Why did David fear the LORD in 2 Samuel 6:9? Setting the Scene • The ark—God’s throne on earth—had been sitting in Abinadab’s house for decades (1 Samuel 7:1). • David longed to bring it to Jerusalem as the center of worship (2 Samuel 6:1–2). • Instead of following the specific instructions for carrying the ark on poles borne by Levites (Numbers 4:15; Exodus 25:14–15), the king allowed it to be placed on a new cart drawn by oxen. • When the oxen stumbled, Uzzah reached out to steady the ark; God struck him dead (2 Samuel 6:6–7). David’s Immediate Reaction “Then David became angry because the LORD had burst forth against Uzzah… That day David feared the LORD and asked, ‘How can the ark of the LORD ever come to me?’” (2 Samuel 6:8–9). Why the Sudden Fear? 1. God’s holiness was vividly displayed • Touching the ark was explicitly forbidden: “they must not touch the holy objects or they will die” (Numbers 4:15). • Uzzah’s death echoed earlier judgments (Leviticus 10:1–3; 1 Samuel 6:19), reminding David that God’s standards never change. 2. David recognized his own responsibility • As king he had organized the move (2 Samuel 6:1–4). • By ignoring God’s clear transport commands, he placed the entire procession—and the nation—under judgment. 3. Reverent awe replaced casual familiarity • The ark’s long stay in a household may have dulled Israel’s sense of its sacredness. • Uzzah’s well-intentioned but irreverent touch exposed the danger of treating holy things lightly. 4. Awareness of personal unworthiness • David’s question, “How can the ark…come to me?” betrays a sudden realization: he, too, falls short of God’s holy requirements (cf. Psalm 24:3–4). What This Teaches About “the Fear of the LORD” • It is not cowering terror but a sober consciousness of God’s absolute purity and authority (Psalm 89:7). • It is the starting point of wisdom: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge” (Proverbs 1:7). • It guards worship from slipping into man-centered enthusiasm divorced from obedience. David’s Course Correction • Three months later David tried again, this time “bearing the ark of the LORD” the prescribed way (2 Samuel 6:13). • Sacrifices, Levites, and joyful praise mingled with reverence—celebration balanced by obedience. Living Out a Healthy Fear Today • Approach God’s presence on His terms, never ours, trusting the finished work of Christ yet honoring His commands (Hebrews 12:28–29). • Let Scripture, not convenience or culture, shape worship practices. • Remember that good intentions cannot excuse disregard for divine instruction. David feared the LORD because the shocking judgment on Uzzah pulled back the veil on God’s holiness, revealing how seriously He takes His word and how carefully His people must respond. |
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