Today’s reading: 1 Chronicles 11:10-13:14
My selection: I Chronicles 13:9-14
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.
My reflections: The ark of God represented His presence. He was not represented physically, but He sat enthroned above the cherubim on the cover of the ark (vs. 6). The Law spelled out warnings to any who would desecrate the ark by mishandling it, looking inside it, or touching it.
Uzzah was struck down for his careless and unlawful way of handling the ark. His death brought fear to David such that he desisted from bringing the ark to Jerusalem. Thus the ark was left in the custody of Obed-edom for three months. Remarkably, Obed-edom and his family were blessed by the Lord. His household was blessed, and all that he had was blessed.
The same ark brought death to one and blessing to another. The difference was obedience to the law of God. The same God brings down the disobedient and raises up the godly. He is not fickle but consistently rewards the righteous and destroys the wicked.
My challenge: The gospel includes both bad news and good news. First, the bad news: God’s wrath will justly be poured out on unbelieving sinners. Next, the good news: whoever believes in His Son will not perish but have everlasting life.
Faith is a gift of God. (Ephesians 2:8-9) Have you been given faith to believe in Him? Faith comes by hearing God’s word (Romans 10:17). If you have not believed, I urge you to go regularly to hear the preaching of the gospel. Pray that God may be merciful to you.
Tomorrow’s reading: 1 Chronicles 14:1-16:43
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