No need to steady the ark

What is going on in chapter six and how can we learn from it today?

I turned to www.BibleGateway.com; read from a couple of different translations there; then I had a look at Matthew Henry's commentary for a deeper explanation. It was very thorough and illuminating.

My understanding is that the Ark of God contained the Ten Commandments and symbolised the moral code or law given to the children of Israel by God through Moses. It was held sacred. No other nation had anything like it. Furthermore, it was intended that the priests carry the precious chest on their shoulders. To place it in a cart, even a new cart, would be dishonouring their charge. 

Moreover, to interfere, or to assume a false sense of responsibility by reaching out to steady the ark, as did Uzzah with all good intention (II Sam 6:6), was simply not a good idea. Several articles found on the web site www.jsh-online.com (e.g. http://journal.christianscience.com/issues/1950/3/68-3/steadying-the-ark) shed light on this story and remind us not only to mind our own business, but also to trust each one to God's direction and care.

Mary Baker Eddy gives a detailed definition of ARK in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures.  One of the definitions is “safety”.

We know that many of the Psalms were said to have been written by David and they often include struggle followed by joy and triumph. Matthew Henry selects Ps 68 and 132 as correlative to our chapter under discussion (II Samuel Chapter 6). Here is a vivid picture of David’s joy in God. His exuberant dancing, clothed not in royal purple, but in a plain linen garment, and accompanied by a band of musicians playing such instruments as harps, castanets, cymbals, and cornets, must have created an occasion of wonderful jubilation. And so how disappointing that David’s wife Michal (Saul’s daughter and Jonathan’s sister) took offence, her pride having been wounded as she confesses her embarrassment at such a sight (II Sam 6: 20).

Was David’s joy turned to bitterness when he returned home to such a reception? Not one bit.

Julie Swannell