…Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark, for the oxen stumbled. And … The Lord … smote him.” 1 Chronicles 13:9-10 KJV
…Uzza put out his hand to hold the ark, because the oxen nearly upset it…the LORD … struck him down…” 1Chronicles 13:9-10 NASB
The tragic story of David’s new cart and the slaying of Uzza is well known. Despite sincerity, a desire to prevent tragedy, and purity of motive, the man who touched the ark was smitten. David had gathered the nation together for this auspicious occasion, the culmination of a life-long dream (Ps 132:2-5). Yet it ended in grief and tears.
Contrast for a moment what is recorded in John 18:22 when a wicked man, with impure motives, and brutality took his fist and pummeled the face of the Son of God. Think of the amazement which must have filled the ranks of angels as no command was given to smite the enemy! Think of their awe at the restraint of the Son of God. What must have been the wonder as their minds would go back to the case of Uzza who had dared to touch the ark! Here was a mortal man daring to not only touch but to abuse and rebuke the great anti-type of that ark!
But the shame and abuse from men did not stop with that initial smiting. It only increased and intensified. Yet heaven was silent; the Savior was submissive.
Consider
- John’s Gospel account would remind us of many contrasts between how God “protected” the ark and what men were allowed to do with Christ. Think of what happened when the ark was captured by the Philistines. Think of what happened when men, out of curiosity, opened the ark to look inside. Can you find contrasts in John’s Gospel?
- When the ark crossed the Jordan, walls fell and Rahab and her family were saved. What happened in John 10 when the Lord Jesus went beyond Jordan?
- Immoral men who served at the ark were destroyed. Immoral women came in contact with the ark in John 4 and John 8 with vastly different results.