Killing Uzzah

Don’t let past methods destroy your future vision

By Martijn van Tilborgh

David had to pinch himself just to be sure he wasn’t dreaming. Twelve years had passed since the prophet Samuel anointed him as the next king of Israel. He vividly recalled the expressions on his brothers’ faces—a mixture of disapproval and envy—as if it were only yesterday.

For years, Samuel’s words had seemed like a pipe dream, too good to be true. He also felt inadequate for such a crucial responsibility. How would he accomplish this? What exactly did being a good king entail? He lacked a clear example to guide him. The only guy who had ever been king before him had screwed up. Following in Saul’s footsteps was not a viable option, as he was directly responsible for the predicament David found himself in.

He pondered the leadership styles of past generations, seeking wisdom and insight to navigate what felt like an impossible responsibility. He carefully studied the judges of Israel, such as Gideon, Samson, Deborah and Shamgar. He discovered tales of their bravery, strength and the victories that often brought peace to Israel.

None of them, however, managed to pass on their leadership successfully to the next generation. They emerged as leaders only to quickly vanish, leaving behind little more than a brief mention in historical accounts. David aspired for this kingdom to last, unlike leaders whose reigns were fleeting. His scepter was meant to remain with Judah forever.

He continued by studying Eli, a priest and ruler of Israel from Shiloh. While he appreciated certain aspects of Eli’s leadership, it wasn’t what he was looking for, either. From his perspective, Eli was too small of a thinker. All he did was organize and promote church meetings in an effort to get butts in the seats in his auditorium at Shiloh.

Eli’s message: “If you need a miracle, come to my church!”

Although Eli’s model had worked for some, David knew there had to be more. So he moved on. Next on his list? Samuel!

Having closely followed Samuel’s ministry for most of his life, David was inspired by Samuel’s departure from Eli’s restrictive megachurch model. So, Samuel left Shiloh and established the first ever multi-campus church in Ramah, with satellite locations in Bethel, Gilgal and Mizpeh.

Despite the initial enthusiasm surrounding Samuel’s achievements, David harbored a profound conviction that an alternative course of action was necessary for him. This was still too small! The more David dug into the examples of the past, the more he realized that something different was required. He realized that leading in a kingdom context was an unprecedented undertaking, demanding an entirely new mindset.

As Israel’s first true king, David was tasked with leading his people from antiquated ministry models to a genuine kingdom culture. He couldn’t stay in Ramah, nor could he return to Shiloh. Something completely different needed to happen. Something that had never been done before.

His conclusion: “What got us to where we are can’t get us to where we’re going!”

So up to Jerusalem it was!

He rallied the troops, communicated his vision for change and developed a plan that would lead Israel into what was ambiguity at best. In the process, David recalled the words of Moses as written in Exodus 33:15: “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.”

The first course of action was to recover the ark of the covenant, which had been sitting dormant for all the years Saul was king. The guy in charge of the big move? Uzzah. You might recall the name Uzzah. He was the unfortunate individual who died while moving the ark of the covenant as it slipped off the cart and onto him.

Through the years, Uzzah has been painted as a villain who didn’t know what he was doing, the idiot who screwed up. He’s often demonized in sermons as the individual who derailed King David’s initial undertaking for Israel, the supreme example of how not to do something.

But here is my question to you: Was Uzzah really such a bad guy?

I see Uzzah as a good man, one who had clearly earned David’s trust and respect over many years. This is evident in David entrusting him with such a vital responsibility. I have a lot of sympathy for Uzzah. I understand him. Perhaps he is a lot like us.

Uzzah’s only frame of reference was how the Philistines, Israel’s adversaries, had handled the ark during Samuel’s rule. After a series of plagues, the Philistines (who had captured the ark), recognizing it as a source of misfortune, ultimately decided to return it to Israel. They concluded that retaining possession of the ark was probably not a good idea.

We read that they put the ark on a new cart pulled by two milk cows that had never been yoked before but miraculously transport the ark back to its original home. For decades, this story resonated throughout Israel, ensuring its widespread remembrance.

Uzzah’s decision to use the established method was logical; it had proven effective in the past, so repeating it seemed a sensible thing to do. After all, “If it ain’t broke, why fix it?” Obviously, a big mistake! But who could blame him?

Uzzah’s death left David both angry and fearful, confused by what had transpired. He wasn’t sure if this was what he wanted anymore, spiraling emotionally to the point of questioning his commitment. He needed a break—time to think. Was any of this truly from God? How could it be, when it led to the death of one of his most trusted leaders?

It was all very confusing. What could he have possibly done wrong? After all, he had checked all the boxes. He had placed the ark on a new cart, just as had been successfully done previously. He then ensured an atmosphere of worship, with music played before the Lord using various instruments made of fir wood, including harps, stringed instruments, tambourines, sistrums and cymbals (see 2 Samuel 6). His worship team was really on point. And to top things off, he had put his best man in charge: Uzzah.

Now, needing time to think after Uzzah’s death, David aborted the mission and decided to take a three-month sabbatical. For the time being he took the ark aside, into the house of Obed-Edom. As a result, the Lord blessed Obed-Edom and all his household. Remarkably, the very presence that appeared to have brought about Uzzah’s death now bestowed blessings upon Obed-Edom and everyone in his household.

How confusing. Yet, at the same time, it released in David a sense of hope—hope that he hadn’t been completely wrong. Maybe he had just missed an important detail. David began to understand that the past could not be repeated. This time things had to be done differently. It wasn’t about the worship team (or the plasma screen, the lights and the smoke machine). It wasn’t about a new cart (or a new auditorium or campus).

Carrying God’s presence was never meant to be outsourced to technology or man-made systems. It was always meant to be carried by us. Perhaps the key to unlock true kingdom life is not found in the religious systems we’ve become accustomed to.

Much like David’s confusion, we’ve perpetuated systems that have perplexed us and driven us to the brink of burnout. In some instances, these systems have even led to the demise of our own—as was the case with Uzzah—in the pursuit of “the Lord’s work.”

Could it be that the secret to genuine kingdom living is readily available to everyone, hidden in plain sight? Perhaps, in order to become a blessing to the Obed-Edoms around us, we may simply need to awaken to the simple truth that the kingdom of God already resides within each and every one of us.

Maybe, like David, we need to consider leaving the comfort and certainty of status quo religion and start a journey that will lead to the full kingdom experience. I embarked on this journey a long time ago. Feel free to join me, if you’re inclined. I promise, it will be a fun ride!

Martijn van Tilborgh is the co-founder of AVAIL, a strategic marketing architect and a consultant for numerous large organizations and influencers. He is also a minister, author and speaker, as well as a serial entrepreneur. Martijn’s passion to innovate and see God’s plan unfold in people’s lives inspired him to create several successful companies, including Four Rivers Media, Kudu Publishing, Dream Releaser Enterprises, Arrows & Stones and AVAIL. His new book is Unorthodox: 40 Disruptive Thoughts That Challenge Conventional Mindsets.