"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" (2 Sam. 6:7).
When we consider our guilt in light of God’s holiness, His justice comes into focus. We have already taken a look at God’s justice in light of His holiness, noting that it is because of His holiness that God’s justice cannot be compromised. It was because of God’s holiness that Israel was set apart from other nations. It was because of His holiness that they had to construct the temple according to the exact details given to them by God. It was because of His holiness that He gave them laws by which they were to live. They were to be holy because He was a holy God. They were to be separate from the world because they belonged to Him, because they were a holy nation.
Today, we will continue our consideration of God’s justice because now we understand a little better how right it is for God to execute His justice on a fallen world. If we think that we are innocent, that we can stand uncovered before the face of God, then we will not be able to grasp the many acts of judgment executed by God throughout the Scriptures and throughout history. We won’t understand why so many bad things have happened to us because we will be assuming that we don’t deserve it. We think this way because we don’t get the point that we are sinners, under condemnation, worthy only of eternal punishment, and deserving no mercy.
It is quite common for people to be astonished by the account of Uzzah, who reached out, touched the fallen ark, and died as a result of God’s judgment (2 Sam. 6). When David saw what happened, he was frightened, and he asked, “Who can handle the things of God?” If all it takes to receive the judgment of God is to reach out one’s hand and steady the ark, then who can live before God? The sense of helplessness and frustration on David’s part was sincere.
But God’s actions are never arbitrary, and Uzzah’s action was not heroic. As a priest, Uzzah knew God’s law, and he knew the penalty for violating God’s holy law: death. God’s action here was one of justice, and we have no right to accuse God of being arbitrary or capricious. What we must do is consider the nature of God’s holiness. When we do, we will realize that no man can come into the presence of God, that no man is worthy, that apart from grace, we have no hope.
Why did Uzzah die? What would you have thought or done had you been there? Is God obligated to show anyone mercy? What causes you to believe that you deserve to live without pain and suffering? Are you grateful for the grace God shows you? Thank Him for not being “fair” with you.
