Now the particular work of the Levites was to carry the ark (Num. 4:15). And that is what David found out afterwards. But he had not found it out here. I do not doubt God has recorded this for our instruction; even an earnest person with a large heart, who had the interests of God very deeply at heart, might go astray while seeking to serve God if he is not absolutely in subjection to the word of the Lord.

“And Uzza and Ahio drove the cart.” And by and by the oxen stumble. Of course they do. Uzza thought he could take care of God’s ark. But the fact is, God can take care of His own ark, and as Uzza attempts to support the ark, immediately the hand of the Lord is shown. You can count on it, the new-cart style of things in relation to Christ’s Church or Christ’s gospel does not do for God. What do we mean by the new cart? Everything, whether in worship or service, that is not absolutely according to the pattern of Scripture, but after some human pattern, which consequently cannot be divine, and therefore should have no authority over the conscience of an obedient child of God.

Uzza’s death woke David up to the error of his ways. At first he judged God—later he judged himself. “The ark of God remained with the family of Obed-Edom in his house three months. And the Lord blessed the house of Obed-Edom and all that he had” (1 Chr. 13:14). Those three months brought deep blessing into the house of Obed-Edom, and during them David evidently took to studying and then following God’s instructions, which led to his being greatly blessed as well, as we shall see.