"David was grieved and offended because Yahweh had broken forth upon Uzzah; and that place is called Perez-uzzah (the breaking forth upon Uzzah) to the day. David was afraid of Yahweh that day, and said, 'How can the ark of Yahweh come to me?'" (2 Sam.6:8-9, Amp.V.)
At some time in our lives everyone - including believers - gets offended by Yahweh's actions and laws. When one of the Ark-bearers, Uzzah, tried to steady the Covenant Box as the ox pulling it stumbled, he was struck down dead, and this is what upset David. He must have had thoughts akin to: 'Uzzah was only being protective of the ark. His action was just a reflex. How could Yahweh destroy this good man for such a little thing??'
People today get upset with Yahweh because of the state of the world and demand that He 'does' something about it. They even accuse Him of being a killer, torturer, abuser and every imaginable slur imaginable because of the suffering of mankind. They demand Yahweh to remove their free agency to end suffering and yet at the same time want to retain their free agency to do the very things that made the world as it is: sinful and wicked. They rail, rant, and ultimately perish because there is not that fear of Yahweh in them that David possessed and which caused him to restrain his fleshy impulses. They never loved or worshipped Him. They want divine favour but not submission.
It is not for the owned to challenge the rules of the Owner. They can deny they are owned but that does not effect the final outcome of life. Their defiance is, ultimately, futile. Hell awaits them unless they repent.
Yahweh made it abundantly clear that the Ark was not to be touched under any circumstances. This was Yahweh's Throne on Earth and it was to be approached with the greatest of reverence. No one was even supposed to see it save the Cohen Gadol or High Priest. And though it was fashioned by men out of the plain elements of the earth - wood and gold - after it was sanctified by Yahweh it became something else: it became a heavenly object. Indeed, the Ark of the Covenant became what the whole planet will become when the Millennium is over and all evil has been permanently extirpated from the universe and the earth is supernaturally transformed into a sphere of glory like the place where Yahweh lives now. The Ark became, like the burning bush was temporarily, a piece of heavenly glory capable of withstanding Yahweh's Presence without being consumed.
When people repeat the Beatles' mantra, 'All You need is Love' but at the same time declare, as the Hippie Revolution insisted, that obeying rules is somehow bad, they proclaim a lie. They are saying that the Ark is not set-apart or holy. They are saying that the slaying of Uzzah was wicked. They are saying that Yahweh is evil. They are blaspheming the very Throne of Heaven. For what, indeed, did the Ark contain that was to remind us of what it actually stands for? It contained the 10 Words or Devarim - the Ten Commandments which are a summary of the whole Torah and mitzvot (commandments). The Ark also contained Aaron's Rod which represented priestly toqef (authority) for when it budded, and those rods of the rebels did not, it signified on whom Yahweh had placed his toqef (authority), and the rebels were swallowed up into the ground. The Ark of the Covenant or Throne of Yahweh, on which Yah'shua (Jesus) also sits at the Father's right hand (Heb.8:1), flanked by protecting cherubim or ruling malakim (angels), therefore represents LAW and AUTHORITY - or in a word, DIVINE TAVNITH (pattern).
It is a wicked and a liying generation that says ahavah (love) can exist without the divine tavnith of Torah (Law) and Toqef (Authority) for Yah'shua's seat is these very things, along with Yahweh His Father and Head at whose right hand He sits. Those who seek to remove, dilute or modify any of these things merit the death penalty as Uzzah did for trying to "steady" Yahweh. Yahweh needs no steadying hand! He does not need us to be His moral, ethical or theological compass. He is our Compass and woe betide anyone who seeks to counsel Him! He does not need us to be His conscience either. He has all authority! He is our conscience! It is complete, flawless, and in need of no human improvement beased on the lusts and pride of the flesh.
This tavnith (pattern) has likewise been transferred to husbands in marriages and families who have likewise been given all toqef (authority), under Messiah, to establish family torah (law), and a wife who seeks to "steady" or improve his law commits the sin of Uzzah so long as his law is in harmony with Yahweh's Torah.
Whether in the assemblies (churches) or homes of believers, we need to soberly remember and reflect on these things. For the Throne of El Elyon - the Most High - is a Throne of Torah and Toqef in Divine Tavnith. The glory sits on it, between the wings of the cherubim, in the Holy of Holies which now, under Messiah, is open to all who submit to Him and respect these things. It is not a place for the lawless and rebellious whose professed 'love' for Yah'shua (Jesus) can only ever be a false, counterfeit love. All of these things are echad in emet (truth). May we fear Yahweh as David did, be wise and know true Throne-containing ahavah (love). Amen.
Further Reading
[1] Unanswered Questions: Learning the Secret of Contentment
[2] Let's Get Serious: The Terrible Danger of Passing Judgment on Yahweh
[3] The Trial of Your Faith: The Blood of the Messiah and the Second Wave