“When we are troubled and confused yet continue to stay the course, our faith is proven to be true.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – January 23, 2025
And when they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzzah put out his hand to take hold of the ark, for the oxen stumbled. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah, and he struck him down because he put out his hand to the ark, and he died there before God. And David was angry because the Lord had broken out against Uzzah. And that place is called Perez-uzza to this day. And David was afraid of God that day, and he said, “How can I bring the ark of God home to me?” 1 Chronicles 13:9-12, ESV
As a child, the story of the Lord striking down Uzzah was always deeply troubling and disturbing to me. His reaching out to catch the ark always struck me as a pure motive and honorable reaction. Why on earth would the Lord strike him down? Interestingly, as my wife and I were recently discussing this story, she pointed out the verse that immediately follows it, one that has never fully struck me until today, and it is this verse that I invite us to focus on.
In verse 11, we are told that “David was angry because the Lord had broken out against Uzzah.” Though it gets us close to the emotion, “anger” doesn’t fully capture David’s response in this moment. Other English translations use different words, such as “displeased,” “grieved,” “greatly saddened,” “dispirited,” and “troubled.” For me, this last one perhaps resonates the most and seems to invite us closer to the heart of this story.
King David, a man after God’s own heart, a model of repentance and devotion to God, found himself in a moment when the actions of the Lord left him deeply troubled, angry, and confused. I love how the Bible doesn’t seek to paper over this fact but instead presents us with a deeply human moment that each of us can relate to in one way or another.
Over the course of our lives we will find ourselves in a similar position to that of King David. We encounter moments that feel deeply unjust, leaving us dazed and confused. Anger rises within us, and we wonder why or how a good God could possibly allow such great pain or sorrow. We follow the Lord for years, and have seen his faithfulness time and time again, yet in an instant, everything can come crashing down.
If you find yourself in this place or have ever been there, the story of David reminds us that you are not alone. Countless men and women have gone before us, and their lives bear witness to faithful living, even in the face of great anger, pain, and confusion. This is a difficult lesson, yet one we must learn if we are to grow in Wisdom. We cannot simply follow God when it’s easy and convenient. When we are troubled and confused yet continue to stay the course, our faith is proven to be true. Let us trust that he is good, even when we don’t understand and can’t see a way through. Stay the course and seek his heart when it is easy, yes, but most especially when you are tempted to run the other way.
Prayer
Father, teach us to trust you and follow you, even when our hearts are angry, troubled, and confused, we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Application
Talk to the Lord in prayer about anything that troubles your heart today.
Related Reading
Psalm 13:1-2, 5-6; Proverbs 3:5-6; Isaiah 55:8-9
Worship Resource
Hillside Recording & Christian Singleton: Deep Love of Jesus
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