THE CASE OF UZZAH by GEO. L. BUTLER.

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 7, 1869

THE CASE OF UZZAH.

By GEO. L. BUTLER.

“And when they came to Nachon’s threshing floor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it: for the oxen shook it [margin, stumbled]. 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.” 2 Sam. vi, 6, 7.

At the first thought this might seem to be a case where God exercised undue severity. It would seem to be a very natural act on the part of Uzzah, when the oxen stumbled and shook the cart, endangering the safety of the precious ark of God, for him to put forth his hand and steady it, since he was one to whom its care was committed. David was evidently of this opinion, for the record adds: he “was displeased” and forbore to remove it further, but left it at the house of Obededom, where it remained three months.

We can well imagine this death must have produced a great sensation. David had taken the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand in number, besides a host of other people, and had gone to bring up the ark of God, which had been away in the land of the Philistines, to his own city. This was a great national rejoicing. King 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.” 1 Chron. xiii, 8. In the midst of these impressive services, Uzzah was smitten. All this rejoicing ceased in a moment. What a change must have come over that great concourse of people. No wonder that “David was afraid of God that day,” verse 12. This circumstance caused David to do just what he should have done before: to consider the directions God had given in regard to carrying the ark.

The king seeing the blessings that came to the house of Obededom in consequence of the ark’s abiding there, is desirous of obtaining these blessings himself, and so determines still to bring it to his city, Jerusalem. Before doing so, however, he calls the fathers of the Levites together, and said to them: “Sanctify yourselves, both ye and your brethren, that ye may bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel unto the place that I have prepared for it. For because ye did it not at the first, the Lord our God made a breach upon us for that we sought him not after the due order.” 1 Chron. xv, 12, 13.

Here we see it was not merely a momentary thoughtlessness on the part of Uzzah that caused his death, but a neglect of preparation. Let us see in what this neglect consisted:

1. It may be reasonably doubted, from the circumstances mentioned in this scripture and the connection, whether Uzzah was one of those to whom the care of the ark was committed by the law, for the second time David calls upon the heads of the Levite families to act in the matter. The Douay version distinctly intimates this.

2. The carrying of the ark upon the cart was contrary to the law of Moses. “Thou shalt put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark, that the ark may be borne with them.” Ex. xxv, 14. “And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it.” Num. iv, 15. Kohath was one of the sons of Levi. The descendants of each of the three sons of Levi, had their peculiar offices in the service of the tabernacle; the care of the sacred furniture of the sanctuary belonging to the Kohathites, and they were to bear it upon their shoulders. We learn in Num. vii, 6–9, the other Levites were to have wagons to assist them in carrying their burdens, “but unto the sons of Kohath he gave none: because the service of the sanctuary belonging unto them was that they should bear it upon their shoulders.” Verse 9. Thus we see Uzzah was acting contrary to the express directions of God, in assisting to carry the ark on a cart drawn by oxen.

3. He put forth his hand to steady the ark. The law said, “they shall not touch any holy thing lest they die.” Num. iv, 15. Here was another command of God transgressed.

4. It seems probable that some previous duties of preparation in sanctifying themselves, were also neglected, and that they entered upon this solemn work in a thoughtless manner.

Here we see very plainly that Uzzah was not smitten for a momentary thoughtlessness, but for neglect and disobedience of positive directions. It would rather seem that because the ark had been brought from Philistia on a cart drawn by cattle, under God’s evident direction, that the rulers of Israel presumed to follow the precedent, instead of the plain directions of the law. If so they failed to realize the difference in the circumstances. In the first case there were no priests or Levites to carry it upon their shoulders. It was certainly an exceptional case. When those circumstances were changed, and there was nothing to hinder their following the written directions God had given, they had no right to disregard them. But God seemed to spare Uzzah thus far, and even allow him to act thus without any special marks of his displeasure. He had given no threat of a penalty for this. But when he presumed to go further, and touch the holy things, of which God had said, “Thou shalt not touch them lest ye die,” he saw that it was necessary to make an example of him, lest others should be emboldened to change the “due order” he had arranged, and many become sinners. Thus we see instead of this being an evidence of severity in God, it is rather an evidence of his mercy. God is declared to be a “jealous God,” that is one who is deeply solicitous of his honor and his word. This case is a wonderful instance of it. God does not pursue the course many parents do, and threaten many times but never perform. He shows by such instances as this, that he means just what he says. This is always merciful in the long run. It was merciful in this case. The next time David undertook to bring the ark, the priests being sanctified and carrying the ark after the “due order,” on their shoulders, it was brought to the place with due solemnity and great rejoicing. “And the children of the Levites bare the ark of God upon their shoulders with the staves thereon, as Moses commanded, according to the word of the Lord.” 1 Chron. xv, 15.

And that one instance of swift punishment, no doubt left its impress upon thousands of minds, never to be effaced, and it doubtless was the cause of the salvation of precious souls. This case should ever make us realize that God means what he says. And when I hear people argue that God is not particular in reference to the Sabbath, that any day is just as good as the one he has blessed and sanctified, while admitting that the command requires the seventh, but keeping another for convenience’ sake, following the precedent of poor fallible men, yet knowing God has set apart one day he calls his own, I often think of poor misguided Uzzah, and the terrible breach God made upon him before the assembled thousands of Israel. GEO. L. BUTLER.

Sigourney, Iowa, July 26, 1869.