Podcast Introduction

Our reading today 1 Chronicles 10-14, after which I’ll have some comments, and I have a very important clarification of my comments on Numbers chapter 5 from yesterday’s reading.

I’m calling today’s episode “What’s In Your Heart?”

Comments on 1 Chronicles 13

Because of what God does to Uzzah in chapter 13, I’m going to rerun my comments from s12e127, which was titled “Follow the Directions”, where we read about this same event in 2 Samuel chapter 6. If you were with me then, please bear with me. It doesn’t hurt to review sometimes, and new Lifespring Family members might not have heard it. It’s important, I think, to have a better understanding of why God reacted as He did.

This can be a difficult story for some people. Why would God kill Uzzah for merely reaching out to steady the Ark of the Covenant (or Covenant Box in the Good News Translation that we read today), to keep it from falling off the cart? Let’s dig into this a bit.

To some, God’s reaction to Uzzah’s actions here seems to be extreme, to say the least. David thought so, since we’re told that he became angry at God.

So what happened? Why did God do this?

Here are the thoughts of scholars.

First off, when God gave His instructions to the Israelites on how they were to build the Ark, he was very clear about the most minute detail, including how it was to be transported, who was allowed to move it and who was allowed to touch it. It was never to be put onto a cart, but it was to be carried by Kohathites only. There were two poles that went through two loops on each side of the Ark, and these poles were to be placed on the Kohathite’s shoulders, bearing the Ark between them.

No one but a priest was to touch the Ark, because the Ark had the very presence of God upon it. Remember, this all happened before the Messiah had come, and only the priests had direct access to God and only priests could perform the sacrifices that could cover the sins of the people. The Ark represented a holy and awesome (in the very real sense of that word) God, and God had made it very clear how it was to be honored, because it was a reflection on how they were to honor God Himself.

So by putting the Ark on the ox drawn cart, they were guilty of transgressing God’s direct instructions. But why was Uzzah killed?

Touching the Ark was a direct violation of God’s clear instruction. It could be that God saw the condition of Uzzah’s heart, that he didn’t have the proper attitude toward it. It had been in Uzzah’s house, after all for some time, and he might have become indifferent to it. We must not become indifferent to God. He. Is. God. The creator of all that is. The One who gives us life and sustains us.

It could be that Uzzah had a cavalier attitude regarding God’s Word. He didn’t think it was important to sweat the details.

Maybe his reaching out to steady the Ark reflected a lack of faith on Uzzah’s part, that God somehow needed his help.

What we might want to draw from this is that we need to pay attention to what God says, and we should do all we can to be obedient to Him. Yes, He is loving and He is merciful. But He is also Holy, and it is important that we never forget that. It is His holiness and justice that requires payment for sin. It is His love that made a way for me and you to not have to make the payment for our sins. It is His holiness and justice and love that required the sacrifice of His Son in my place and yours. Because of His holy and just nature, he couldn’t just overlook the sin. It had to be dealt with.

I’m thankful that God made a way for me to escape His wrath, and that He has offered that way, that gift, to anyone who will receive it. Jesus said, “…I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” 

Clarification on Numbers 5:27

Sean of San Pedro sent a 1000 sat boostagram and said, “Thanks as always! Your commentary is always helpful. I’m still a bit conflicted by the jealousy ceremony. It sounds like the special clay is very similar to a Plan B pill, but with the added effect of sterilization. Quite shocking.”

Thanks for your boostagram, Sean. I’m really glad you sent it, because I should have addressed this in my commentary. You’re referring to Numbers 5:27, which in the Easy To Read Version that I read from said, “If the woman has sinned against her husband, the water will bring her trouble. The water will go into her body and cause her much suffering. Any baby that is in her will die before it is born, and she will never be able to have children.”

However, in the original Hebrew, the phrase about the baby dieing is not there. Nowhere in the entire passage dealing with how they were to address whether or not a woman had been unfaithful or not is there any language having to do with the woman’s pregnancy or lack of pregnancy. Nothing. The only thing in the original Hebrew that sounds remotely like pregnancy is where it says that the “water that causeth the curse shall enter into her, and become bitter, and her belly shall swell…”, but this is not referring to pregnancy. It is a visible sign that she is guilty of unfaithfulness. The other sign is that she will be unable to conceive again. Remember that the ability to bear children was considered to be a sign of God’s blessing. And remember, too, that God was teaching the entire nation how important faithfulness to the marriage vows, and faithfulness to Him was. 

If she conceived at some time in the future, then all would know that she was innocent. But if she did not, they would know that she had been unfaithful, and she was under God’s curse.

This mistranslation by the ERV translators, as well as a few other Bible translators, is a very unfortunate mistake. It is not in the original language at all. That’s another reason that having multiple translations to compare is so important. And when there are questions, consulting an interlinear Bible is imperative. 

I’m sorry I didn’t address this in my commentary yesterday, Sean. Thanks again for bringing it up. 

Today’s Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 10-11 NCV; Ch. 12-13 GNT; Ch. 14 NIRV

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The Team

Transcript Correction: Lifespring Family Berean, Sister Denise
Podcasting 2.0 Chapters: Lifespring Family Berean, Brother Sean of San Pedro and Lifespring Family Berean, Brother Michael Haner
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