What Was Uzzahs Sin?

[tyndale1946]

My wife and I do our devotionals every morning and she is reading through the whole bible again as I am into doctrinal studies. She came across this chapter of second Samuel and read that not only did God strike Uzzah dead but that David because of Gods action refused to bring the ark into the city. To her God striking Uzzah because he grabbed the ark seemed unfair as he was trying to keep the ark from falling when the oxen shook it. We know by scripture that God is always just and fair in his dealing with his people... Comments... Brother Glen

2 Samuel 6:1 Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand.

2 And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the LORD of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubims.

3 And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart.

4 And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab which was at Gibeah, accompanying the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark.

5 And David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals.

6 And when they came to Nachon's threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it.

7 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.

8 And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzzah: and he called the name of the place Perezuzzah to this day.

9 And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and said, How shall the ark of the LORD come to me?

10 So David would not remove the ark of the LORD unto him into the city of David: but David carried it aside into the house of Obededom the Gittite.

 

[Scarlett O.]

Well, on the surface - it did seem harsh.

This link has a great conversation about Uzzah and David and the rest. I really like point #1. Point #2 seems to have a little too much presumption for me. But the whole thing is good food for thought.

http://www.gotquestions.org/Uzzah.html

 

[kyredneck]

He was of the sons of Kohath who were warned not to touch it somehow in this passage:

And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the furniture of the sanctuary, as the camp is set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch the sanctuary, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tent of meeting. Nu 4:15

That ark caused a lot of people grief during that period. Personally, I'm glad it's no longer around.

 

[The Biblicist]

My wife and I do our devotionals every morning and she is reading through the whole bible again as I am into doctrinal studies. She came across this chapter of second Samuel and read that not only did God strike Uzzah dead but that David because of Gods action refused to bring the ark into the city. To her God striking Uzzah because he grabbed the ark seemed unfair as he was trying to keep the ark from falling when the oxen shook it. We know by scripture that God is always just and fair in his dealing with his people... Comments... Brother Glen

2 Samuel 6:1 Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand.

2 And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the LORD of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubims.

3 And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart.

4 And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab which was at Gibeah, accompanying the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark.

5 And David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals.

6 And when they came to Nachon's threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it.

7 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.

8 And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzzah: and he called the name of the place Perezuzzah to this day.

9 And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and said, How shall the ark of the LORD come to me?

10 So David would not remove the ark of the LORD unto him into the city of David: but David carried it aside into the house of Obededom the Gittite.

For because ye did it not at the first, the LORD our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought him not after the due order. - 1 Chron. 15:13

If you study the 13th chapter where the "breach" took place, all the characteristics of what most people identify as true worship were present with the exception of one essential "due order." Worship MUST be in "spirit" AND in "truth." The "spirit" of worship was certainly present, but contrary to "truth".

 

[McCree79]

I think there multiple errors here that provokes God's anger. The obvious, Uzzah touched the Ark, which his family had been extensively trained on how to handle it. Which leads to the 2nd, the improper handling of the Ark. The Ark was to be carried by priests with poles through the rings. 3rd Uzzah may have reacted OT of instinct...which I doubt due to all the training. He was guilty of assuming his sinful hands could someway protect God's honor or Holiness. The dirt would have been a better place for the Ark to land than Uzzah's hands. The dirt is not sinful. It does exactly what God created it to do. We on the other hand are rebellious.

 

[convicted1]

Wasn't Uzzah of the Levites? That's what I'm thinking. The Levites were the ones God gave the priesthood to and only they kept the Ark. However, they could not touch it, but transport it. When Uzzah touched it, he broke the law given to the Levites, and he died for it. But God is a God of love, right?

 

[robustheologian]

Wasn't Uzzah of the Levites? That's what I'm thinking. The Levites were the ones God gave the priesthood to and only they kept the Ark. However, they could not touch it, but transport it. When Uzzah touched it, he broke the law given to the Levites, and he died for it. But God is a God of love, right?

Yeah, that's the controversiality of the passage.

 

[PreachTony]

It's always been my belief that there was a multitude of error being exercised by the people in this episode. The Ark was supposed to be moved about in a certain way, and David/the priests were suddenly trying a different way that seemed right to them. There was clear instruction about not touching the Ark, and as McCree pointed out, it would've been better had the Ark landed on the dirt than on the hands of a sinful man. The Ark was the mercyseat of God, and here we have a man, no matter how well-intentioned he was, thinking he could prop up the mercyseat.

Once Uzzah had died, the Bible says David "carried" the Ark into the house of Obededom. I take that to mean that the Ark was moved as the Lord intended it, and not as David had tried to move it. After all, the Lord blessed the house of Obededom so long as the Ark was there. That tells me it was moved properly into that place.

Just a few verses later we see David carrying the Ark up in the proper way, and offering oxen and fatlings, and praising God in a manner pleasing to God, instead of trying some new way that seemed good to David.

