The Ark of Covenant was captured by the Philistines when Eli was the priest and it was with them for seven months. (I Samuel 4: 11; 6:1)) The Philistine, to escape from plague, sent the Ark of Covenant to Israel on a new cart, pulled by two milk cows. It reached Beth-shemesh. The Levites took the Ark carefully and they sacrificed the cows and burnt the cart also. Few men investigated the Ark, and God struck them. (I Samuel 6: 10-19) Then the Ark was brought to the house of Abinadab in Kiriath-jearim who consecrated his son Eleazar to care for the ark and was there for twenty years. (I Samuel 7:1-2) David took his men and brought the Ark of Covenant on a new cart to Jerusalem. Abinadab’s sons Uzzah and Ahio were with them. When the oxen stumbled, Uzzah took hold of Ark and the Lord punished him with death. David was upset that it happened. Ark was kept in Obed-Edom the Gittite for three months and later it was brought to Jerusalem. (II Samuel 6: 1-11)
1) Law: God had commanded only Levites, especially the clan of Kohathites, to carry the Ark of Covenant on their shoulders. (Numbers 4:15) But the men of David went and brought the Ark instead of Levites. In the ancient times, kings were carried by men in palanquin. Kings did not travel in carts. In the same way the Ark of Covenant was to be carried by Levites who prepared themselves for this task.
2) Warning: Earlier the men who investigated the Ark were dead but did not heed the warning.
3) Irreverence: The sons of Abinadab were familiar with the Ark as it was in their home. There is a proverb: Familiarity breeds contempt. Being familiar they did not understand the sacredness of the Ark.
4) Oxen stumbled: Only the oxen stumbled, and the ark was not disturbed.
5) Lesson for Israel: About 30000 people were gathered for the occasion. By punishing Uzzah, Lord taught the lesson of obedience to the whole Nation of Israel.
Do I do God’s work in His method?