anglican devotional

The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 28 July 2025 — God’s Anger Against Uzzah

Click HERE to Read Previous MESSAGES

TOPIC: God’s Anger Against Uzzah

READ: 2 Samuel 6:1-9 (NKJV)

  1. Again David gathered all [the] choice [men] of Israel, thirty thousand.
  2. And David arose and went with all the people who [were] with him from Baale Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, whose name is called by the Name, the LORD of Hosts, who dwells [between] the cherubim.
  3. So they set the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which [was] on the hill; and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart.
  4. And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which [was] on the hill, accompanying the ark of God; and Ahio went before the ark.
  5. Then David and all the house of Israel played [music] before the LORD on all kinds of [instruments of] fir wood, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on sistrums, and on cymbals.
  6. And when they came to Nachon’s threshing floor, Uzzah put out [his hand] to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled.
  7. Then the anger of the LORD was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him there for [his] error; and he died there by the ark of God.
  8. And David became angry because of the LORD’s outbreak against Uzzah; and he called the name of the place Perez Uzzah to this day.
  9. David was afraid of the LORD that day; and he said, “How can the ark of the LORD come to me?”

THE MESSAGE:

Uzzah and Ahio guarded the ark of God while it was being relocated on a cart. When they got to the threshing floor of Nachon, the oxen pulling the cart stumbled. Uzzah responded by taking hold of the ark with his hand. God’s anger burned against Uzzah for his error and He struck him dead beside the cart (verses 1-7). Uzzah lost his life for disregarding a symbol of God’s holy presence (1 Chronicles 13:10). In Numbers 4:15-20, God had forbidden the Levites from touching the ark, lest they die. Uzzah, however, treated the ark of God as an ordinary object and lost his life. Familiarity breeds contempt. God doesn’t want anyone to consider as unimportant, His presence. He desires that people should serve Him with reverence and fear.

Beloved, it is unfortunate that many Christians still dishonour the commands of God in their daily living today. Some speak carelessly against the servants of God (Numbers 12:1-15).

There are many others who are liars in the church like Ananias and Sapphira. Some others mismanage the resources of the Church. Some also encourage injustice and are reckless in their behaviours, like Hophni and Phinehas. However, we must remember that every act of disregard to God will bring terrible consequences. Beware!

PRAYER: Almighty God, forgive me of my errors and help me to obey and honour You in all my endeavours, Amen!