The Weakest Link (Part 2)

One Year Bible (July 13)

I Chronicles 15:1-16:36

The Weakest Link (SEASON TWO)

They compare this TV game show to a surreal and humiliating blend of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” and “Survivor”. The contestants will be pitted against each other to see who will be left standing.

Today’s passage will show us exactly that, “Who will be left standing?” What will give them the strength to stand against vast enemies, and what will be learned from the failure of defeat…

Yesterday we saw the Spirit “BURST UPON” (Enveloped. Clothed. Or Empowered) Amasai and the Thirty Mighty Men to follow God’s plan and to see God’s hand on David. Without a word being spoken by God to these men, He enveloped them to see God at work in David and follow him. That is one powerful way of speaking without a word being spoken.

Next, we saw that God “BURST OUT” at Uzzah with the handling and touching of the Ark of the Covenant. Today’s passage tells us more that David learned about his failure in leadership and Uzzah’s failure in follow-through…

We were told that David was angry with God, and God was angry with Uzzah. Next, we learned that David was now afraid of the Lord!

The words used, “BURST OUT” means “broken forth” and “Broken through Breach”. The place was forever called, “Perez-Uzzah” meaning “Against Uzzah”.

The problem was that David was PASSIONATE about BRINGING the Ark of the Covenant home to ‘The City of David” but not following God’s PRESCRIPTION for how to TRANSPORT the Ark.

David was dealing with ELECTRICITY beyond his wildest dreams. Yet, he was not an electrician and had overlooked consulting one!

Only the Levites were to carry it and only by using the poles inserted through rings in its side, (See Exod. 25:12; 37:3-5; Deut. 10:8) Instead he was transporting it by using the Philistines’ method of using a new cart pulled by oxen. The Philistines IGNORANCE was far removed from God’s INSTRUCTIONS!

What did the Philistines know of the Word of God, and why was David following their lead?

In David’s Passion, he had forgotten all about consulting God’s Plan!

Uzzah was the “Lightning Rod” who tapped into a power that he knew very little about!!

Today’s passage sheds light on what David learned from this colossal failure, “Because you Levites did not carry the Ark the first time, the anger of the LORD our God “BURST OUT” against us. We failed to ask God how to move it properly. So the priests and the Levites PURIFIED themselves in order to bring the Ark of the LORD the God of Israel, to Jerusalem. Then the Levites carried the Ark of God on their shoulders with its carrying poles, just as the LORD had instructed Moses.” (I Chronicles 15: 13-15)

This passage is a “Show Stopper” and should give us a Big Pause as we reflect on what God is saying and doing here! It is severe, drastic, and disturbing!

Did God want the ARK of His presence to come home to “The City of David”? Absolutely! However, it was to come home according to God’s Plan and not by Man’s Passion.

David learned this lesson, the first time they proceeded without “PURIFYING” themselves. They came in their own passion and power. The next time they came to God on God’s terms and PURIFIED themselves and followed HIS PLANS!

How does God’s Word in this matter of Uzzah and the “OUTBURST” of God speak to us today?

This principle is as valid and concerning to us today as it was in the days of David.

We have many who preach, “Whosoever Will May Come”. Is this passage in the Bible? It certainly is! (Rev. 22:17)

However, it is connected to a ‘means, a way, and a plan”. That means is God’s way, not man’s way!

Look at the rest of the story, Jesus answered, “I am the WAY and the TRUTH and the LIFE, no one comes to the Father except through ME.” (John 14:6)

Many today are speaking for God and changing HIS Plan but God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow! His Word, Ways, and Will stand throughout all time!

I don’t know about you, but I don’t want a place named for me because God is angry because I “Breached His Commandments”.

Listen to His words to us today, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles? Then, I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!” (Matthew 7:21-21)

What a dreadful day it would be to hear, “You are the weakest link. Goodbye."