Those who Approach
Posted on March 14th, 2023 by Redeemed2 Samuel 6:5-7 KJV
And David and all the house of Israel played before the Lord on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals. [6] And when they came to Nachon's threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it. [7] And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.
I was greatly troubled anytime I read about the accidental death of Uzzah. Accidental because he didn’t set out to die in the first place. His error killed him.
As I studied this account I kept asking the LORD why Uzzah had to die, since his intentions were good. As I began to ask why, the Lord lead me through Scriptures I believe, and I suddenly realized, they must have gotten too familiar with God, for the Ark was in the house of Abinadab the father of Uzzah for a long time.
God had commanded Moses to build an Ark where His Presence will be amongst the Israelite. The ark therefore is a Most Holy Place by virtue of the Presence of the LORD, for He sits enthroned between the cherubim in the Ark.
The ark of God was in Abinadab’s house for years, all throughout the time of Samuel, Saul, and David when he came to the throne. David decided to move the Ark to the city of David to be with him. The sons of Abinadab, Uzzah and Ahio were to drive the cart on which they decided to convey the ark.
The first error they made was to convey the Ark on a cart. God had instructed Isreal on how to convey the Ark, and who is to come near and what they are to do before they come near to His Presence.
Conveying the Ark therefore on a cart was a great error. The second and most deadly error was Uzzah putting forth his hands into the Ark when it shook. Uzzah, by putting his hands into the Ark actually touched the holy things God commanded them not to touch.
Numbers 4:17-20 NIV
The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, [18] "See that the Kohathite tribal clans are not destroyed from among the Levites. [19] So that they may live and not die when they come near the most holy things, do this for them: Aaron and his sons are to go into the sanctuary and assign to each man his work and what he is to carry. [20] But the Kohathites must not go in to look at the holy things, even for a moment, or they will die."
The Lord took great care to explain to them that even those authorized to come near His Presence could die if they don’t take time to follow His instructions in approaching.
Even the sons of Aaron died when they offered unauthorized incense before God as recorded in Scriptures.
Leviticus 10
1 AND NADAB and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, and put incense on it, and offered strange and unholy fire before the Lord, as He had not commanded them.
2 And there came forth fire from before the Lord and killed them, and they died before the Lord.
3 Then Moses said to Aaron, This is what the Lord meant when He said, I [and My will, not their own] will be acknowledged as hallowed by those who come near Me, and before all the people I will be honored. And Aaron said nothing.
Entering into His Presence therefore demands that we know what we are setting out to do, give reverence and honour to His Person as God.
King David and Isreal learnt the hard way that though God is merciful, faithful, forgiving and gracious, they can’t take His Presence for granted. It cost the life of Uzzah for them to do the right thing.
The Altar is Holy, who and how we approach matters. Jesus is now seated at the right hand of the Father interceding as the high priest for us all. We are in Christ, and is through Christ we approach the Father. We are not consumed because we are hidden in Christ. The fact that we are now hidden in Christ doesn’t mean we approach God irreverently but rather we come into His Presence with thanksgiving. God does not change, the only thing that changed is that we now approach His Presence hidden in His Son whose Priesthood is after the order of Melchizedek.
David was afraid to take the Ark to himself in the city of David after Uzzah died so he had the Ark moved to the house of Obed-Edom, and the Ark was in Obed-Edom's house for three months. God blessed Obed-Edom and his household, for wherever God’s Presence is there is liberty, but this was not said of Abinadab whose house the Ark was in for a long time.
No doubt, we pay a heavy price if we must have God’s Presence in our lives - one David and many of us are afraid if we can actually pay, but thank God for grace we received through the Power of the Cross.
I believe having that fear is healthy, since we recognize what we are called to do and that we must appraise our actions and desires constantly and quickly retrace our steps if they are in conflict with our walk with God.
David decided to move the Ark from Obed-Edom’s house when he was told God has blessed Obed-Edom, and this time, they moved the Ark the right way God had commanded them through Moses.
1 Chronicles 15:14-15 NIV
So the priests and Levites consecrated themselves in order to bring up the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel. [15] And the Levites carried the ark of God with the poles on their shoulders, as Moses had commanded in accordance with the word of the LORD.
If we must enter the Presence of God it means we need to be careful and not carefree. It means doing things God’s way, not our way. If we say it doesn’t matter, we may realize later hopefully not too late that it does and we should actually pay attention and take time to search out our lives if we truly are following as He leads.
God bless.
Peace.
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