“And so it was, that when the bearers of the ark of the Lord had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and fatling. And David was dancing before the Lord with all his might and David was wearing a linen ephod.” [II Samuel 6:13-14]
There is quite a context to today’s scripture. I will give you the very condensed version. The ark of the Lord, which represented the presence and power of God for Israel was captured by the Philistines. God judged them harshly. In fact, God’s judgment was so severe the Philistines sent the ark back to Israel but it was not taken back to the capitol city. Years passed by and David now sits on the throne.
David decided to bring the ark back. They built a new cart to carry the ark. While transporting the ark back one of the oxen stumbled and the ark began to topple. One of the hired men named Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the ark. Here is what the Bible says happened afterward. “And the anger of the Lord burned against Uzzah and God struck him down there in his irreverence.” [II Sam. 6:7]
David had two emotions. He was first angry, and then he was afraid. We learn that from that point David was unwilling to move the ark. The ark stayed in the house of Obed-edom for three months and God blessed Obed-edom.
The question begs to be asked. Why did God kill Uzzah for just trying to help? I think I can answer that. First, God gave Israel specific instructions on how they were to transport the ark. God commanded Israel to transport the ark by inserting poles down the sides of it and having priests carry it on their shoulders. [I Chron. 15:2,12-15] Uzzah was not a Levite. He was not consecrated and touched ark. Uzzah also did not reverence God in that he thought he could steady God when the ark appeared to be about to tumble off the cart. Can you imagine any person propping God up and steadying Him? God was angry and required Uzzah’s life for having anything to do with transporting the ark without being consecrated and thinking he could steady and offer God support.
Fast-forward three months. David has done his homework. He knows how to transport the ark. The Levites have been secured and they have consecrated themselves. David goes out for the ark a second time. Picture the scene with me. In silence and reverence the priests approach the ark. Ever so carefully they slide one pole down the side, careful not to touch the ark. Reverently they do the same thing on the other side of the ark. I can picture the fear on each Levite as together they lifted the poles onto their shoulders. Gingerly they take the first step. Ever so carefully they take the next step. They breathe a little easier. They march out steps three, four, five, and then six. After the sixth step something happened. God did not kill anyone.
After the sixth step David could not retain his joy and exuberance. He stops the parade, and offers burnt offerings to the Lord to celebrate. David’s fear of the Lord is now turned into lavish adoration and sacrifice for God. David began to leap and twirl before the Lord, not half-heartedly mind you, but with all His might. David was overjoyed.
What can we learn from all of this? First, we have lost a sense of reverence for God. Just look at the casual way we enter into worship. We sashay into the presence of Sovereign God without reverence or fear. This would not have been the case the Sunday after God struck Ananias and his wife Sapphira for lying. [Acts 5:1-11] In fact verse 11 tells us, “And great fear came over the whole church and over all who heard these things.”
Hypocrisy abounds on Sunday mornings but there is no fear. Lying takes place each time the offering plate is passed for what some pass off as their tithes. Others lie when they sing songs with their lips they do not mean in their hearts. God is offended and one day there will be a day of reckoning.
The bigger lesson is we should have such healthy reverence for God that when we are ushered into His presence we should be so overjoyed we do not hold back in worship. Much of what we pass off as worship today is half-hearted at best and insincere at worst. Where are the worshippers today who worship with all their might? I know some of you cannot get past the fact that David danced before the Lord. How you express your worship to the Lord is not my concern. That you express your adoration for Him is the greater issue. When was the last time you were so overjoyed in the presence of the Lord you worshipped with all your might?
Steps to Revival
1. How does your reverence for the Lord manifest itself in your preparations for worship?
2. Can you recall a time when you, like David, worshipped the Lord with all your might?
3. What things hold you back from worshipping with all your might?
4. Do you worship in hypocrisy and half-hearted?
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