**Non Thoughtful Act by David and the Priests**

2 Samuel 6 and 1 Chronicles 13 – The Ark of the Covenant was brought to Jerusalem

The action of carrying God’s ark of covenant on an ox like the philistines was done with ASSUMPTION, by not seeking God’s will, and this brought punishment.

2 Samuel 6 Shows what went wrong

v3 – It was carried on a cart and guided by non levites or priests.

v5 – Celebration were on going and everything was looking okay.

v6-8 – When the ox stumbled and the ark was about to fall, Uzzah tried to prevent it from falling and immediately he died because of an IRREVERENT act.

**The Ark of the Covenant represented God’s presence with his people.

Leviticus 16:2 shows that it was to stay in the Holy of Holies, and when it moved it was to be covered and protected by 3 layers of cloth (Numbers 4:5-6, 15 18-20), and only the Levites were to carry it. Everyone else had to stay 1000 yards away (Joshua 3:4).

***Unlike common objects, it was not to be transported by a cart, BUT by poles and on the Levites shoulders (1 Chronicles 15:15).

Reflection about this scenario:

• God’s holiness was violated in this case
• Uzzah was not a levite (Numbers 4 – Kohathite were to carry the ark, Gershonites and Merarites clans had other tasks).
• The people were treating God as a common object and not holy
• Reflect on our bodies as God’s temple and what God says – 1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

Reflection on how this mistake was rectified

1 Chronicles 15:11-13

v2 – The levites were given back their work (See 1 Chronicles 23-27 on distribution of work in the temple)

v12 They consecrated themselves

v14 They obeyed God’s command

2 Samuel 6:13 – “When those who were carrying the ark of the Lord had taken six steps, he sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf.”