“David assembled all Israel… And [they] went up… 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. And they carried the ark of God on a new cart, from the house of Abinadab, and Uzzah and Ahio were driving the cart. 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.
“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. 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. And David was angry because the Lord had broken out against Uzzah… And David was afraid of God that day, and he said, ‘How can I bring the ark of God home to me?’ 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.”
“David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel, and that his kingdom was highly exalted for the sake of his people Israel… David inquired of God, ‘Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?’ And the Lord said to him, ‘Go up, and I will give them into your hand.’ And he went up to Baal-perazim, and David struck them down there.”
“Then David said that no one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, for the Lord had chosen them to carry the ark of the Lord and to minister to him forever. David assembled all Israel at Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the Lord to its place… [He] said to them, ‘Consecrate yourselves, you and your brothers, so that you may bring up the ark of the Lord… Because you did not carry it the first time, the Lord our God broke out against us, because we did not seek him according to the rule.’” 1 Chronicles 13:5-13; 14:2,10-11; 15:2-3,12-13
The harsh justice of God brought a stab of anger that without contrition, turned to fear. David distanced himself from the blessing of God’s presence. He knew God, but held a blindspot that the Lord, in love, had to address. Though it seems to have taken some time, he humbled himself, named his prideful folly, and returned to this holy and merciful God whom he now revered and trusted in a deeper way. Communion fully restored, he set out to bring up the ark to its place in God’s prescribed way.
When we genuinely humble ourselves and are honest before the Lord, we will verbalize where we’ve gone astray. We confess pompous attitude and blatant action, and He will redirect us in the right path. Obedience always pleases Him and brings great joy. (1 Chronicles 15:16,25-28; 16:1-4,7-12)
When have we intentionally asked God to reveal blind spots? Meditating on His holiness as we review our head to toe attitudes and actions allows His light to expose our grunge. Would we then name our sin as the affront it is, and repair our way? Restoring His Name to its rightful place results in gladness we find nowhere else.
Lord, keep me ever humble, and joyfully obedient, before You.
As the rain and snow 