This verse is one of the most difficult to understand. David is moved to bring God’s presence, represented in the Ark of the Covenant, into the Holy city. On the way there a man named Uzzah reaches out to keep the Ark from falling, “and the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah, and he struck him down because he put out his hand to the ark, and he died there before God.”
In the next verse, verse 11, David is angry at God. It’s unfathomable that God would move in such a drastic way against David’s efforts which were so well intentioned. But then in verse 12, David’s anger turns to fear. Allen says the fear comes when “He realizes that he is in the presence of a mysterious power which he can neither control nor comprehend.”
That’s our God. He’s too much for us to manage. We can’t keep him in our home made boxes. He will be God in all life’s circumstances. He will not surrender his sovereignty at any point or at any time. I used to think I had to be able to explain God and his actions, but I’ve found that impossible. I’m not smart enough! Neither was David.
How do we respond then, when we can’t understand what God is doing or why something has happened? We do what David did. We let our anger, hurt, righteous indignation turn to fear or reverence for God. He is far beyond us and our understanding. Then, we surrender control, and trust Him. Corrie ten Boom used to say, “When the train goes through a tunnel and the world gets dark, do you jump out? Of course not. You sit still and trust the engineer to get you through.” …
When we’re confused, disappointed, disillusioned just stay on the train. Be patient. Never forget that God is God, and God is always in control. He hasn’t promised us a painless existence, but He has promised to get us through.
Chuck
“He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.” Titus 2:14