Uzzah kept the ark in his father's house, he died while transporting it to Jerusalem as he helped to steady the ark from falling.
I have wondered and pondered on why Uzzah would die. The ark was kept in his father's house for a long time, he took care of it. He even helped to drive the cart that the ark was placed on going to Jerusalem with his brother.
Did he do anything wrong? The ark was about to fall off the cart, he was only helping. He knew what the consequences would be if the ark was to have fallen. Maybe he had even opened the ark when it was in his home and he had seen the content of the ark.
It would be catastrophic to see the ten commandments broken the second time (remember Moses broke them the first time out of frustration). The manna sample! Oh my goodness, that is the history and evidence of how God fed his great grandparents in the wilderness going down the drain and the rod of Aaron that budded was in that ark! What would the enemies of God have said, we cannot put God to shame!
Those were probably his thoughts.

But here are some reasons why he died:

1. Uzzah was trying to help God. Trying to help God means that we don't trust Him to take care of things. It is a heart matter, God does not need our help. He is God all by Himself. Do you know that if Uzzah did not touch the ark, the ark would not have fallen? The King of kings was in that ark! Duh! Numbers 4:15 tells us that when Aaron and his sons had finished covering the the sanctuary and all that was in it, the sons of Kohath would come to carry it but must not touch any holy thing. The ark was holy and must not be touched! No matter how much we think we can help God, He does not need our help, whether in our life or in ministry. The downfall of many servants of God begins when they start to help God in His work, they begin to do ministry in their own strength and stop depending on God because they don't think that God can pay for what He orders. That is why many servants of God resolve to fetish means and looking for help in "Egypt". Hear me, if God calls you to do His work, trust Him to supply the means to do the work. Touching the ark also means touching His glory. He does not share His glory with anyone. No one is permitted to touch the glory of God. You can be the most charismatic person, miracles may be falling off your body, you are not permitted to touch His glory!.

2. Uzzah had been familiar with the ark. The ark stayed in his home. He probably played around the ark, he probably had been touching the ark at home, otherwise he would not be so quick to touch it on the way to Jerusalem. What you do in secret, you will eventually do in the open, because it has become a habit, and habits form our character. Familiarity breeds contempt; sometimes we get so familiar with God and His work that we don't pay attention to the fact that there are some things that are sacred and untouchable! God is both a God of mercy and judgement, He does not withhold either. Grace does not cover continued and habitual sin and offense against God, grace empowers us to walk away from sin and live a pleasing life unto God.

3. Uzzah's father, Abinadab, in my opinion did not himself give respect to the things of God or teach his children to respect God. The reason I think so is because the ark stayed in his home all this time and it was not mentioned that he was blessed, rather his son died. When you honor God, He honors you (1 Samuel 2:30). On the contrary, the ark was in the home of Obed-Odem for 3 months and his story changed. He was blessed. Obed-Edom was not only blessed in ministry and relationship with the Lord, he was blessed with 8 sons! 8 arrows to be shot against his enemies. His sons and grandsons were also God's servants and worshippers and they were all blessed by God to be leaders and strong men in the society. There were 62 men in his clan who kept the storehouse of God while Obed-Odem himself was in charge of the Southgate. Obed-Odem revered the Lord and mandated his household to do the same. We have a responsibility to raise our children inthe way of the Lord and to ensure that our children honorably particiapte in the things of the kingdom of God. 
Brethren, do not allow closeness to the Lord and His annointed breed contempt. The Lord is merciful and He is a consuming fire. 


4. Uzzah suffered the consequences of another person's error. Yes, he died because of the error of David, the king. 1 Chronicles 13:7- "they transported the ark of God on a new cart from the house of Abinadab with Uzzah and Ahio driving the cart". The ark did not belong in a cart, it was to be carried on the shoulders of the Kohathites (from Levi) - Numbers 4:17.
King David made a great error which resulted in the death of Uzzah. By the second attempt, the king had righted the wrong. See 1 Chronicles 15:2,12-13,25-26. Verse 26 says that "God helped the levites who carried the ark..." This time, help was available for them because they did it the way of God.
My prayer here is that you will not be a victim of another person's error in Jesus name.

The ark does not belong on the cart but on the shoulders of men. Nowadays, we tend to replace the actual physical service of God with technology. For example, services are streamed live and people are choosing to sit at home and watch their church on line. I am clearly not against live streaming as I oversee all aspects of the media in our church, but live streaming is for people who are not able to make it to the church in person due to illness, work or other constraints and unbelievers, not because they are too lazy to get up and assemble with other believers! See Hebrews 10:25. Hebrews 6: 11-12 says" We desire that every one of you show the same diligence for the full assurance of hope to the end, so that you may not be LAZY, but be IMITATORS of those who through faith patience inherit the promise". These people we were to imitate got up from their homes and went to the temple!
Exodus 23:25-26 tells us that "you shall SERVE the Lord your God and He will bless your bread....You don't serve the Lord at home, you serve among the people. You serve as choir, ushers....in the church as well as serving the community and humanity.

Many are now Facebook and Instagram pastors, coaching people against going to the house of God. Again, I am not against social media as I am very present on the platforms and I believe in reaching people through these means, but they must not replace the church. That is putting the ark on the cart and God is not pleased with this.

Lessons:
1. We must always remember that God does not need our meddling. We must trust Him to carry out His plans and do ONLY what HE asks us to do.
2. We must not be too familiar with God. We must have referential fear for Him.
3. We must teach our children how to honor and serve God. Obed-Odem taught his children God's honor and his house hold was blessed and generations after him served God
4. We must not allow technology to take the place of our personal effort. Social media is good, but must not replace our time with God IN HIS HOUSE.
5. God rewards obedience, may He reward you abundantly in Jesus name

 

Blessings, 

Pastor D