Uzzah and the the Tabernacle’s Ark of the Covenant:

2 Samuel 6:1-9. Heavenly Father had given David a great victory over the Philistines. In the beginning of David’s reign, the worship of the Lord had been sadly neglected. David, in his desire to honor God, organized his people to re-establish the tabernacle as the focal place of the Israelite people. The last item placed into the tabernacle was the Ark of the Covenant. It had been kept in a private home for the past seventy years. In his eagerness to see this happen, David built a cart to transport it instead of following God’s specific instructions which required the ark be carried on the shoulders of Levite priests Exodus 25:12-14. None of the holy things were to be touched by man Numbers 4:15. The result of David’s decision was disastrous.

The Ark of the Covenant was being joyfully received by all God’s people who lined the roads leading to the tabernacle. Suddenly, one of the oxen stumbled and it looked like the ark was going to fall off the cart. A man named Uzzah struck out his hand to steady the ark and was immediately struck dead from God. Although Uzzah’s intent may have been very good, his act was irreverent because it violated the clear instructions the Lord had given for handling the ark. His attempt to magnify his calling was ruined by a single act of unintentional disobedience. It wasn’t good enough. God’s judgment was swift and final.

David initially resented his attempt to honor Heavenly Father had ended up in disaster. Couldn’t the Lord see that he was doing all he could do to build the tabernacle? David was also afraid (verse 9). An acute sense of his own guilt created a great deal of anxiety. He realized that after all he could do, it wasn’t good enough.