

But the oxen stumbled! There should have been no oxen.

But the Philistines did it thus! Just so. And that is the reason that Uzza is dead in the road.

"Pride cometh before a fall." We want to do it in the proper way; the way the world does it; the way the world approves.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR