Sitting in Charlotte Airport this morning, I’m struck by the way King David seemed to regularly seek the Lord when making big decisions. This wasn’t his behavior just some time, but most times, like when going to battle.
2 Samuel 5:20
And once again David asked the LORD what to do. “Do not attack them straight on,” the LORD replied. “Instead, circle around behind them and attack them near the balsam trees.
I think all of us can or should confess we need to seek the Lord’s guidance more regularly, and with greater conviction. Yet David messed up at times, when engaged in a major event, when he should have known better. I’m referring to the time he brought the Ark.
Here he’s engaged in major spiritual event, and David knows that God has instructed very specifically how this event should be carried out, yet he seems to think God will just love the fact that the Ark is coming home and not care how it’s done. Big mistake!
I think of times I have been involved in a spiritual pursuit, thinking God will love my “Heart Motive”, all the while not being concerned if I am proceeding according to what the word says about my pursuit. Many of us would label that “Legalism”, yet God would label it obedience. I think we often disregard obedience by our excuse of claiming our freedom in Jesus.
Back to my point about David. As 2 Samuel 6 speaks to the outcome of David’s sloppy attitude towards God’s instruction, let’s read the scripture so that it might speak to us about what happens when we get sloppy in our walk.
2 Sam 6:6-
[6] But when they arrived at the threshing floor of Nacon, the oxen stumbled, and Uzzah put out his hand to steady the Ark of God.
[7] Then the LORD’s anger blazed out against Uzzah for doing this, and God struck him dead beside the Ark of God.
[8] David was angry because the LORD’s anger had blazed out against Uzzah. He named that place Perez-uzzah (which means “outbreak against Uzzah”). It is still called that today.
[9] David was now afraid of the LORD and asked, “How can I ever bring the Ark of the LORD back into my care?”
David failed to have Levites carry the Ark and instead chose to use a new cart instead – he thought it was better than the Levites.
David got angry with God because God judged Uzzah’s actions. He thought what Uzzah did was the right thing at the time, even though God said otherwise.
The end result is David was “Afraid” of God because of all this. Mind you this was not a healthy fear but rather a fear like Adam & Eve had that caused them not to trust God and hid from him something we all seem to deal with from one degree to another.
My prayer for all of us is that we will not be so foolish as to live like we want and expect God to like it and bless it. That we will not become angry with God when he judges our behavior rather than blesses it, and will repent when we realize we were sloppy in our obedience.
God’s great desire is to bless His children, but not at the expense of our obedience to his word. He loves us to much to contribute to our foolishness.
Aren’t you glad that God loves us deeply & wisely?
Thinking Biblically this morning.
Pastor Dale
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