“But when they arrived at the threshing floor of Nacon, the oxen stumbled, and Uzzah reached out his hand and steadied the Ark of God. Then the Lord’s anger was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him dead because of this. So Uzzah died right there beside the Ark of God. David was angry because the Lord’s anger had burst out against Uzzah. He named that place Perez-uzzah (which means “to burst out against Uzzah”), as it is still called today. David was now afraid of the Lord, and he asked, “How can I ever bring the Ark of the Lord back into my care?” So David decided not to move the Ark of the Lord into the City of David. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-edom of Gath. The Ark of the Lord remained there in Obed-edom’s house for three months, and the Lord blessed Obed-edom and his entire household. Then King David was told, “The Lord has blessed Obed-edom’s household and everything he has because of the Ark of God.” So David went there and brought the Ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the City of David with a great celebration. After the men who were carrying the Ark of the Lord had gone six steps, David sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf. And David danced before the Lord with all his might, wearing a priestly garment. So David and all the people of Israel brought up the Ark of the Lord with shouts of joy and the blowing of rams’ horns. But as the Ark of the Lord entered the City of David, Michal, the daughter of Saul, looked down from her window. When she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she was filled with contempt for him. They brought the Ark of the Lord and set it in its place inside the special tent David had prepared for it. And David sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings to the Lord. When he had finished his sacrifices, David blessed the people in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. Then he gave to every Israelite man and woman in the crowd a loaf of bread, a cake of dates, and a cake of raisins. Then all the people returned to their homes. When David returned home to bless his own family, Michal, the daughter of Saul, came out to meet him. She said in disgust, “How distinguished the king of Israel looked today, shamelessly exposing himself to the servant girls like any vulgar person might do!” David retorted to Michal, “I was dancing before the Lord, who chose me above your father and all his family! He appointed me as the leader of Israel, the people of the Lord, so I celebrate before the Lord. Yes, and I am willing to look even more foolish than this, even to be humiliated in my own eyes! But those servant girls you mentioned will indeed think I am distinguished!” So Michal, the daughter of Saul, remained childless throughout her entire life.”
2 Samuel 6:6-23 NLT
The story of uzzah, the ark and David and Michal is an interesting one. It sets in juxtaposition two seemingly contrasting narrative and forces David to marry the two. But on the one hand, you have a moment of extreme joy and celebration at the return of the Ark. As it becomes unsteady, it is mishandled leading to it literally being mishandled. It led to the death of Uzzah. Against this is the apparent mishandling of David’s kingship. This was called out by Michal who became barren because she chastised David for being uncouth. It is an interesting dynamic as both highlight things being mishandled but the first with grave consequence for the mishandler and the second with consequence for the critic. Whereas Uzzah violated God’s command by steadying the ark, Michal violated God’s anointed by steadying the king. This is the connection, both thought that they had the right to step in place of God. But the edict is clear, only God may rescind his own blessings or curses. He does not need steadying and his kings don’t need rebuke from anyone but God. If the ark falls, let it, rather than stain it with an unholy touch. If a king falls, let him rather then betray God’s anointed. The passage illustrates how holy God is among all things. We should not dare to treat him as if he is not.
Central Theme: The story highlights the consequences of mishandling sacred things and the importance of respecting God’s authority.
Uzzah’s Mistake: Uzzah’s attempt to steady the Ark, a sacred object, resulted in his death, emphasizing the holiness of God’s possessions.
Michal’s Criticism: Michal’s rebuke of David’s dancing, deemed inappropriate for a king, led to her barrenness, underscoring the importance of respecting God’s anointed.
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