"THE LORD'S WORK"
You’ve often heard me say that “No one has the right to stand in judgment of God.” Yet, have you ever “gotten upset” with the LORD? Surprisingly , for some people, there is a sort of “slow boil” in their relationship with the LORD. So much so, that, whenever something occurs that does not fit their understanding of how things should be, they revert to standing in judgment of their Creator. Anytime, as you can imagine, that we quote “get upset” with God, we can be sure of two things: one, that God can handle your attitudes towards Him; and two, that we are the ones in the wrong and not the LORD. And it often comes down to this. Some of us feel the need to blame someone when things don’t go well. And many people simply blame God.
In today’s lesson from the Bible, I want to show you that when things didn’t go according to our plans, and God intervenes, we still need to honor Him. Please open your Bible with me today to II Samuel chapter six.
II Samuel 6:1 “Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. (2) And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the LORD of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubims. (3) And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart. (4) And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab which was at Gibeah, accompanying the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark. (5) And David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals. (6) And when they came to Nachon's threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it. (7) And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error [decay, ruin, fault]; and there he died by the ark of God. (8) And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzzah: and he called the name of the place Perez-uzzah to this day. (9) And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and said, How shall the ark of the LORD come to me? (10) So David would not remove the ark of the LORD unto him into the city of David: but David carried it aside into the house of Obededom the Gittite.”
Imagine, for just minute how you’d respond if you had been there and something like this had occurred. Would you react any differently than David? David has now been crowned King. He’s kind over all Israel. And he immediately does three things as king. One, he conquers the Jebusites and takes over the city of Jerusalem. Two, he attacks and defeats the Philistines. And three, he proceeds to move the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem.
And, in the process of transporting the Ark up and into the city of Jerusalem, in the very hour of the parade, and in the midst of a great celebration with lots of music and singing, someone dies. And at first it appears as if this man has lost his life while he was doing something good. The oxen shook the cart and, according to the Bible, he simply reached out to steady it.
Does it affect you when big things like this occur? I mean large things like cancer and death and fire and even war? I want to say something today about the LORD and especially I’d like to let you in on something that is critical to your success and obedience. Here’s what I’d like to say. God is neither capricious nor dispassionate. By that I mean God always acts out of wisdom and love. In other words, God didn’t make a mistake with Uzzah’s life. Nor has He made any mistakes with your life.
Go on to Page Two
In today’s lesson from the Bible, I want to show you that when things didn’t go according to our plans, and God intervenes, we still need to honor Him. Please open your Bible with me today to II Samuel chapter six.
II Samuel 6:1 “Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. (2) And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the LORD of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubims. (3) And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart. (4) And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab which was at Gibeah, accompanying the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark. (5) And David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals. (6) And when they came to Nachon's threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it. (7) And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error [decay, ruin, fault]; and there he died by the ark of God. (8) And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzzah: and he called the name of the place Perez-uzzah to this day. (9) And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and said, How shall the ark of the LORD come to me? (10) So David would not remove the ark of the LORD unto him into the city of David: but David carried it aside into the house of Obededom the Gittite.”
Imagine, for just minute how you’d respond if you had been there and something like this had occurred. Would you react any differently than David? David has now been crowned King. He’s kind over all Israel. And he immediately does three things as king. One, he conquers the Jebusites and takes over the city of Jerusalem. Two, he attacks and defeats the Philistines. And three, he proceeds to move the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem.
And, in the process of transporting the Ark up and into the city of Jerusalem, in the very hour of the parade, and in the midst of a great celebration with lots of music and singing, someone dies. And at first it appears as if this man has lost his life while he was doing something good. The oxen shook the cart and, according to the Bible, he simply reached out to steady it.
Does it affect you when big things like this occur? I mean large things like cancer and death and fire and even war? I want to say something today about the LORD and especially I’d like to let you in on something that is critical to your success and obedience. Here’s what I’d like to say. God is neither capricious nor dispassionate. By that I mean God always acts out of wisdom and love. In other words, God didn’t make a mistake with Uzzah’s life. Nor has He made any mistakes with your life.
Go on to Page Two