1 Chronicles 11:6-10 And David went up, and all Israel, to Baalah, that is, to Kirjath-jearim, which belonged to Judah, to bring up thence — the ark of God the Lord, that dwelleth between the cherubims, whose name is called on it. And they carried — the ark of God in a new cart out of the house of Abinadab: and Uzza and Ahio drove the cart.And David and all Israel played before God with all their might, and with singing, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with cymbals, and with trumpets. And when they came unto the threshingfloor of Chidon, Uzza put forth — his hand to hold — the ark; for the oxen stumbled. 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.
This section of Scripture is the record of how God struck down a man by the name of Uzza because he put his hand to the ark. We read here how David thought to provide a “new way” of transport for the ark. However, what David did here was not in obedience to God’s law, which required that the priests cover the ark and the Levites carry it on its poles. The law of God was crystal clear about this. No one other than the priests should see it or touch it lest they die.
My exhortation for us this morning is something that we all must guard against as followers of Jesus. The ark represented the presence and glory of God. When Uzza touched the ark, he was touching the glory of God. One of the most incredible revelations in Scripture is that God equips and uses flawed human beings like us to declare His Name and carry out His will. Every single day, you and I have the awesome privilege of stewarding the manifold gifts that God gives to us. When God chooses to use us to bless or impact others, the danger that must be guarded against is the temptation to touch the glory that belongs only to Him. Touching the glory that belongs to God was the very sin that turned the anointed cherub Lucifer into the devil. I have heard it said that we are following in the steps of the devil whenever we take the glory for the things that God equips and anoints us to do. While we may not take the glory outwardly, and even humbly say, “To God be the glory”, we must resist even the thought that God used us because of something special about us. Yes, we are responsible to pray, study, and serve The Lord as He leads us; but we must guard against the temptation to take the glory that belongs to God alone. It is an honor to serve The Lord. But all the glory belongs to Him alone. Selah
