There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. (Proverbs 16:25)
Doing What Is Right The Wrong Way:
David and the congregation of Israel agreed that it was time to bring the ark of God back to them.
Was this right?
Yes.
Was this right?
Yes.
However, something went terribly wrong:
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:3 And let us bring again the ark of our God to us: for we enquired not at it in the days of Saul.4 And all the congregation said that they would do so: for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.5 So David gathered all Israel together, . . .7 And they carried the ark of God in a new cart out of the house of Abinadab: and Uzza and Ahio drave the cart.8 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.9 And when they came unto the threshingfloor of Chidon, Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen stumbled.10 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.
The congregation’s intentions appear to be good or right, but they went about delivering the ark of God - that which is HOLY - in the wrong manner. Uzza, while driving the cart, touches that which is Holy, seemingly in an attempt to help guide it. Unfortunately, his actions were considered unholy, unsanctified, and did not involve God’s Holy order.
There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. (Proverbs 16:25)
How we should lend our hearts and ears in order to know the divine mind and will of God Almighty. In verse 8 above, the congregation is ushering in the ark with great praise and rejoicing, but one unsanctified move greatly impacts God’s order. When man inserts his will over God's will, disaster results. The disaster may be immediate, or it may take a while, but what is not of God cannot take part in God.
A Similar Event Occurs With Aaron’s Sons:
Aaron and his sons are called to prepare the sacrifice before the Lord. Aaron and his sons are called to do this. God has ordained these men to be involved in a very holy practice. However, something goes terribly wrong. Men, who were called of God to perform a specific task, step out of God’s will and step into their own wills. God is not pleased.
Leviticus 9:
22 And Aaron lifted up his hand toward the people, and blessed them, and came down from offering of the sin offering, and the burnt offering, and peace offerings.
23 And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the Lord appeared unto all the people.
24 And there came a fire out from before the Lord, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.
Leviticus 10:
1And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not.
2 And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord.
It is very serious to think we need to add to the GLORY OF GOD (v. 23). The people were praising and rejoicing in what God alone had done, but in the midst of these people praising the Lord and falling before His Holy presence, two of them who were called to take a direct part in the sacrificial rites strayed from God’s way and instead, followed what appeared to be right in their eyes. The sons were anointed (reference the previous chapters in Leviticus). In the previous chapters, we can read that the sons were called forth of God, yet they took it upon themselves to go a step too far in the presence of God and in the presence of God’s people who are bowing before the Lord just moments before. God, alone, is sufficient for these witnesses. Aaron’s sons have taken a moment that was Holy and attempted to add to it with their actions.
Leviticus 10:
1And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not.
2 And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord.
God had just issued fire for the sacrifice, and then Aaron’s sons offer strange (foreign/unfamiliar) fire, as well.
There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. (Proverbs 16:25)
Uzza, Nadab, and Alihu’s actions were rejected by the Lord. Although all of the men were in the midst of the congregation, where praising, rejoicing, and reverence were being given to the Lord, what they chose to “offer” God or to “add to” the work of the Lord was utterly rejected by an Almighty and All Knowing God. A God who admonishes believers frequently in the New Testament to “try the spirits to see if they are of God.”
Shouldn’t these two stories alone cause all who profess Christ to stop and fall at the feet of God? Who wouldn't stay in faithful prayer: "Your way, Lord. Your will be done, Lord."
We, in these moments of seeking God, must plead before Him without relenting. Pray for Him to speak and to show forth who He is and who we are in Him. Don’t just pray it and walk away. Sit there. Wait there. 10 minutes. 20 minutes. 1 hour . . . Wait for HIM to speak. There are times when the answer must come directly from Him and not another vessel. There are times when everything hinges on His direct response to you. Can we afford to be Uzza, Nadab, or Alihu who are taking part in that which is sacred, but veer from the Truth and follow their own way? Can we? There should be nothing more serious to us than His Truth. Not my truth. Not others’ truth. Not Satan’s truth. Not your truth. HIS. HIS. He is Holy! He is Just! He IS Truth!
We, in these moments of seeking God, must plead before Him without relenting. Pray for Him to speak and to show forth who He is and who we are in Him. Don’t just pray it and walk away. Sit there. Wait there. 10 minutes. 20 minutes. 1 hour . . . Wait for HIM to speak. There are times when the answer must come directly from Him and not another vessel. There are times when everything hinges on His direct response to you. Can we afford to be Uzza, Nadab, or Alihu who are taking part in that which is sacred, but veer from the Truth and follow their own way? Can we? There should be nothing more serious to us than His Truth. Not my truth. Not others’ truth. Not Satan’s truth. Not your truth. HIS. HIS. He is Holy! He is Just! He IS Truth!
We cannot allow ourselves to become so focused on certain areas of walking in the faith that we leave other - more important - areas undone, unchecked, and untested. May we remember that in Revelation, Jesus warns churches who are obeying Him in certain areas that they are still to repent in areas where they have been unfaithful to Him.
Jesus warns in Matthew 23 on various issues, but one of which is the danger of focusing on one’s outward appearance of holiness so much that the weightier issues are left undone and unclean. What a caution from God Himself! We can't afford to take part in the "sacrificial rites" that He has called us to carry out, only to sin against Him in another area - like Aaron's sons and Uzza.
Let us be true to God above all. Can we afford to stand before Him in the judgment to then discover that we offered strange fire in His presence or that we thought we needed to add to what was already sanctified and holy?
May these words lead us to fall before the Lord with a humble heart. A heart that says - “Have Your way, Lord. Lead me, Lord, and I will follow.”
May the way in which we walk be the way in which He leads!
Another blog entry entitle SHILOH is a personal testimony directly related to this strong message. Click on the word SHILOH to read.
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