1 Chronicles 13:1-14

1 Chronicles 13:1. And David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader. And David said unto all the congregation of Israel, If it seem good unto you, and that it be of the LORD our God, let us send abroad unto our brethren every where, that are left in all the land of Israel, and with them also to the priests and Levites which are in their cities and suburbs, that they may gather themselves unto us: and let us bring again the ark of our God to us: for we enquired not at it in the days of Saul.

It had lain neglected at Kirjathjearim, «in the fields of the wood,» as David writes in the 132 nd Psalm.

1 Chronicles 13:4. And all the congregation said that they would do so: for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people. So David gathered all Israel together, from Shihor of Egypt even unto the entering of Hemath, to bring the ark of God from Kirjathjearim. And David went up, and all Israel, to Baalah, that is, to Kirjathjearim, which belonged to Judah, to bring up thence the ark of God the LORD, that dwelleth between the cherubims, whose name is called on it. And they carried the ark of God in a new cart out of the house of Abinadab: and Uzza and Ahio drave the cart. And David and all Israel played before God with all their might, and with singing, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with cymbals, and with trumpets.

A stately array of all the leaders of the tribes, with all sorts of music, to do honour to the ark of God.

1 Chronicles 13:9. And when they came unto the threshing-floor of Chidon, Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen stumbled. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzza, and he smote him, because he put his hand to the ark: and there he died before God.

I suppose that Uzza, through the ark having been so long in his father's house, had grown unduly familiar with it, and therefore touched it. Yet it was an express law that even the Levites should not lay a hand upon the ark. They carried it with staves; the priests alone might touch it for necessary purposes. It was for this profanation that Uzza «died before God.»

1 Chronicles 13:11. And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzza; wherefore that place is called Perezuzza to this day. And. David was afraid of God that day, saying, How shall I bring the ark of God home to me?

He was afraid lest he also might die.

1 Chronicles 13:13. So David brought not the ark home to himself to the city of David, but carried it aside into the house of Obededom the Gittite.

He must have been a brave, believing man, to be willing to receive the terrible ark into his house; but he probably knew that, so long as he behaved reverentially to it, he would have a blessing, and not a curse, through taking it under his charge.

1 Chronicles 13:14. And the ark of God remained with the family of Obededom in his house three months. And the LORD blessed the house of Obededom, and all that he had.

(This exposition consisted of readings from 1 Chronicles 13:1, and 1 Chronicles 15:1; 1Ch 15:11-16; 1 Chronicles 15:25.)