Posts Tagged ‘Anger’

“When they came to the threshing floor, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. The Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down and he died there beside the ark of God” 2 Samuel 6:6-7 NIV

What was the big deal, God? Uzzah was keeping the ark from falling in the mud! That was unfair! You are too sensitive, Lord… and so on… Maybe one or more of those thoughts have entered your mind as you read the passage above? All of those phrases have been mine at one time or another. I think differently now…

It is speculated that Uzzah could have grown up around the ark when it was at Abinadab’s house. At the time that the ark was there, God’s presence was in limited fashion because the ark was not where it should have been. Maybe it was stored in a barn or shed (a little too big for a coffee table, ha!). If this is true, what do kids (like Uzzah) do in a barn? They jump, swing, and play king of the mountain on anything that is there. Get the picture? It was so much a fixture that it had become common. For example… a cross hanging in your house or around your neck, your Bible, prayer, and songs. They are Christian “fixtures” (meant with no disrespect). The things we have “grown up” with. If we are not careful… we can allow the sacred things to become so common that we begin to think like Uzzah: “I can touch it, see? I grew up with it; it’s harmless.”

We need to live with a new awareness of God’s presence. We need to be careful so His presence won’t become so common that we begin to think about it casually. So casually, that we reach out and touch His holiness with our common flesh. Remember Uzzah?

Say this with me, “I want Him at any cost. I will not let sacred things become common to me. I am here to meet with God and learn how to handle the Holy things with reverence. I will not become commonplace with the things of God. I will revere and respect the Holiness of all of the things of Hashem (the name that means, He was, He is, He will be), even His names.”

A dear friend called and said something to me and I want to share it with you.

“God’s will: nothing more; nothing less; nothing else; at any cost.” Sometimes the cost is high, but the reward is higher!

When the sacred becomes common, the common becomes a fixture and the fixture gets dusty and even more common. Look around you… is anything of Hashem dusty or commonplace in your life today? Is it time to bring it back to the level of Holiness He deserves?

At any cost…
Kathy