Denial, can cause some Trouble.

Recently, my eyes have been opened up to the destructive force of a simple little word, “Denial”.

The latest viewing, is in the account when Uzzah, reached out his hand to steady ark, and then paid a heavy price.

1 Chronicles 13

Bringing Back the Ark

13 David conferred with each of his officers, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds. ² He then said to the whole assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you and if it is the will of the Lord our God, let us send word far and wide to the rest of our people throughout the territories of Israel, and also to the priests and Levites who are with them in their towns and pasturelands, to come and join us. ³ Let us bring the ark of our God back to us, for we did not inquire of it during the reign of Saul.” ⁴ The whole assembly agreed to do this, because it seemed right to all the people.

⁵ So David assembled all Israel, from the Shihor River in Egypt to Lebo Hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kiriath Jearim. ⁶ David and all Israel went to Baalah of Judah (Kiriath Jearim) to bring up from there the ark of God the Lord, who is enthroned between the cherubim—the ark that is called by the Name.

⁷ They moved the ark of God from Abinadab’s house on a new cart, with Uzzah and Ahio guiding it. ⁸ David and all the Israelites were celebrating with all their might before God, with songs and with harps, lyres, timbrels, cymbals and trumpets.

⁹ When they came to the threshing floor of Kidon, Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the ark, because the oxen stumbled. ¹⁰ The Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah, and he struck him down because he had put his hand on the ark. So he died there before God.

¹¹ Then David was angry because the Lord’s wrath had broken out against Uzzah, and to this day that place is called Perez Uzzah.

¹² David was afraid of God that day and asked, “How can I ever bring the ark of God to me?” ¹³ He did not take the ark to be with him in the City of David. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. ¹⁴ The ark of God remained with the family of Obed-Edom in his house for three months, and the Lord blessed his household and everything he had.

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One of the first things that “denial” does, is to hide away. “I’m not here, so there’s nothing to worry about.”
Perhaps, that’s why I’ve never seen it before? Because “denial” does such a good job at hiding. But I’m starting to see it now.

The “denial” that I see in the above scripture, is that the ark was being moved, in a manner that it was never meant to have been, and nobody appears to be aware that anything is wrong, until Uzzah pays with his life.
It’s so bad, that everyone was dancing and celebrating, even though The Lords anger was possibly burning against them, because The Lord was being disrespected, by the ark being placed on a new cart.

Was there anyone who had any idea that something was wrong?
Was anyone thinking, “This isn’t right?”
In verse 2 we can see that the call, that went out, also included the “priests and Levites”, so there should have been people who should have known, what the correct way to carry the ark was, and who it was who should have been doing it.

I have often thought that Uzzah was the sacrificial lamb that day, that allowed everybody else to go home. All were doing wrong, but Uzzah paid the price.

In Exodus 25:10-15, we can see the instructions for how the ark was to be made. Verses 14 and 15, give clear instructions.

Exodus 25:14-15
¹⁴ Insert the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry it. ¹⁵ The poles are to remain in the rings of this ark; they are not to be removed.

The Levites were the only people to carry the ark, as David later reminded everyone.

1 Chronicles 15:2
² Then David said, “No one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, because the Lord chose them to carry the ark of the Lord and to minister before him forever.”

But back in 1 Chronicles 13, everyone seems to have forgotten this.
In verse 7, the mistake is made, and the ark is placed on a new cart.
In verse 8, everyone is celebrating before God, whilst disrespecting Him, by having the ark, on a cart.
Verse 9 is where Uzzah reaches out his hand, and in verse 10 he dies because of it.

Then in verse 11, we see another aspect of “denial”. David is angry.
Then in verse 12, David is afraid.
Then in verse 13, do we see “denial” achieve its main goal, separation from God?
David did not take the ark to be with him.

Why is David angry?
Is it because he doesn’t understand what is happening around him?
Which then leads to him to being afraid, which leads to turning away from God?

Is “denial” a serious thing that we need to be aware of, ourselves?
Do we come to trouble, because “denial” stops us from hearing what we need to hear or seeing what we need to see?
Do we need to do all that we can, to ensure that denial doesn’t stop us from hearing what Our Lord God is speaking to us?

There is one last thing that I would like to write about this. It’s the reason why I chose the 1 Chronicles version of this account. It’s verse 4.

⁴ The whole assembly agreed to do this, because it seemed right to all the people.

I was a bit reluctant to bring this, because as I look at it, I kind of think, “This is a bit of a stretch, isn’t it?”
In part, I’m doubting my thoughts, even as I write this.
Is this part of how denial works?
Are you sure of what you are doing?
You’re going to look foolish?
Do you really want to do that?
My answer today is “Yes, I’m going to say this!”

In verse 4, I believe that I see denial again. Let’s have a look at the words again. “The whole assembly agreed to do this, because it seemed right to all the people.”

Is this the root of where it all went wrong?
Because it seemed right to all the people?
What about what God was saying?
What matters more?
Popular opinion, or What God says?

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Denial can be a Tricky thing
Can I see denial at work in me, and if yes, then can I kick it out?