Joel M Bradshaw

9And when they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzzah put out his hand to take hold of the ark, for the oxen stumbled. 10And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah, and he struck him down because he put out his hand to the ark, and he died there before God. 11And David was angry because the LORD had broken out against Uzzah. And that place is called Perez-uzza [“breaking out against Uzzah”] to this day. 12And David was afraid of God that day, and he said, “How can I bring the ark of God home to me?” –JMB

1. The ark was something not to be touched.
2. It was holy to God and not to be profaned by sinful humanity.
3. Uzzah may have thought he was doing right.
4. But according to Numbers chapter 4, there was a process to move the ark that involved both priests and certain Levites, not workmen and oxen.
5. David may have also thought he was doing right by bringing the ark to him. It seemed “right in the eyes of the people” (1 Chronicles 13:4) to do so.
6. At the least, when the ark fell, it was time to get the priests and Levites involved in the process of lifting and making sure God’s most holy object was given the most respect possible.
7. David was careless and his failed leadership led to the death of a man who was just doing his duty. David should have asked God how (or if!) He wanted his ark moved instead of relying on gut feelings and the counsel of his human leaders.–JMB