Articles

Articles

Unintended Consequences

Unintended Consequences

“Can I take a Mulligan?”

            Many in the world worship God in the way they wish to. It is less about what God said to do and more about what they perceive is good or what makes the feel good about life and spirituality. We speak about this type of self-worship often, but sometimes neglect the secondary adverse effect this type of worship has on others.

            Worship of this nature produces a great following, creating a “church culture.” While some of it is good and can be used to steer people to Christ via their own tendencies, there is a class of people who just follow a crowd and do what they can to help, and are completely unable to be aware, through their own shortcomings, of the disaster that is coming their way if they do not make a change.

            King David, in II Samuel 5 is anointed king of Israel after many years with a duality of leadership. David did a great many of things, but his first nation to defeat is the same one which he defeated when his name was first enshrined into history in I Samuel 15 as he defeated Goliath: the Philistines. With the blessings of God as a wind to his back, he had the ability to retake the Ark of the Covenant after a devastating blow dealt to the Philistinian nation.

            Such a prize was a moment of intense pride for the nation of Israel, and David knew this was a special thing, so he decided to command a brand-new cart built for which to carry this sacred object. Something he, likely, felt was an act of reverence. Two brothers, Uzzah and Ahio were to drive the cart pulled by oxen back to the tabernacle in Jerusalem with Ahio clearing the way, ahead of the cart, and Uzzah beside the cart driving the oxen. It is a perfectly logical thing to do, to haul a delicate and important object of this type, to put it on a vehicle to transport it the fastest and safest way possible.

            A while down the road, the cart carrying the Ark reached the threshing floor of Nacon; the meaning of the name which is to “prepare to smite.” Where this place is on the path, it is hard to say, but it is enough time down the road for someone to notice that something is amiss. This joyous occasion, in which David is dancing and rejoicing over, is about to turn tragic as the oxen stumble, upsetting the cart. Logically, what would one do when one sees the most important religious object of God about to fall over and possibly smash into the ground? Reach out and steady it to be sure it does not befall such a disaster! Uzzah does just that, reaching out his hand and taking hold of this precious object to protect it. This is his last action as God strikes him dead in a divine action.

            The Ark was not to be touched by human hands to move it. Exodus 25 tells us to carry the Ark by the two poles put into rings on each side. It is to be moved by manpower only. God had been disobeyed, and Uzzah, through is ignorant following of David’s spiritual leadership, died.

            Both David and Uzzah had a responsibility to know the Word of God, and how to handle this precious thing they had been given care of. (For us: Philippians 2:12) David’s responsibility was greater, as the leader, though. (For us: James 3:1) Uzzah followed David blindly, never trusting in his own ability to understand the Word of God, but trusted in David to be the spiritual leader, the one he could look up to follow the way to God.

            So many today do the same thing. They look to a spiritual leader, friend, or family member to understand the Word of God. Unfortunately, without understanding, a blind, ignorant, following can lead to spiritual destruction. Religious councils of elders, structural priesthoods, spiritual leaders, and preachers are not replacements for understanding the words by which the lessons are given.

            Lance Byers

            11/30/2024