Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Chronicles 13:3-4

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Chronicles 13:3-4
"And let us bring again the ark of our God to us: for we inquired not at it in the days of Saul.
And all the congregation said that they would do so: for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people."

What really stood out to me was the moving of the ark was done as seemed right in the eyes of all the people. It doesn't say it done right in the eyes of the Lord.

"Then David said, None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites: for them hath the LORD chosen to carry the ark of God, and to minister unto him for ever.
And said unto them, Ye are the chief of the fathers of the Levites: sanctify yourselves, both ye and your brethren, that ye may bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel unto the place that I have prepared for it.
For because ye did it not at the first, the LORD our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought him not after the due order."
(1 Chronicles 15:2, 12-13)

So the movement of the ark the first time was not done correctly. When the oxen stumbled and Uzza reached out to steady the ark the Lord smote him. I wonder if Uzza was not a Levite? This is what it says in the Bible Dictionary.

"Uzzah: Strength. Slain for touching the Ark (2 Sam. 6:6); called Uzza (1 Chr. 13:9). The penalty may appear to us severe, but it must be remembered that the Ark was a sacred repository, and the people had been clearly warned that only designated persons could touch the Ark, and warned also of the consequences of disobedience."

This reminds me of a recent conversation I had with a distraught friend, that just needed an ear. One of their children's marriage was falling apart which appeared to be due to one spouse committing adultery. They said they were going to encourage them to go to the temple together as a couple to help them work things out. That thought rather shocked me. To that point I had just been letting them vent. I wasn't looking to give them any advise or opinions but when I heard that I said "Don't do that, especially if one of them is committing adultery. That is the House of the Lord and they need to work with their bishop before they go there. Adultery is far to serious an issue. They do not want to go to the temple and put greater commendations on their heads." After that conversation I wondered how anyone could think going to the temple when you are unworthy to be there would bring blessings?

Day 3861