STRANGE HAPPENINGS IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD - PART 2

STRANGE HAPPENINGS IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD 
Scripture: 2 Samuel 6:1-9
Topic : Strange Happenings in the Presence of God -Part 2

Wherever the presence of God is, there are manifestations. In this Series of our Quiet Time we will explore some of the strange happenings in the Presence of God. 

2. Judgment to all the mockers of God’s presence.   

"Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the Lord of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubims. And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart. And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab which was at Gibeah, accompanying the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark. And David and all the house of Israel played before the Lord on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals. And when they came to Nachon’s threshingfloor, UZZAH PUT FORTH HIS HAND TO THE ARK OF GOD, AND TOOK HOLD OF IT; FOR THE OXEN SHOOK IT. AND THE ANGER OF THE LORD WAS KINDLED AGAINST UZZAH; AND GOD SMOTE HIM THERE FOR HIS ERROR; and there he died by the ark of God. And DAVID WAS DISPLEASED, BECAUSE THE LORD HAD MADE A BREACH UPON UZZAH: and he called the name of the place Perez-uzzah to this day. AND DAVID WAS AFRAID OF THE LORD THAT DAY, AND SAID, HOW SHALL THE ARK OF THE LORD COME TO ME?"
2 Samuel 6:1-9

It is important to know how to relate in the presence of God. Familiarity with God’s servants and the presence of God can be costly. Whenever a man of God seems easily available, you must not allow that to deceive you. The strong presence of God around their lives and ministry may mean more than you care to acknowledge. 

The ark of God seemed to be a common thing in those days and Uzzah simply stretched out his hand to balance the ark nicely. Unfortunately, that displeased the Lord and he died for his mistake of being too casual. 

Beware of casual prophets! Few people are able to handle casual men of God. You may stretch out your hand to correct them but die for your mistake. There are men of God who do not use big words. Neither do they wear royal clothing to give an aura of specialness and mystery. However, they may be covered with a strong presence of God. Stretching out your hand to correct them or to bring balance may cost you your life.  There are wives who have died because they thought to bring balance into their husband’s ministry. “I want to balance your messages,” they may say.  “I want to bring a balance to the things you do.”  “You are out of balance and out of order,” they think. This was Uzzah’s mistake. He sought to bring balance to the presence of God. God’s presence is never out of balance. No human being can correct God. No human being can rebuke God. Watch out for those who feel they can correct God’s servants.  

Some people peeped into the ark of God.  Once again, the ark of God looked very accessible, very normal and very ordinary.  It is these apparently harmless characteristics that make people trivialize the presence of God. People think they are dealing with a mere man. But they find out that they are dealing with God.  

When Jesus came to this world they treated Him very badly. Instead of crowning Him with praise, they crowned Him with thorns. Instead of honouring Him they mocked at Him. But they paid dearly for their failure to recognize the presence of God in their midst. The entire city of Jerusalem was wiped out after Jesus died on the cross. 

Be careful when you treat God’s servant as though you are dealing with the devil. Jesus was dealt with as a criminal and an evil man. Even Barabbas was considered to be of more value than Jesus. Jesus was crucified between thieves, implying that He was a thief. For all these things, the Jews have never ceased to pay the price of not recognizing God’s presence. 

When the ark of God came into the field of Joshua the Beth-shemite, they equally made a mistake in handling the presence of God. They peeped into the ark and over fifty thousand people died. Indeed, God’s presence must not be trifled with. Be careful of men who carry a strong presence of God. They often cause death to those who mock them. 

"And the cart came into the field of Joshua, a Beth-shemite, and stood there, where there was a great stone: and they clave the wood of the cart, and offered the kine a burnt offering unto the Lord. And the Levites took down the ark of the Lord, and the coffer that was with it, wherein the jewels of gold were, and put them on the great stone: and the men of Beth-shemesh offered burnt offerings and sacrificed sacrifices the same day unto the Lord . . .And HE SMOTE THE MEN OF BETH-SHEMESH, BECAUSE THEY HAD LOOKED INTO THE ARK OF THE LORD, even he smote of the people FIFTY THOUSAND AND THREESCORE AND TEN MEN: and the people lamented, because the Lord had smitten many of the people with a great slaughter. And THE MEN OF BETH-SHEMESH SAID, WHO IS ABLE TO STAND BEFORE THIS HOLY LORD GOD? And to whom shall he go up from us? And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kirjath-jearim, saying, The Philistines have brought again the ark of the Lord ; come ye down, and fetch it up to you."
1 Samuel 6:14-15,19-21. 

Credit: Excerpt from 
The Anointing and The Presence 
Bishop Dag Heward-Mills

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