Introduction
THE transportation of the Ark of the Covenant from Kiriath Jearim to Jerusalem, (2 Samuel 6:1-17), gives excellent insights on how to handle God’s glory.
King David initiated a new move to relocate the Ark from its interim resting place to Jerusalem – the rightful place where God’s glory belonged. For 20 years since the capture of the Ark by the Philistines, King Saul never showed any interest to return the Ark to Jerusalem.
Saul was a democratic political choice of the people – always wanting to please the people. The absence of the Ark of the Covenant didn’t seem to bother him.
Beware of the spirit of Saul which is not perturbed by the absence of God’s glory in His church. Many people including preachers, have succumbed to this dangerous spirit which is satisfied with activity and seemingly much business even when God is clearly absent from the operations!
There is no room for a politician in the stewardship of God’s glory. Our audience must be God alone. Men pleasers are not qualified to bring God’s glory back to the church because they cannot pay the price of accommodating God.
Hosting God means making permanent changes which of course will disturb the way things have been! The era of Saul is over. God is raising Davids who are tired of empty religion – they want to see God’s glory back in its rightful place in the church. For many years rituals of sacrifice and worship went on during Saul’s time.
The glory had long gone but they dragged on with religious activity. Since God was not in the house, to whom were the sacrifices being offered? Frenzied religious activity is not proof of God’s presence.
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As God restores His glory back to the church, we need to learn to handle the Holy things of God with greater tenderness. Although David was enthusiastic and doing the right thing, he flouted God’s regulations on the transportation of the Ark of the covenant.
David used a new cart drawn by oxen (2 Samuel 6:3-6). This was a Philistine method. God had ordained that the Ark be borne on the shoulders of consecrated priests (Exodus 25:12-15).
The glory of God is never intended to be carried by things, man made plans, mechanisms and “programmes”. Even if they are “new” innovations backed by powerful singers and modern technology, God will not be impressed. He has ordained that His glory be transported by sanctified, set apart, holy human vessels who fear and respect His holiness.
Leviticus 10:3 says: “By those who come near me I must be regarded as holy; and before all the people, I must be glorified.”
The first mistake probably led to the second. Everyone seemed to take the Ark of the Covenant lightly. Uzzah touched the Ark to steady it so that it wouldn’t fall.
This was a noble intention, but God killed him instantly (2 Samuel 6:6-7). Uzzah should have known that not even the priests were allowed to touch the Ark or look into it because of its sacredness. God had earlier severely punished the men of Bethshemesh for looking into the Ark of the Covenant (1 Samuel 6:19).
Uzzah literally means strength, boldness, majesty and security. The presence of God never needs the assistance or guidance of the strength of men to hold its rightful place. When God comes, naturally, men must give way.
2 Chronicles 5:13-14 says: “. . . it came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the Lord, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the Lord; 14 So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of God.”
We need to understand the difference. The anointing empowers the flesh so that the singer sings better, the preacher preaches better and the prophet prophesies better, but the glory flatters the flesh.
God will never allow the arm of the flesh to glory in His presence. Uzzah died for trying to stabilise what God had disturbed. The new oxen-drawn cart and much singing didn’t impress Him.
He had to stop the degradation of His glory. Something must always die when God’s glory encounters the living flesh. Our traditions, man made plans and programmes are the casualties. That is why we need to prepare before He can come.
Many people are uncomfortable with God’s presence because of the drastic changes that come when God shows up. It may mean the pastor not being able to preach that day.
It may mean the choir missing an opportunity to sing a hard practiced number. It may mean the service going on for an extra three hours!
David had to stop the procession – for three months. He had to take time to recognise and plan the transportation of the Ark, according to God’s instructions.
Sometimes God will kill some of our most cherished ideas and programmes to get our attention. My dear colleague, could it be that God has just chocked life out of that program you begun because He wants your attention?
Don’t take God for granted by allowing sacred things to become common. Always remember that “familiarity breeds contempt”. Uzzah lived with the Ark so long that he got used to it and that later became fatal.
The greater the glory God exposes you to, the higher His standards become. We need to respect and honour God’s glory the same way an electrician has deep and personal respect for electricity and its devastating effects upon unprotected flesh.
Would you consider remodelling your “house” to accommodate God? You must make room for Him if you want His visitation to turn into a habitation.
What would you have to relinquish or give up carrying to entertain His presence?
Anything that takes our focus away from Him and back toward us. Some of the things that compete for room with God are religious traditions, rigid congregational or denominational worship patterns, personal habits and preferences and fixed personal or organisational agendas.
Make room for God because if you do so, He will come, and when He comes, depending on the quality of your hospitality, He will stay!
By Bishop Colin Nyathi, an extract taken from his book entitled Desperate For God’s Presence, second edition.
