COLLATERAL DAMAGE

2 Samuel 4:1-6:23; John 13:31-14:14; Psalm 119:17-32; Proverbs 15:31-32

“David was angry because the Lord’s anger had burst out against Uzzah…. David retorted to Michal, “….Yes, and I am willing to look even more foolish than this, even to be humiliated in my own eyes!”

“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.”

“Keep me from lying to myself; give me the privilege of knowing your instructions…. I cling to your laws. Lord, don’t let me be put to shame!”

After Jonestown, Heaven’s Gate and Waco, we ought to know sin lurks even in the enthusiasm ecstatic worship can generate. But we still forget, and when we do, saddest of all, others fall. David’s greatest spiritual struggles did not come as much with adversity as with success.  In times of greatest blessing, his personal judgment sometimes was literally overwhelmed by his emotions, which subtly replaced God as his first priority. It is important, therefore, to remember we all are subject to some of Satan’s most cunning and devastating temptations when in the midst of truly celebrating Christ. Personally, I think this occurs because, when we feel the most secure, we often are really the least vigilant and, hence, most vulnerable. We are swayed most easily away from God at our most spiritual or most depraved. Even God admits in Revelation that He can do little with us when we are simply lukewarm. Perhaps Satan suffers the same frustration. The point is Scripture contains abundant proof that it pays to keep an especially sharp lookout for Ol’ Slewfoot when we think he is furthest away.

Scripture also is abundantly clear that sin is never just a personal thing. Like a drunk causing a fatal car wreck and walking away without a scratch, the greatest damage produced by our sin is often collateral. The worst injuries brought about by our failure to follow God’s rules and plans are frequently suffered by the innocent. We will see this most graphically when Bathsheba loses her first child fathered in literally murderous adultery by David. But we see it here, too.

Why was Uzzah killed, when all he was trying to do was protect the holy things of the Lord? It seems grossly unfair and a disproportionate punishment, even when we recall he was not a Levite and had no divine authority to even be involved in the transport of, let alone touch, the Ark of the Covenant. The Bible does not say why David did not insure only Levites dealt with the Ark on this especially triumphant and significant occasion. Nor does it provide any clue why Uzzah himself did not protest being placed in such a presumptuous position. Both men presumably knew the Law. Maybe both were just caught in the emotion of the moment and forgot themselves, and others. Maybe Uzzah lacked the courage to question a leader as obviously inspired and charismatic as David. Whatever the reasons, several things do stand clear.

Sin is usually less about motive than about simply what is, or what is perceived to be. Not always are we “blessed to be a blessing.” We can turn, or seem to turn, our attention away from God and/or others and onto ourselves and “our” successes and blessings even (especially?) in the midst of worship. When we do, regardless of our true motive or intent – or our lack of intent – other people suffer, too. Uzzah may bear a bit more responsibility for his own demise than we may think at first glance, but it is David’s oversight, whether based on pride or simple thoughtlessness, that is the real culprit here. He was, after all, leader.

Michal, too, was a victim of David’s “religious” thoughtlessness, although in a different way. His self-centered, showy and ultimately prideful (“I am willing to look even more foolish … even to be humiliated…” [his own tellingly, emotional words, spoken with little regard for what God wanted]) worship led her straight to scorn, sarcasm and alienation. Usually, sermons are preached on Michal’s lack of tolerance and appreciation for David’s need to express himself spiritually, but it seems to me that take on the story misses a deeper message. Jesus was very clear we are never to make a public “show” of our religion. Our feelings of blessing and security are no reason to forget or, worse yet, flat disobey the Holy Spirit’s commandments. We must always recall there are others who, because they have not walked in our shoes, can never understand, and thus uniformly reject, any over-the-top exuberance. Our sense of spiritual security should never become an instrument Satan can use to alienate others. Religion, even personal ecstasy, never bestows on us the right to be inconsiderate! Far from it! If our personal need to worship, or our style of worship, turns off others or puts them in spiritual jeopardy, we do well to turn it off ourselves, at least until a more appropriate time and place. Love should always be our guide. And that's a much bigger consideration than religion or even spirituality.