Let's see the different ways that King David moved the ark of God. At first David chose the easy way invented by the Philistines in the world to move the ark of God on a new cart pulled by some cows that caused Uzzah to die. Uzzah died when he steadied and touched the ark of God to prevent it from falling. This happened because David did not obey God's instructions for the movement of the ark. God's instructions required four Levites to carry the ark of God on four poles. Uzzah died because he was from the tribe of Benjamin and not a Levite allowed to carry the ark of God. It seemed harder for four men to carry the ark for forty miles to Jerusalem on four poles instead of allowing two cows to pull the ark on a new cart. But David learned that it is better to obey God's way than man's easy way in the world.
What Is The Ark Of God Or The Ark Of The Covenant
Pictured above we see that the ark of God was a very heavy rectangular box that was 2 feet wide, 4 feet long, and 2 feet high. The ark of God was constructed from acacia wood, a durable and decay resistant wood found abundantly in the Sinai wilderness. It was then overlaid with pure gold, both inside and out, and a golden decorative crown molding was placed around the top edge.
The gold lid on the top of the ark was called the mercy seat. Two angelic cherubims were facing inward toward the mercy seat lid with wings outstretched. The mercy seat was the place where God's presence was manifest and where the high priest would sprinkle the blood of bulls, goats, and calves on the Day of Atonement to provide for forgiveness of sins. Inside the ark were the tables of the covenant (the 10 commandments), Aaron's rod that budded, and the golden pot that had manna.
After the Lord Jesus died on the cross of Calvary, the precious blood of Jesus Christ removes sins forever. It is no longer necessary for a high priest to sprinkle the blood of bulls, goats, and calves on the mercy seat of an earthly ark of God to remove sins. Hebrews 9:12 says Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He (the Lord Jesus) entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer (a red heifer) sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Get Saved And Allow The Blood Of Jesus To Remove Your Sins Forever
Get Saved, Repent, Decide To Stop Sinning
Confess That Jesus Is God, And Believe The Gospel
That Jesus Died On The Cross For You, Was Buried, And Rose Again
The Philistines Send Back The Ark Of God To Israel
On A New Cart Pulled By A Couple Of Cows
The Philistines of the world created an easy way to move the ark of God on a new cart pulled by a couple of cows. This was not God's prescribed way to move the ark on four poles by four Levites. After the Philistines stole the ark, they were cursed by the presence of the ark. Even their god Dagan was cursed by the presence of the ark. The Philistines said let's just get rid of this thing and send it back to the Israelites on a new cart pulled by a couple of cows to remove the curse on our people.
Pictured above we see the ark returning to Israel on a new cart pulled by a couple of cows. Eventually the ark came to the house of Abinidab and his sons Uzzah and Ahio of the tribe of Benjamin and not Levi. Then King David wanted to move the ark of God from the house of Abinidab to Jerusalem. David had to decide whether to move the ark the easy way invented by the world on a new cart pulled by some cows or God's way by four Levites carrying the heavy ark on four poles for forty miles.
Uzzah Died Because David Chose The Wrong Easy Way To Move The Ark
After the Philistines returned the ark of God to Israel, King David went to Abinidab's house to move the ark to Jerusalem. David disobeyed God and decided to move the ark of God the Philistine's easy way on a new cart pulled by some cows. 2 Samuel 6:1 says Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the Lord of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubims. And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinidab that was at Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart.
David knew that God's Word said to move the ark on four poles by four Levites. But David thought it's a lot easier to move the ark on a new cart pulled by some cows. This way the Levites could rest while everyone rejoiced. But the easier way of the world is not always God's way. And David is going to learn quickly by Uzzah's death that it's better to do things God's way instead of the world's invented new way.
The old ways and directions of the bible are blessed and better than the new ways invented by the world. If it's new it's not true. And it's not true if it's new. Read the KJV perfect infallible bible instead of any new translated erroneous bibles. Jeremiah 6:16 says Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, we will not walk therein. Proverbs 24:21 says My son, fear thou the Lord and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change. Just follow the road map of the old blessed KJV bible and you will live a blessed life.
Look what happened to Uzzah because David chose to follow the world's easy way instead of God's blessed way. 2 Samuel 6:6 says 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. 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.
Why Did God Kill Uzzah Who Tried To Steady The Ark
Why did God kill Uzzah for just trying to steady the ark on a new cart after it tipped when the oxen pulling it hit a rock or pothole in the road? Uzzah was just trying to stabilize and steady the ark and do God a favor. But Uzzah's death was David's fault who knew God's directions on how to move the ark.
