Chapter 6

² And David arose and went with all the people who were with him from Baale Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, whose name is called by the Name, the Lord of Hosts, who dwells between the cherubim. ³ So they set the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill; and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart. (2 Samuel 6:2-3)

"And the men of Kirjath-jearim came, and fetched up the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD." (1Samuel 7:1) We here encounter the first mention of the house of Abinadab on the hill. The Ark remained in the house of Abinadab for 20 years (1Samuel 7:2)

So they set the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill; and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart. (2 Samuel 6:3)

Transporting the ark on a cart was against God’s specific command. The ark was designed to be carried (Exodus 25:12-15) and was only to be carried by Levites of the family of Koath (Numbers 4:15).

God wanted the ark to be carried because He wanted nothing mechanical about the ark, representing His presence. “The ark was nothing less than the burden of the Lord, and the burden of the Lord was to be carried on the hearts of the Levites.” (Redpath)

Yes, the Philistines transported the ark on a cart in 1 Samuel 6:10-11. They got away with it because they were Philistines, but God expected more from His people. Israel was to take their example from God’s Word, not from the innovations of the Philistines.

And when they came to Nachon’s threshing floor, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. ⁷ Then the anger of the Lord was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his error; and he died there by the ark of God. (2 Samuel 6:6-7)

Uzzah and Ahio displayed a very casual attitude towards the presence of God. They were not reverent at all. They became too familiar with God probably because the ark of God was in their house for nearly 20 years.

Though Jesus taught us to call God our Father, he also taught us to pray "hallowed be thy name," implying the need to pay careful attention lest privilege becomes presumption."

So David would not move the ark of the Lord with him into the City of David; but David took it aside into the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. (2 Samuel 6:10)

Notice scripture does not say David could not, but he would not move the ark of the Lord with him into the city.

Clearly, David was offended at the Lord. The following scripture makes it clear. “And David became angry because of the Lord’s outbreak against Uzzah, and he called the name of the place Perez Uzzah to this day.” (2 Samuel 6:8)

Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, “How glorious was the king of Israel today, uncovering himself today in the eyes of the maids of his servants, as one of the base fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!” (2 Samuel 6:20)

Even when David’s wife, Michal, made fun of him, he refused to give up his praise and worship unto God. That was his priority in life. That was what made him a man after God’s own heart. (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22)

Therefore, Michal, the daughter of Saul, had no children to the day of her death. (2 Samuel 6:23)

There is a deep truth hidden here. Those who don’t demonstrate excitement for God will eventually dry up and fail to reproduce.

Too often, we allow our emotions to dictate whether we show excitement for God during the time of praise and worship. If we are down or discouraged, we hold back from giving God the glory that is due Him.

There is another principle that stands out; there is often barrenness in the life and ministry of the overly critical.