Be Ye Doers. . . Of The Word!

There seems to be a thread of reasoning that has permeated itself throughout history that says, "As long as you are sincere it is okay to do whatever you wish." Now I will be perfectly honest with you. I at one time believed that statement, but that was prior to my conversion to Christianity.

In fact, I would not be afraid to say many of you probably have believed that also. My article is about good intentions and God's will. Do they ever collide? Or are they ever different?

The Bible reveals there is conflict between good intentions and God's will. Let's investigate the two.

There probably is not anyone who has not at one time or another done something with good intentions only to have the situation blow up in his face. Well, King David and 30,000 Israelites were in that same position in this text. We will see that what got them into trouble were their good intentions that opposed God's will. I remember one time as a youngster my good intention was to wash mom and dad's car. The problem developed when I used Spic and Span. Believe me when I tell you it was not appreciated by my parents. Or there was the time I burned the trash by pouring a quart jar of gasoline on it to get it started. Once I tried to help my wife by doing some of the laundry. How was I to know white clothes and red clothes are never to be washed together? All the articles ended up a pretty pink with the exception of me. I was beet red! In all these endeavors my intentions were good, but the results were horrible.

In our text, David had good intentions (move the Ark of God), but the results were horrible. Uzzah died and all were discouraged. What got David and the Israelites into trouble with God? Was it not moving the Ark of God the Philistine way, which was disobeying God's word (vss. 3-79).

The Israelites were trying to move the Ark. That equals a good intention. The way they were doing it was by following the Philistines or the way of the world. Let me give you some background information.

In 1 Samuel 4:10 the Philistines defeated the Israelites. In verse 11 the Ark was captured and Eli and his two sons (Hophni and Phinehas) died because of their sinfulness. God held Eli responsible for not rearing his children correctly. Eli would not restrain them from their wickedness ( 1 Samuel 3:13). Fathers, God places upon our shoulders the responsibility to rear our children correctly. He will not tolerate sinfulness.

The Ark was in the hands of the Philistines ( 1 Samuel 5:1ff) and God defeated them single-handedly. There is a lesson here for us and that is, God does not need us to fight His battles. He can win by Himself. We need Him.

The Philistines got rid of the Ark. They were smart enough to fear God. How did they get rid of the Ark? They got rid of it by building a new cart to carry it away (1 Samuel 6:1-3, 7-11). Christians, we need to take notice here. God's children can not do what worldly people do and get away with it. God sees us differently ( 1 Peter 4:17). This same principle is observed by me. Let me illustrate:

My children were never permitted to scream at their mother or me, and especially when at the grocery store. They wanted something and we said, "No." That was it. The case was closed. If they would scream, holler or carry on, Proverbs 22:15 would have been administered. Now I have seen other people's children carry on, and I do not spank them. Why? Because they are not mine. The same principle applies with God. God has His children and the devil has his (John 8:44).

A lot of times we Christians see sinners prosper and we complain. Remember, worldly people one of these days will have to meet God as the almighty and righteous Judge. We will meet Him as our loving heavenly Father. How do you want to meet God on Judgment day?

We must remember we entered a covenant with God. He is our Redeemer. The Israelites were likewise in a covenant relationship with Him. Their good intentions to move the Ark the Philistine way ends with Uzzah's death and God being true to His word. The Christians today have good intentions on how to move or not to move the temple of God. We need to make sure biblically what we are doing is correct.

What about churches with women preachers and elders? What about churches where the preachers are called "Reverend" or "Pastor"? What about churches that don't want to grow and Christians who are satisfied with where they are? What about the congregations that are having Saturday as their day of worship? What about communion any day of the week? What about having denominational preachers and singers at our meetings to preach and sing? I believe a lot of the intentions by those who do such things are good, but I also believe they are wrong. God has spoken on these issues. We need to fear God and keep His commandments.

