1 Chronicles 13

The ark of God was the holiest object that the Lord gave to Israel. Yet in the days of Eli, the ark was captured by the Philistines. Later the Philistines returned the ark to Israel, but there was great fear concerning this holy object, so the ark remained outside of the place where Israel gathered for worship.

During the days of Saul the ark was not near the king. David, though, desired to have it brought to where he was. This seemed good to all the leaders and they believed that it was from the Lord.

The return of the ark was to be a communal celebration involving not only the priests and the rest of the Levites, but all of Israel. David did not merely send others to undertake this important project. He led the way. But in transporting the ark from its temporary location to the place where David reigned, the ark was placed on a cart rather than being carried with the special poles by the officers that the Lord had appointed for that task in the Law. There is no mention given in 1 Chronicles 13 regarding the reason for this glaring omission.

The rejoicing of the people regarding the coming of the ark was cut short by a disaster. The oxen stumbled and one of the officials, Uzzah, put out his hand to protect the ark and he died. This was not a coincidence or merely the result of great stress on Uzzah's heart. The Chronicler writes that “the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah,” and that “the Lord struck him down.” The reason for his death was recorded for our consideration: “because he put out his hand to the ark.”

Touching the ark in this way was prohibited by God's Law. That commandment did not allow for extenuating circumstances. Uzzah died right there, and David was “angry” and “afraid of God that day.” His desire to have the ark with him was good, but could that goal be safely accomplished?

David left the ark in the household of another man for the next three months. Blessing came to his household during that time, the kind of blessing that David desired for His household and for His reign as king.

The ark could be an object of blessing but it could also be an object of wrath. The only reason that the ark had any power was because of God who had determined to dwell upon it between the cherubim on the cover of the ark. The presence of God could be a sword cutting one way or the other. How could David and the people know that the Lord would use the ark to bless them?

The wrath of God needed to be satisfied for Israel, not just temporarily or partially, but finally and completely. That satisfaction would not come until a proper offering was found that could bear the weight of Israel's sin. Only in the cross of Christ has God's justice found a full payment. Now we can boldly come into the presence of the Almighty. We even have God's presence within us. We still need to be careful to attend to the Word of the Lord, but our hearts have found a very safe resting place in Christ.