Perhaps you are like me and some things have not turned out the way you expected. The thing seemed good and right. Nothing dark or ungodly about it. But when you went through the process the result was devastating or at least disappointing.
I was dancing across I Chron. 15 recently and read again the account of David’s longing to bring the Ark near him. As a person whose heart longs for extended periods of time in the KING’S presence, I can relate to that yearning. I track with David as his heart just wants to get the presence of God as close to him as possible. The desire was noble. It was not only noble it was what God’s heart wanted as well. And if God and David both wanted it why did it have such a tragic beginning.
How I wish I had space to share all God has taught me about this scripture but let it suffice to say there were many missteps that resulted in Uzzah’s death. But the bulk of the responsibility rested on David. As a man after God’s heart it should have been second nature for him to inquire of the Lord on exactly how to get the Ark near to him. But he didn’t. I suppose he was much like me and believed his desire and enthusiasm was sufficient. But it was not.
Just as there was a proper way to bring the Ark to David, there is a proper way to bring the Presence to us. We have to spend time with HIM to learn of HIS ways not just HIS ordinances. David learned after Uzzah’s death that God had commanded the Ark be carried on the shoulders of the Priests, not a cart. In that same way we understand that we carry the Presence upon us and in us. It is not enough to assign it a designated time on Sunday during worship.
I often think of the amount of weight each priest would have balanced as the Ark was moved. This box was no light weight. It was heavy enough that each priest would have been fully aware that he was carrying something. Sometimes I think we underestimate the weight of God’s presence. We often relegate it to a few “goose bumps” during an awesome worship service. But when we bend our will and commit ourselves to be transporters of the presence of God in our world, I believe we will feel the weight of it. And unless we want to end up like Uzzah, we better sit quietly before HIM and learn how each of us is to distribute the weight of HIS presence.
Too often we have casually approached God. We forget what a privilege it is to be loved by HIM and to be allowed in HIS presence. As we daily lift our portion of HIS presence and glory, let us listen and do just as the Lord has said so we will receive the result we were longing for.
See you in the Tea Room soon.