No Good Deed Ever Goes Unpunished
I think about a person a whole lot. I see him as kind of my poster-boy for husbandom. His name is Uzzah. The story goes that the Ark of the Covenant was being transported back to Jerusalem with King David. At "the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled." (2 Sam. 6:6) God's wrath burned within him and struck Uzzah dead beside the ark. At Uzzah's death, David was angry with God and refused to take the Ark with him to Jerusalem for three months.
I probably don't have to explain why I chose the title or why I think this is a good lesson in marriage. But I certainly don't want to be taken as one suggesting that God was wrong for what he did.
Here's a poor fellow, politely walking along the ark, in a triumphant, celebratory procession. At a spot in the path, the cart teeters. This guy reaches out to stabilize the greatest possession--nay, God's resting place-- in all of ancient Israel and dies for his troubles.
Like Uzzah, I often do things for my wife with great intentions in mind, but get my hand bitten off for it. Rebecca, as you read this, let your anger subside until the end. Wives and God have something in common. Their ways are higher than our ways. Their thoughts are higher than our thoughts. We sometimes doubt that fact, but seriously, have we ever been able to understand them? It is we men that cannot comprehend.
All sexism aside, Uzzah really had to die. It wasn't for his intentions that he died. According to 2 Samuel, he died for his irreverent act. God is so Holy that his laws and decrees must be followed. God is so powerful that a teetering cart would not cause God to stumble.
The lesson here is two-fold. Let God's holiness guide our actions, and be slow to act upon reflex as Uzzah did. God's ways are higher than our own. We are to allow God to stabilize the world. That is not our job. Secondly, men, remember that your wife is worthy of great respect. Do something good for the right reasons, but in the wrong manner, expect and welcome a learning opportunity on how better to do it next time.
posted by Matthew Simcox at 9:25 AM
1 Comments:
Nu 4:15 And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation.
2Sa 6:6 ΒΆ 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.
2Sa 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.
I find this instance of God's judgment very revealing of the importance of knowing God's commandments and operating according to them, especially throught the history covered in the Old Testament period. I do not know if Uzzah and his brother were of the family of Kohath in the Levitical order, but apparently David or these others did not seek to know God's command concerning touching Holy objects and the penalty for disobedience. I see God's grace in operation until this particular instance within the whole operation of moving the Ark. Why all of the men were not killed by God is most revealing, they must have had some Levites there to use the staves to move the Ark to the cart.
I have heard it explained that even if the Ark had come in contact with the earth that this was cleaner than the touch of a man's hand. The earth (soil) is seen as always doing the will of God and is clean in comparison to the touch of a man's hand. So the hard part for us is to accept that Uzzah was not really doing a good deed in God's eyes, thus God smote him and he died as the Word warned in Numbers 4:15.
Thanks for your post. There is a corresponding lesson here and a responsiblity for us husbands to do all things well for our wives, kind of like doing things for God, we must know and obey the rules of why and how we do for them! Yes, their ways and thoughts are higher than ours. {:^)
All humor aside, your conclusion in the last paragraph about not operating strictly on reflex was on target! I am so glad we have Grace instead of Law in our living for God today. Still, we need to be obedient and faithful by operating within the framework of God's Word in our lives.
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