A MAN AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART
#7 - "GETTING SERIOUS ABOUT GOD"
2 Samuel 6:1-15
by Rev. John R. Hannem,
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There are some things in life that people take too seriously. For example, I am always amused by the stories of people who wait in line for many hours, camping overnight, just so they can get a ticket to a rock concert. Those folks need to get a life. But you know, I think I probably take NHL hockey a little too seriously. Oh, I try to keep an eternal perspective and try to remember that it is only a game. But that is hard to keep in mind when the Canadians lose. Hockey is a great sport, but I may take it a bit too seriously. I know
There are other areas of life, however, which we don't take seriously enough. A casual attitude about some things will get us into big trouble. For example, someone who is packing a parachute can't afford to do a sloppy job. That is why someone said, "The best parachute folders are those who jump themselves." But even more importantly, far more importantly, we need to be serious about our relationship with God. I often say that one of the biggest problems in the church today is that we take ourselves too seriously, but don't take God seriously enough. Being a Christian is serious business. We can't afford to have a casual attitude.
When we come to 2 Samuel 6 we find that David wants the ark brought to
So, how were they going to get the ark to its new home? Verse 3 says it was put on a cart, which would be pulled by oxen. Uzzah and Ahio, sons of the high priest Abinadab, would walk beside it. This was a great day of celebration. 2 Samuel 6:5 David and the whole house of
But David's thinking was wrong, and it leads to tragic results. 6:6,7 When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. The Lord's anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down and he died there beside the ark of God.
Wait a minute, Uzzah was just trying to keep the ark out of the mud. Why would God strike him dead? But remember, God had clearly said that no one was to touch the ark. Uzzah must have known that. Though he has good intentions, like David, he has a casual attitude toward God's commands. As R. C. Sproul says, "Uzzah made the mistake of thinking that a little mud would defile the ark. He was wrong. The touch by the hand of a sinful human being is what defiled and polluted the ark of God." Maybe some of you are thinking, "That doesn't make sense. Some of this Old Testament stuff seems very bizarre." I remember when I first read this text that it seemed very puzzling. But, the reason it seemed strange to me is because at that time I really didn't grasp how holy and pure God is, and how sinful and corrupt we as human beings are. It had not quite sunk into my mind and heart that if it were not for the death of Jesus Christ in my place, my sin would deserve God's wrath. Uzzah's tragic death occurs because he did not take God's holiness, or His commands, seriously.
David gets pretty upset about what has happened. 6:8 Then David was angry because the Lord's wrath had broken out against Uzzah, and to this day that place is called Perez Uzzah. David is upset that this festive occasion has turned into a tragedy. I'm sure part of his anger is directed toward God, but I also think he was upset with himself. He knows he should have been more careful. He then decides the ark of God is too hot to handle. 6:10 He was not willing to take the ark of the Lord to be with him in the City of
Friends, when I think about what happened in 2 Samuel 6, it reminds me of many Christians today. A lot of people are interested in, or even excited about the Lord, just as David was. But they make the same mistake as he did. They have a casual attitude toward God. Wilbur Rees writes that "many folks would like to go to church and buy $3-worth of God. They want enough God to make them comfortable; enough God to give them hope when they feel down; and enough God to comfort them when death strikes. But they don't want too much God. They don't want so much God that they have to change their priorities. They don't want so much God that they have to reach out and love people who are different. They don't want so much God that they have to start treating Him as more important than anything else. Many folks prefer about $3-worth of God."
I am afraid that sometimes that is so very true. I sometimes hear people say, "Yes, it is good to believe in God; it is good to go to church, but just don't start taking that stuff too seriously." Many folks prefer a casual attitude toward God. But, our text today shows us that this can lead to disaster. If God really does exist, it doesn't make much sense to not take Him seriously. So the question this morning is “how do we avoid a casual attitude toward God?
