The Story of Uzzah

The other day I was listening to a tape message by R.C. Sproul on the subject of God's Holiness. Dr. Sproul made reference to this passage, from 2 Samuel 6:3-7, NIV (emphasis added):

They set the ark of God on a new cart and brought it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab, were guiding the new cart with the ark of God on it, and Ahio was walking in front of it. David and the whole house of Israel were celebrating with all their might before the LORD, with songs and with harps, lyres, tambourines, sistrums andcymbals.

When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, 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 andhe died there beside the ark of God.

Dr. Sproul started by stating the natural objection to this story -- what kind of God would kill a man for doing what came naturally; that is, wanting to keep the Ark from falling off the cart and into the mud. What could possibly be the reading we should take from this?

Dr. Sproul's topic was, recall, the Holiness of God. The Ark was the chosen instrument to represent the dwelling place of the living God. It was Holy, not to be defiled. And here's what Dr. Sproul said that just floored me (paraphrased):

"What Uzzah did was to make the arrogant presumption that the mud would defile the Ark more than his hand. But we must remember that the mud is simply dirt -- God's created dirt -- dirt that when dry is dusty and when wet is mud. In that sense dirt obeys perfectly the natural laws of God, whereas man is disobedient,and willfully so."

I am coming to a sense that my notion of God's Holy nature is woefully small. What Dr. Sproul pointed out here convicted me greatly, for I too would make the presumption that my hand is less foul than the mud. But it's not true, is it? Christ did not die on the cross to provide an atoning sacrifice for elements of God's created natural order, such as dirt. He died on the cross to provide an atoning sacrifice for mankind; or, more correctly, those who would place their trust in Christ for their salvation.

I don't pretent this to be a comfortable posting. It's quite challenging and no doubt controversial. But it is, to my eye, inescapably true -- we (mankind) are incapable of approaching God on our own merit. And when I get ahold of that Truth, then the Gospel shines like a diamond set upon black velvet.