June 20, 2022
Today’s reading: 2 Samuel 6:6-7
The heart of worship
We read in 2 Samuel 6:6-7:
6 And when they came to Nachon’s threshing floor, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. 7 Then the anger of the LORD was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his error; and he died there by the ark of God.
When we look at the world of Christianity today, we find a common trend when it comes to worship.
They base the quality of their worship on how they feel rather than whether God is pleased with their worship or not. While we are not to judge the heart of worship of people, we can see from the outside how worship today has become more emotional.
Sometimes, we don’t even see a difference between worldly music and Christian music. Even the singers are dressed like rock and roll singers.
This should remind us about how God struck Uzzah. First and foremost, God clearly commanded that the ark of God should be carried by poles and not be driven by a cart.
David and the people of Israel felt like they were doing the right way of worship. We read how they created a new and improved cart. Maybe, they have added elaborate and majestic detail to the cart.
Aside from that, “David and all the house of Israel played music before the LORD on all kinds of instruments of fir wood, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on sistrums, and on cymbals” (2 Samuel 6:5).
All these were great worship productions. Everything was right and good except for one thing. Their worship isn’t pleasing to God.
Yahweh expected more from Israel. He had made it clear how the Ark should be handled. It shouldn’t be treated like any other ordinary or sacred thing.
Remember what Numbers 4:15 mentioned:
And when Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all the furnishings of the sanctuary, when the camp is set to go, then the sons of Kohath shall come to carry them; but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die.
So, it was, Yahweh made a clear statement by striking Uzzah. The Almighty was saying that their way of worship, although elaborate and great, was nothing if it didn’t please Him.
Remember, worshiping isn’t about us. It’s about God.
Our worship shouldn’t focus on how we feel, but on what God feels — not our will, but God’s will.
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