Well, first of all, we must take God's commands seriously. Sometimes we think, "Well, I will obey God if it is convenient or if it is not too much trouble." When I was a kid, Mom would say, "You have to eat your vegetables before you can have dessert." That was an easier command to obey when we were having corn-on-the-cob than when we were having broccoli. Most of us don't mind obeying when it fits in with what we already want to do. But, we need to remember that selective obedience, obeying only when we want to, is not obedience at all. It is merely convenience.
Many of us find that some of God's commands are easy to fit into our plans. The Bible says it is wrong to get drunk. If we don't like alcohol, that is an easy command to obey. But there are others which are not very easy. Listen, for example, to Matthew 5:23,24 "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift." In other words, before you come to church, make sure things are right between you and your fellow Christians. Now, do we take this command of God seriously? Or, for example, Philippians 2:4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Often I see Christians who get very upset because the only perspective they can see is how something affects them. They fail to take that command seriously. The Bible contains many other commands which God has given us, all of which He expects us to obey. Yet, many times we don't take God's commands any more seriously than we do the speed limit. We all know that the speed limit on most two-lane roads around here is 100 kph. Many of us have figured out, however, that if we keep the speedometer under 110, we won't get stopped for speeding. We take a casual attitude and will often drive 108 or 109 kph, instead of 100. We don't take the speed limit very seriously.
People often treat God that way, but our text reminds us that we can get in big trouble for doing that. Disobeying God always has consequences. Oh, God will not usually strike us with a bolt of lightning if we share a bit of gossip or something, but often our disobedience will cause us to miss God's blessing, just like David did in his life. Friends, we need to examine our lives and ask this question: Do I take God's commands seriously? He intends that we do. The story of Uzzah and the ark shows what can happen when we don't.
Secondly, we must not have a casual attitude toward serving God. This involves a variety of things, but it includes our attitude toward church. There are folks, maybe even some here, who go to a church because of the nice music, the friendly people, and because they just enjoy being in church. They think of it as kind of a big club. But the church is not a club, it is the people of God. We are called not just to enjoy each other's company, but to honor and serve the Lord. We need to take that responsibility seriously. Do we do that? Ask yourself this question: If I were as committed to my job as much as I am committed to my church, what would my boss say? Would I be fired?
A boy was watching his dog chase a rabbit out in a field. After a few moments, he said, "Dad, is the rabbit really faster than my dog, or why hasn't he been caught yet?" "Well, son, you have to remember -- your dog is running for his dinner, but that rabbit is running for his life."
Friends, Christianity is not a game. It is not just one slice of life. It is what life is all about. Christians in Communist and Muslim countries understand this. Where there is persecution, Christians don't want $3-worth of God. Because their faith in Christ may cost them a job, their family, or even their life, they want all of God. They realize that following Jesus Christ is serious business which can't be taken casually. They understand that Christianity is what life is about.
Before I close, I need to make one more brief, but important, point. Taking God seriously increases our joy. David learned from his mistake. Verse 12 says he brought the ark to
Friends, are you serious about God? I trust that today the Lord has impressed on your mind and heart that it is time to really start taking Him seriously. To do that we first need to establish a relationship with God by putting our trust in Jesus Christ. Now, I'm not just talking about being religious, coming to church, or being a nice person. The Bible says the only way to have a relationship with God is when, by faith, we receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. If you have not done that, that is what you need to do today.
Next, if you are a believer in Christ, are you taking His commands seriously? If there are some commands you have been ignoring, you need to confess this to the Lord and receive His forgiveness. Then, are you taking your ministry seriously? Is serving God a priority in your life, or do you only do it when there is nothing else on the calendar? If we have not been taking our ministry seriously, we need to confess that to the Lord and receive His forgiveness.
In a world where many people are far too serious about things which really don't matter, we need to make sure we are serious about the things which really do matter. May the Lord help us this week and in all the weeks ahead to not be so serious about ourselves, but to be very serious about the things of God.
#330 – Only Trust Him