Key Verse Spotlight
1 Chronicles 13:9 - Meaning and Application
Understand how this verse speaks to what you're facing-and how to apply it today
Translation: King James Version
" And when they came unto the threshingfloor of Chidon, Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen stumbled. "
1 Chronicles 13:9
Verse in Context
Understanding the surrounding verses prevents misinterpretation:
And they carried the ark of God in a new cart out of the house of Abinadab: and Uzza and Ahio drave the cart.
And David and all Israel played before God with all their might, and with singing, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with cymbals, and with trumpets.
And when they came unto the threshingfloor of Chidon, Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen stumbled.
And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzza, and he smote him, because he put his hand to the ark: and there he died before God.
And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzza: wherefore that place is called Perezuzza to this day.
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This breach on Uzza, which made all the joy stop, is described in 2 Samuel 6:6 and following. Let Uzza’s sin warn us to guard against presumption, rashness, and disrespect when dealing with holy things (1 Chronicles 13:9). We must not think that a good motive makes a bad action right. In our walk with God, we need to watch our hearts carefully, so that familiarity does not breed contempt and we do not act as if God owes us anything.
Uzza’s punishment should also remind us that the God we deal with is a jealous God. His death, like the death of Nadab and Abihu, declares plainly that God will be honored by those who come near him (Leviticus 10:3). The closer people are to him, the more seriously he takes their careless behavior. So we must not treat God lightly when we come to him. At the same time, through Christ, we may come boldly to the throne of grace, because we live under grace and freedom, not under bondage and terror.
The sadness that fell on Israel because of this should remind us always to rejoice with reverence, and to serve the Lord with fear even when we serve him gladly. David’s anger on this occasion should warn us to watch our spirits when God rebukes us, so that we do not quarrel with him instead of submitting to him. If God is angry with us, how can we dare to be angry with him?
The halt that was put on the celebration should teach us not to turn away from our duty because of providences that are meant to turn us from our sins. David should have continued the work, despite the breach made on Uzza. If he had gone on in obedience, the breach might have been repaired.
The blessing the ark brought to the house of Obed-edom should encourage us to welcome God’s ordinances into our homes. Those who do so will find that the ark is a guest from whom no one loses anything. We should not value God’s word less because it becomes a stumbling block to some and an offense to others. If the gospel is, to some, a scent of death leading to death, as the ark was to Uzza, then let us receive it with love, and it will be for us a scent of life leading to life.
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From This Chapter
1 Chronicles 13:1
"And David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader."
1 Chronicles 13:2
"And David said unto all the congregation of Israel, If it seem good unto you, and that it be of the LORD our God, let us send abroad unto our brethren every where, that are left in all the land of Israel, and with them also to the priests and Levites which are in their cities and suburbs, that they may gather themselves unto us:"
1 Chronicles 13:3
"And let us bring again the ark of our God to us: for we enquired not at it in the days of Saul."
1 Chronicles 13:4
"And all the congregation said that they would do so: for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people."
1 Chronicles 13:5
"So David gathered ➔ all Israel together, from Shihor of Egypt even unto the entering of Hemath, to bring the ark of God from Kirjathjearim."
1 Chronicles 13:6
"And David went up, and all Israel, to Baalah, that is, to Kirjathjearim, which belonged to Judah, to bring up thence the ark of God the LORD, that dwelleth between the cherubims, whose name is called on it."
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