I’ll use Psalms 123:1-3, 134:1-3, and 31:1-3.

My Shepherd met me in His green pastures, reflecting on the second question I posed yesterday: Why did God kill Uzzah?

2 Samuel 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.

2 Samuel 6:7 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.

David was displeased “because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzzah” (2 Samuel 6:8). The Spirit testifies that David was “afraid of the LORD that day,” and we are not talking about a reverential regard; this fear was troubling, displeasing, and it put distance between David and the GOD he so dearly loved.

David’s reaction could be rightly described as like one who was surprised by behavior he didn’t expect coming from God. In David’s eyes, God behaved strangely; that is, oddly out of character.

Along the still waters, I reflected on David’s reaction more than on God’s action.* Later, David learned, or was reminded, that according to the Law of Moses, only the priests were to carry the ark (1 Chronicles 15:2). Understanding his error, he made the necessary correction and brought the ark to God’s resting place in Zion.

What got my attention is David’s initial reaction and the immediate connection I made with his reaction and mine during times in my life when I didn’t understand some strange thing that God was doing in my life.

Often, it got sorted out for me the way it did for David: over time, God shows me from His word what was amiss and needed correction. Some issues take longer than others to resolve, and for me, that has sometimes been because it wasn’t a matter of some specific and clearly stated declaration of God’s will and ways, it’s more subtle.

For example, lately, God has revealed some things to me that are related to my personal growth, and not related to any particular failure to conform to His known will.

He has lately taught me that He is working on me, and not through me only. He is focused on what I am becoming while I am focused on what I am doing, or trying to accomplish. It has been extremely frustrating for me, because, probably like you, I think in terms of getting things done for Him, and for the kingdom. You might remember the “with me, without me” devotional I posted a while back. That’s an insight He gave me many years ago, but I have remained focused on what I’m getting done, or what I’m accomplishing with Him.

Lately, I have found myself at crosspurposes with God. Not that what I’m doing is wrong, or contrary to His will, or provoking His displeasure. On the contrary, it’s because His priority is who I am becoming, and while what I do is important to Him, it can wait if there is a present need for personal growth and development. I have difficulty turning my attention to His priorities when they don’t align with mine. As always, it ultimately resolves with a submitted will—Not my will, but thine be done. And the submission He seeks requires trust (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Sometimes God behaves in ways that seem strange to us because we don’t yet understand His purpose. We flail and flounder when we’re not aligned with His priorities. When we discover our priorities are not His, it comes down to trusting Him and submitting to His will.

David drew back from his priorities, discouraged, and perhaps even defeated, he gave up on bringing the Ark to Jerusalem. But he did not depart from the Lord in wrath, and though he questioned, he did not accuse God falsely.

Later, when he learned, or remembered, God’s priority was not merely that the Ark should be moved to His ordained resting place for it, Mt. Zion, in Jerusalem, but that it be regarded with the reverence befitting the throne of the Almighty on earth. Getting the Ark to Jerusalem was a priority, but it was one subordinate to His demand for holiness, and obedience to His Word. This is the lesson Saul failed to learn, and so lost the kingdom: “Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams” (1 Samuel 15:22).

In the valley, I knelt in the shadow of the Cross of the One Who yielded His own priorities to His Father’s (Luke 22:42). The Spirit said, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5-11), and inform us that in fact “we have the mind of Christ” (2 Corinthians 2:16).

Jesus called: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). Laying aside all besetting weights and sins (Hebrews 12:1-2), putting off the old man, and putting on the new (Ephesians 4:20-24; Colossians 3:9-10), I “reckon [myself] to be dead indeed unto sin,” I took up my cross confessing: “I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me” (Galatians 2:20; see Romans 6:11b).

At the table, we enjoyed sweet fellowship, but the time came for Him to anoint my head with His oil, and mix sufficient grace into my cup,. Goodness and mercy hastened to follow as we went together into the harvest.

Praying for revival! 🙏

Going live asap:

https://rumble.com/v7f1kgk-shepherds-pasture.html

[*This is because we have the advantage of knowing the rest of the story: Uzzah grew up in a family that had firsthand experience with the danger of profaning the Ark (1 Samuel 6:13-7:2; especially 6:19-20). We know the Law that forbade anyone from touching the Ark except the priests sanctified to this service (Numbers 4:15; see Genesis 3:3; Selah!) We also know that David finally resolved his issues when he learned, or was reminded, that only the Levites could transport the Ark and that this disregard for the sanctity of the Ark and the Divine Instructions regarding it is what caused the breach (1 Chronicles 15:2; Deuteronomy 10:8).]