Similar Uniforms before God

We are considering 1 Chronicles 15

He peeked out of the window to see the smiling sun soaking the eastern sky with light. The light had spilt over and poured down on earth – daybreak. Among the people, he saw marching school children all in similar yellow and brown uniforms determinedly. These were prescribed uniforms no matter the school you attended, public or private, rich or poor. And like those students, we have the same status before God.

1 Chronicles 15 shares how King David attempted to move the Ark of Covenant from the house of Obed-edom to a dwelling he had erected in Jerusalem.

A few months earlier, a similar move from the house of Abinadab at Kirjath-jearim had ended in disaster. The Ark of Covenant was being carried in a brand new cart pulled by two oxen. Two priests drove the cart. All Israel came to glorify God with all instruments – harps, psalteries, timbrels, cymbals, and trumpets. They played with all their skills (1Chron 13:8). But there was a hamartia that day, a tragic flaw. Kindly read Numbers 4:5-15. Here, God clearly states what is to be done when the temple moves – including how the Ark is covered, prepared and carried. In fact, in verse 15, God shows how it is to be taken along with the other vessels of the sanctuary. God had designated only the male descendants of Kohath to bear the holy items of the sanctuary on staves. Even they were forbidden to touch the sacred things on pain of death (Num. 3:29, 31; 4:2, 7:8–9).

This rule was thrown aside when David tried to bring the Ark to Jerusalem. They put the Ark on a new cart with two oxen pulling it and two priests guiding it. On their way, both oxen stumbled at the same time. Uzzah “put forth his hand” to steady the Ark to prevent it from falling. He died instantly. The company broke. The king was surprised, scared and confused.

After three months, King David tried again. This time, he made sure he did everything just as God commanded. He got the right people and followed the proper procedure. The king even took off his kingly robes and wore the fine linen ephod as the priests did. He did this to signify that he and his people were all God’s servants ready to worship, praise, and glorify Him before God. And this time, he was blessed with success! Whether king or pauper, God expects us to respect His rules.

Before God, each of us is in the same uniform. As the students need education, so each of us needs salvation. As they depend on their teachers, we all, leaders, members, adults, children, PhDs, labourers, able-bodied, disabled, differently-abled, sane, cranky, all humans need God’s grace and mercy (Rom 3.23). Be careful how you greet, walk, talk, look down, smirk, how you throw your weight about on God’s earth. We all wear the same uniform before God and will face the same law.

Tags: status, Uzzah, obedience, humility, salvation