In ancient Israel, David the shepherd boy became David the warrior, and then finally King David, King over all of united Israel. And he was powerful; his will was law!

David decided that the Ark of the Covenant, long neglected by Israel, should be restored to a tabernacle in Jerusalem.

[And] “… the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.” (1 Chronicles 13:4)

So, David and his people with great celebration of song went to fetch the Ark.

“They carried the Ark of God in a new cart out of the house of Abinadab.” (1 Chronicles 13:7)

Moments later, however, the oxen pulling the cart stumbled, the Ark tipped, and Uzza, standing near, “… put forth his hand to hold the Ark ...” (1 Chronicles 13:9)

And the Lord killed him!

The song of Israel died, and David and his people stood in benumbed shock. Why would the Lord do this? Their intentions had been only good, hadn’t they? How could this be?

“… David was displeased, because the Lord had made a breach upon Uzza …” (1 Chronicles 13:11)

He turned aside and left the Ark in the home of Obed-edom for the next three months.

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Now this event is almost as startling and disconcerting to modern Bible readers as it was to those Israelites who first witnessed it. What kind of God is this? How could He be so harsh to the well-intentioned? What went wrong!

Over the years, I’ve witnessed all manner of scriptural contortions used to explain this story away. Evidently, it makes some of us uncomfortable that God is a strict father, who says what He means and means what He says. Now yes, He loves us, He’s patient, slow to anger, and quick to forgive, but I assure you nothing gets past Him. His discipline is constant and perfect. What we may perceive now or then as undeservedly harsh, we will later recognize as undeniably necessary.

Fact of the matter is: David came to realize he had treated that ark, most sacred, too lightly. There was an order to be followed in handling the Ark, and he hadn’t followed it. It is from this story that we learn for ourselves that good intentions do not justify bad deeds. Moreover, it is deadly to take the Lord’s rules lightly. Obedience with exactness is the first law of heaven.

David learned. He humbled himself, learned how to move the Ark, and then with the help of the Levites went back for it, this time carefully. With Godly fear, the Levites hosted the Ark upon their shoulders – born by staves as it should have been the first time. When they’d gone only a few steps, they stopped and offered sacrifice to the Lord. And now, having done all that they could and all that they should, the Lord gave them passage, and the Ark came into Jerusalem amidst great worshipful celebration. (1 Chronicles 15:1-28)

Now for us, when Heavenly Father gives a commandment, He expects to be obeyed. Pleading ignorance, weakness, or inconvenience is not an excuse. I cannot say it strongly enough! Do not trifle with Him! It is never worth it. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of our salvation!