Uzzah wanted to mainstay the Ark of God his presumptuous way (vs. 9). His presumption was to touch, with his hand, the Ark to keep it from falling. To presume God would accept this is where he erred. Why? What is the big deal about touching the Ark? The big deal is God said not to, and if you did you would die (Numbers 4:15). If God went back on His word, the Devil could bring an accusation against Him. Imagine that for a moment if you could--the Devil calling God a liar and being correct!

The Devil probably tripped the oxen. He was the one who had them moving the Ark against God's written word. Had God gone back on His Word this one time? You can imagine the heyday the Devil would have had with that! He could have accused God of being like himself.

Now let me share something with you about the Devil. I have had people read the passage and say, "If that is an all-loving God, I want nothing to do with Him!" Uzzah was only trying to help, and God struck him dead. God did what was right and people still ended up hating Him. God had to do what He did. Had He not struck Uzzah, the final results would have been far worse. What we have to remember is we can not place the righteousness of God in competition with the love of God. I am sorry a man died, but we would all have been sorry had God lied.

It was God's will to move the Ark of God with the Levitical Priesthood ( 1 Chronicles 15:2). They were to carry it on their shoulders with poles. A new caret sounded nice to the Israelites and besides, the Philistines did it that way. The Philistines were heathens and did not have the Word of God. God had not entered into a covenant relationship with them as He had done with the Israelites. There is a good picture of God's love and mercy. He did not strike the Philistines dead when they touched the Ark. God required more from His children especially after He told them and had it written in the book of Numbers 4:15.

Had they been carrying it on the poles like they were supposed to, Uzzah would never have died. There is another valuable lesson here for us and that is to watch whom you keep company with. Their sin can get you into trouble. My sins got my brother into trouble when I was 21. We both were arrested, but he was innocent of what he was being charged with that time. Had Uzzah known the Word of God, he could have told others God said, "Kohathites are to carry it on their shoulders with poles." Knowing and obeying the Word of God can keep one out of trouble.

How did the Israelites get the Ark on the cart? One possibility, the Ark was sitting on a platform and it was lifted, platform and Ark, onto the cart. Or some believe the cart was built around the Ark while in the house and then pulled out while on the cart. Either way, they were able to get the Ark onto the cart without touching it. How do I know that? No one died prior to Uzzah's touching it.

You and I need to build the temple today the priestly way and that is by obeying God's Word. Remember the Ark represented the presence of God. Likewise, Christians and the church represent the presence of God. We must insist upon building both the church collectively and individually according to God's will.

That is why I believe in reading the Bible daily, worshipping on the Lord's Day, partaking of the Lord's Supper on the Lord's Day, and giving of my tithes on the Lord's Day. I am a stickler for wanting to see the church, individually and collectively, built correctly. Not every preacher is so inclined but I do not have to answer to God for them. Our elders do not have to answer for any congregation, but the one they oversee.

As a Christian you are responsible for obeying God's word. Even if the preacher or the elders want to lead contrary to the Word of God, do not follow them. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into the ditch (Matthew 15:14).

What would it hurt to move the Ark of God the prescribed way? Why should we feel the necessity to try to improve on God's plans? Why do we feel we have to build Christ’s church like those in denominationalism? Sure God is interested in numbers, but not if it means going against His written word. What's wrong with giving the book, chapter and verse for what we believe? I'm not going to be apologetic for believing what the Bible says.

I am not ashamed to believe in a resurrected Jesus, and an all-righteous God, and a Heaven to gain and a Hell to shun. You will not make me feel guilty or inferior because I do not smoke, drink, cuss or chew. I am not any less of a man because I have not committed adultery against my wife.

I do not apologize for believing a person must be immersed to receive the forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit. Brothers and sisters, I can go on and on listing things the Bible says we need to obey. Just know this one thing--if I have book, chapter, and verse for what I have done, am doing, or will do, I will not apologize and neither should you.

God is always right. Good Intentions vs. God's Will. The choice is yours. As for me, I am going to stand with God's will; and I will see you in Heaven if you will do the same.