First Chronicles 13 Commentary
When good intentions don’t matter; this is one important lesson David learns from this chapter. Only obedience counts. The LORD is to be worshipped on His terms. Every aspect of it is strictly defined. Any violation is punished. Uzzah pays with his life. That is the cost of disobedience.
David knows exactly what has happened. They have not consulted the LORD. They have not transported the Ark of the LORD in a prescribed way.
The saint is encouraged to read these lines with keen interest. Have we consulted the word of the LORD before offering our sacrifice? Have we conducted our worship service in the right way? We should not be mistaken. We cannot hide behind the cover of good intentions. The LORD won’t be fooled.
A day that had started highly ended lowly. That is the fate of the man who is high on faith vanity but extremely low on the actual requirements of the LORD, as revealed in the written word. David should have known better. His fear is real. The LORD cannot be taken for a ride, not even a new one!
This passage is speaking to us on the need to personalize the worship of the LORD. It should be us lifting the Ark of the LORD on our shoulders and not the cart. The LORD wants to hear the voice of the saint in prayer. It shouldn’t be recorded music by unclean lips, regardless of its cost, taste, or even quality of production.
The LORD must be carried in the saint’s heart, not on the carts of charity works or other works of righteousness. A quality relationship with the LORD is required. The LORD is never a product to be put on the shelf of good intentions.
Let not the saint be happy that they have consulted widely. Like David, we must learn that the only source of authority and procedure is the written word of the LORD. Forget the church council or even the church AGM. There is only one authority. When sad events occur as a consequence of poor worship systems, let the sad and afraid saint reflect.
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