I’ll sing Psalms 8:1, 134:1-3,   31:1-3 and 16:2

My Shepherd met me in His green pastures, contemplating David’s first effort to return the Ark to the service God intended. I communed with the Holy Ghost at verse 6:

2Samuel 6:6 ¶ 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.

Some years ago, I wrote a book titled The New Cart Church, focusing on the error of God’s people in transporting the Ark in a “new cart” rather than as Moses prescribed:

Poles were made, which were placed through rings set along each side of the Ark; the Levites, specifically of the sons of Kohath, were to carry it upon their shoulders (Exodus 25:14-15; Numbers 4:15; 7:9). God expressly forbade even the Kohathites from touching the Ark, “lest they die” (Numbers 4:15).

I suppose the poles were still in the rings of the Ark. It seems unlikely the Philistines would have removed them. Perhaps these were used by the men of Israel to load the Ark onto the new cart, and so they avoided touching it. Did they remember what happened at Bethshemesh when the people looked into the Ark and were destroyed (1 Samuel 6:19)? But that was almost 70 years prior. Uzzah reached his hand and touched the Ark, to steady it after the Oxen “shook it,” and this provoked the “anger of the LORD … and God smote him there for his error” (2 Samuel 6:6-7).

Along the still waters, I thought about how God actually tolerated the ignorance of His people in moving the Ark contrary to Moses’ instructions. The breach came upon Uzzah when he touched the Ark, not because he drave the new cart carrying it (2 Samuel 6:3).

David’s error exposed the people to Uzzah’s error. When we disobey the Lord and do things contrary to His instructions, He might tolerate our ignorance. However, there is a reason we must “study to show ourselves approved” (2 Timothy 2:15). The people are destroyed for lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6). What trespass might be tolerated because of ignorance is nevertheless not excused. But the protection afforded to those who obey the Scriptures is removed. God’s people are exposed to grave danger that can lead to the grave when they are not taught rightly.

In the valley, I heard His instruction: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). All who attempt to serve the Lord who have not obeyed the instruction to deny self and take up their cross might be tolerated, but they are likely to touch the Lord’s work with their flesh during their service and so bring spiritual death into their lives, and expose the congregation to a “breach.”

At the table, He anointed my head with His oil and filled my cup with His grace. Goodness and mercy attended as we went together into the harvest.

Praying for revival! 🙏