 

[Robert William]

My wife and I do our devotionals every morning and she is reading through the whole bible again as I am into doctrinal studies. She came across this chapter of second Samuel and read that not only did God strike Uzzah dead but that David because of Gods action refused to bring the ark into the city. To her God striking Uzzah because he grabbed the ark seemed unfair as he was trying to keep the ark from falling when the oxen shook it. We know by scripture that God is always just and fair in his dealing with his people... Comments... Brother Glen

2 Samuel 6:1 Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand.

2 And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the LORD of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubims.

3 And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart.

4 And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab which was at Gibeah, accompanying the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark.

5 And David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals.

6 And when they came to Nachon's threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it.

7 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.

8 And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzzah: and he called the name of the place Perezuzzah to this day.

9 And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and said, How shall the ark of the LORD come to me?

10 So David would not remove the ark of the LORD unto him into the city of David: but David carried it aside into the house of Obededom the Gittite.

Uzzah was a vile sinner, as all humans are whether they are saved or not.

King David touched the Ark and did not die. YHWH does discriminate (see my signature), YHWH does what He wants and is not to be questioned.

 

[PreachTony]

Uzzah was a vile sinner, as all humans are whether they are saved or not.

King David touched the Ark and did not die. YHWH does discriminate (see my signature), YHWH does what He wants and is not to be questioned.

Scripture please? I don't know off hand of anywhere in the Bible that states David touched the Ark.

 

[Robert William]

Scripture please? I don't know off hand of anywhere in the Bible that states David touched the Ark.

:thumbs:

You're right, I can't find it in scripture, I must have got that belief from Hollywood biblical movies.

 

[PreachTony]

You're right, I can't find it in scripture, I must have got that belief from Hollywood biblical movies.

I know which movie you mean. I hope you didn't take me calling you out wrong. I didn't intend it that way. Just verifying if there was something in the scripture I had missed.

Thanks, RW!:thumbs:

 

[Jerome]

This is a pet passage for those pushing 'regulative principle of worship' dogmas (against musical instruments, against invitations, etc.).

 

[Bro. Curtis]

The same death sentence was handed out for those who got too close to Mount Sinai during the consecration (Ex19), but I believe he had men carry it out.

 

[PreachTony]

This is a pet passage for those pushing 'regulative principle of worship' dogmas (against musical instruments, against invitations, etc.).

Would you mind explaining this one out a bit further, Jerome? I've never heard this scripture used to back certain restrictions, even though I know plenty of churches that have the restrictions you have mentioned.

Thanks in advance.

 

[kyredneck]

Jerome the Primitive Baptists and does these periodic 'guerilla attacks' out of the blue from time to time. I've no doubt something along the lines of a quote from 'Hassell's History' is forthcoming. I've never heard the passage used in the manner he says either, and I'm PB.

 

[Robert William]

I know which movie you mean. I hope you didn't take me calling you out wrong. I didn't intend it that way. Just verifying if there was something in the scripture I had missed.

Thanks, RW!:thumbs:

:thumbs:

Feel free to call me out anytime, I believe it's biblical.

 

[McCree79]

Jerome the Primitive Baptists and does these periodic 'guerilla attacks' out of the blue from time to time. I've no doubt something along the lines of a quote from 'Hassell's History' is forthcoming. I've never heard the passage used in the manner he says either, and I'm PB.

Kyredneck; I am pretty unfamiliar with Primitive Baptists.....in fact my only knowledge comes from Wikipedia..... Sorry in advance. The refer to Primitive Baptist as Anti-Mission Baptists. I see no explanation why. Can you explain that for me? I know this is off thread topic.....I was just curious.

Love the foot washing aspect by the way. Does your church do that often?

 

[kyredneck]

They're against 'mission boards' but not evangelists which are Christ's gift to the Church. Several Churches in my area are cooperating with a 'mission' in the Philippines right now. I helped support a friend there translating the books of Luke and Acts into one of the like 87 dialects.

Feet (there's two of those) washing is observed at communion time annually with lots of visitors from other churches attending. It's usually a big affair.

I'm sure Jerome will be around shortly to give more commentary.

 

[PreachTony]

Feet (there's two of those) washing is observed at communion time annually with lots of visitors from other churches attending. It's usually a big affair.

I'm sure Jerome will be around shortly to give more commentary.

It's not just PBs that do foot-washing (or feet-washing, whichever you prefer). My church, unaffiliated with a convention or association, and not Primitive, observes foot-washing twice yearly along with Communion. We don't get the number of visitors KYR is referring to, but that's more to do with our standing outside the local associations.

My girlfriend's church is not what you would call Primitive, though they are more old-fashioned than my home church. They are probably closer to KYR's notion of a feet-washing service than my church would be. Even though we are all following the same commandment from scripture.