Text: 2 Samuel 6:1-9
Memory verse:
”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.“
II Samuel 6:7 NKJV
For the past few days in our devotional, we have dwelled on things to do to make our services acceptable to God. Now, if your service must be acceptable, it is not just enough to offer the right service, but it must be offered in the right way.
According to our text today, David did the right thing, which most leaders wouldn’t do. As soon as he got established as king in Jerusalem, he decided to move the Ark, which was a symbol of God’s presence, from Kirjath-jearim to Jerusalem. Rather than pursuing popularity, he pursued piousness! He prioritized godliness over gold! He had a great goal! He had good intentions, but good intentions would not substitute for obedience. God’s instructions must be complied with. The good thing that is done in a bad way is still bad!
God exploded in anger to kill Uzzah when he touched the ark because His instructions were violated; His holiness was tampered with.
”… The Kohathites will come and carry these things to the next destination. But they must not touch the sacred objects, or they will die. So these are the things from the Tabernacle that the Kohathites must carry.“ (Num 4:15 NLT).
The responsibility to move the Ark was given to the Kohathites. That is, not all Levites had such responsibility. Even then, the Kohathites were not permitted to look into the content of the Ark (Num 4:17-20). No where in the scriptures was Uzzah regarded as a Kohathite. It was also possible that Uzzah could have seen the articles in the Ark in his bid to stop the Ark. Although, out of his zeal for the Lord, he attempted to protect the Ark from falling, but it was a zeal without knowledge. God will not trade obedience for zeal! Zeal without knowledge is as deadly as ignorance!
Friends, good intentions, and zeal will not excuse anyone for violating divine instructions. Don’t just do the right thing, seek to do it in the right way. That’s where the blessing is!
Prayer points
1. Father, please, open my eyes to the right things that I have been doing in the wrong way and help me to do them rightly, in Jesus’ name.
2. Father, help me to back my good intentions and zeal with knowledge in Jesus’ name.
Today’s declarations
1. I don’t just do the right things, but I do right things in the right ways, and so I provoke God’s blessings.
2. Good intentions and zeal without knowledge are unprofitable.
Contact: pastor@thf.org.ng