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    After a bitter battle between the remnants of Saul’s family in the north and David’s forces in the south, the thirty-year-old shepherd-turned-warrior was crowned king of Israel. David’s army entered the strongly fortified city of Jerusalem through its water system, easily defeating the inhabitants, and David made it his capital. For centuries Jerusalem would remain the political and religious center of Israel.

    After two crushing defeats of the Philistines, David commanded that the Ark of God be brought to Jerusalem. What a spectacular event that was. David and thirty thousand men accompanied the return. Perhaps many had never seen this chest that symbolized the presence of the God of Israel. Certainly they had forgotten how to treat it. The Ark was so holy that not even the priests were allowed to touch it but were to carry it on special poles. In this procession, however, God’s Ark was placed on a cart pulled by oxen. When the oxen stumbled, Uzzah attempted to steady the Ark and died.

When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. The LORD’S anger burned against Uzzab because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down and he died there beside the ark of God. 2 SAMUEL 6:6-7

    A few months later the priests attempted to move the Ark once again, this time carefully following God’s guidelines. David and his singers led the Ark into Jerusalem with a procession of joyous dancing and singing and praising God.

    With David as king, God expanded the borders of Israel east and west of the Jordan, as far north as the headwaters of the Euphrates, and as far south as the Gulf of Aqaba. God gave David great victories, and David gave God the credit.

Reflection: From our human vantage point, murder, rape, terrorism, and child abuse top the list of heinous sins. We understand the pain they cause, and we demand justice, preferably swift justice.

    Sin, however, is first and foremost against God, not us. God makes it clear that treating that which is holy as if it were common is a grievous sin, whether it is touching the Ark or using God’s name irreverently. Have we forgotten just how serious God is about that which is holy? Do we reach out without fear to touch the Ark?