Five hundred years earlier, God warned the tribes of Israel that they would die if they touched the ark. Only the Levites could carry the ark on four poles after it was covered. David's disobedience to God's law caused the death of Uzzah. God said that the Levites had to move the ark and not touch the ark by carrying it on four poles inserted into four rings on the ark. All the other tribes like Benjamin which Abinidab, Uzzah, and Ahio belonged to were told to walk 2000 cubits or 3000 yards (25 football fields) behind the ark and not to touch the ark. Abinadab, Uzzah, and Ahio were not Levites and shouldn't have been anywhere near the ark.
God's instructions for building the ark of God are listed at Exodus 25:10. And they shall make an ark of shittim (acacia) wood: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof. And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, within and without shalt thou overlay it, and shalt make upon it a crown of gold round about. And thou shalt cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in the four corners thereof; and two rings shall be in the one side of it, and two rings in the other side of it. And thou shalt make staves (poles) of shittim (acacia) wood, and overly them with gold. And thou shalt put the staves (poles) into the rings by the sides of the ark, that the ark may be borne with them. The staves shall be in the rings of the ark: they shall not be taken from it.
God instructed the people of Israel not to touch the ark or they would die. Numbers 4:15 says 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 (Levites) shall come to bear it (on four poles inserted into four rings): but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. These things are the burden of he sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation.
In other words before the ark was to be moved, Aaron and his sons went into the holy place first to cover the holy vessels (the brasen altar, the laver, the table of shewbread, the candlestick, the altar of incense, and the ark of God with the mercy seat). Only the Levites and not the people from the tribe of Benjamin in the city of Gibeah like Uzzah, could move the ark by carrying it on poles inserted into four rings.
The other tribes except the Levites were instructed to stay 2000 cubits (3000 yards or 25 football fields) behind the ark when it was moved by the Levites. Abinadab, Uzzah, and Ahio from Benjamin shouldn't have been near the ark when it was moving. Therefore Uzzah died because David disobeyed God's instructions for moving the ark. The easy way of the world turned out to be the wrong way.
The instructions for the tribes outside of Levi to stay behind the ark 25 football fields is found at Joshua 3:3 that says And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it. Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about 2000 cubits (3000 yards or 25 football fields) by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore; And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the Lord will do wonders among you.
David eventually repented and learned that Jesus makes God's way the easy way. He learned that God's way is always better than the world's easy way. David told God alright I'm going to move the ark the correct way by four Levites on four poles instead of on a new cart pulled by a couple of cows. David said at 1 Chronicles 15:2 None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites: for them hath the Lord chosen to carry the ark of God, and to minister unto Him for ever.
David repented and realized his mistake caused the death of Uzzah. David told the people at 1 Chronicles 15:13 For because ye did it not at the first (mistakenly carried the ark on a new cart pulled by cows in disobedience), the Lord our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought Him not after the due order. So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel. And the children of the Levites bare the ark of God upon their shoulders with the staves thereon, as Moses commanded according to the Word of the Lord.
Now I want you to notice that when David correctly had the Levites move the heavy ark on poles, God helped the Levites carry the ark and made God's way the easy way. 1 Chronicles 15:25 says So David, and the elders of Israel, and the captains over thousands, went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of the house of Obed Edom with joy. And it came to pass, when God helped the Levites that bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord (notice the unseen hand of God underneath the ark helping the four Levites carry the ark making it light as a feather), that they offered seven bullocks and seven rams.
Just picture these four Levites carrying the heavy ark on four poles while the Lord Jesus helped them, making God's way the easy way, by holding up the ark with His mighty unseen hand. One Levite in the back right corner said "Praise the Lord, this ark is really light." He thought that the other three Levites were doing all the work. Then the other three Levites started laughing and said "This ark is light as a feather." Therefore if you follow the road map and do things God's way according to the bible, the Lord Jesus will help you and make God's way the easy way.
David successfully carried the ark of God to Jerusalem because he did it God's way and allowed four Levites to carry the ark on four poles. Like David, choose the easy yoke of the Lord Jesus (God's way) instead of the failed ways of the world and be blessed with rest and peace. Jesus said at Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. God's way with Jesus is always the best way.
I pray in Jesus name that this bible study blesses multitudes everywhere with great joy, peace, and strength. Feel free to email Brother Bob anytime at rz9tlm@gmail.com or write to Brother Bob Malkin, 2233 Pinetree Lane, Apt. N., Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068. (614) 746-7071. Till we all meet again soon to lift up our Lord Jesus, everyone have a blessed day in Jesus name.
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