Scripture:
1 Chronicles 13:6-14 ESV
[6] And David and all Israel went up to Baalah, that is, to Kiriath-jearim that belongs to Judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the Lord who sits enthroned above the cherubim. [7] And they carried the ark of God on a new cart, from the house of Abinadab, and Uzzah and Ahio were driving the cart. [8] And David and all Israel were celebrating before God with all their might, with song and lyres and harps and tambourines and cymbals and trumpets. [9] And when they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzzah put out his hand to take hold of the ark, for the oxen stumbled. [10] And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah, and he struck him down because he put out his hand to the ark, and he died there before God. [11] And David was angry because the Lord had broken out against Uzzah. And that place is called Perez-uzza to this day. [12] And David was afraid of God that day, and he said, “How can I bring the ark of God home to me?” [13] So David did not take the ark home into the city of David, but took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. [14] And the ark of God remained with the household of Obed-edom in his house three months. And the Lord blessed the household of Obed-edom and all that he had.
Observation:
King David was doing the right thing. Bringing the ark back to where it belonged. There was only one little thing out of place. The ark was made to be carried by poles that went through eye bolts located on each side of it. These eyebolts were put there so that contact with the ark never had to be made. David had another idea of how to carry the ark. Let’s put it on a cart so that you guys don’t have to carry it all that way. All was well they loaded the cart and began the journey. Singing dancing the tambourines making a beautiful sound. Let the worship ring out we are bringing the ark home where it belongs. All is well the LORD is with them. All of a sudden the oxen who were pulling the cart stumbled maybe its foot hit a pothole maybe it was tired from the trip or maybe there was a rock in the path that no one saw to avoid. Either way, the stumble took place, and the ark shifted on the cart, and Uzzah reached out to stabilize it. That was the last thing he did. The LORD had given a very specific set of instructions concerning the ark and how it was to be built and carried. A cart was not involved in those instructions. Uzzah lost his life that day, and King David’s heart grew fearful of the LORD. His mindset changed and he decided to turn aside from bringing the ark home and took it to Obed-edom’s house. That house benefited greatly because the ark of the LORD was there. The blessings of the LORD stayed with the ark. Now I have to say this if the ark was carried the way it was intended to be a stumble would have made no difference. However, like pastor Chad says you can do the right thing the wrong way.
Application:
Have you ever thought it doesn’t matter how it’s done as long as it gets done? I know I have, and I have paid a price for it as well. When I think I know better than the LORD. I can find myself in a lot of trouble. That was not necessary to begin with. GOD wants us to follow HIM. HE has laid out HIS plan in a book HE made sure was preserved through thousands of years so that we could have an instruction manual to life. The problem is we tend to think we know better than GOD. We want to do things our way, and it costs us setbacks stumbles downfalls, and painful moments. After the pain settles and we look back we can see how if we had just done it GOD’s way the blessings would have continued. When we take a close look at complacency we can see how it’s tied closely with pride, in fact, pride almost always comes first. The serpent in the garden didn’t have a hard task he only had to make us think we knew better than GOD. HE still uses this tactic today. Did GOD really say? Or we’ll maybe that’s not what that scripture meant? If he can get us to doubt GOD and relax on how we follow what the word says then he can get us sidetracked from the blessings of the LORD, and we will stumble, and it will cost us. Over and over in the bible, it tells us to be vigilant stay on guard our enemy is cunning and lurks around waiting to see your weaknesses. Waiting to see you thinking my way is better. That book can’t tell me how to live…and experience the blessings of GOD. I have to reach out and take it now or it will never happen. Be still. GOD’s way is truly best, and it comes without the catastrophe of complacency. Don’t let your guard down. GOD’s blessings are coming. Just be obedient to what HE says. Carry HIM with you in the manner in which HE has instructed you. It will pay off in the long run and I’m sure it will hurt a lot less.
Prayer:
Father, your way is best. We know that. Sometimes it’s hard now to get in a hurry and do things our way. Taking the path that seems to have the least resistance is not always the path you have for us. We have to be willing to put in the work. To put the pole in the hole you provide and carry you with us. You were not meant to be placed on a cart. You have given us a job. Help us to see your way and follow you in everything we do. Staying in constant contact with you through prayer. It’s easy to get into a rut of…Man, I prayed this morning I’m good and forgot that we need to bring every decision to you. Complacency kills people like me. It can lead to a stumble that does not get recovered from help us to see it coming and dig in deeper with you so that our foundation has no crack in it. We want you and we want your blessings. Your way is the only way to truly get them. Our way may look like it is bringing them about but that’s because we don’t see the potholes in our that. Allow your word to be the light unto our path and the lamp unto our feet. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus I pray amen