Discover His heart: His Holy Spirit dwells in us
When I read the story of Uzzah and the Ark, I always think of the first Indiana Jones movie. Indiana’s arrogant archaeologist rival opened the Ark of the Covenant and then melted into the floor because of the power it contained. The hero was spared because he respected its power and refused to look on it. No doubt the author and filmmakers had read some scriptures and took some liberties, but the story does give us pause to consider the unfathomable power of God.
@ 2 Samuel 6
“…the oxen stumbled, and Uzzah reached out his hand and steadied the Ark of God…God struck him dead because of this.” (6-7) Frightening. Uzzah’s motivation was to be helpful, but his action was careless, as was David’s. Had David followed God’s law in moving the Ark, on poles carried by Levites, Uzzah would never have had to make the choice he did. It seems that both men in their enthusiasm to move the Ark to Jerusalem failed to reverence its power source.
After Uzzah’s death, David understood the power connected to the Ark and was afraid to have this power source with him in Jerusalem. Had I been present in the procession that day when David was determining what to do with the Ark, I’d like to think I would have been waving, jumping up and down and calling out, “I’ll take it! I won’t touch it!” Can you imagine the very presence of God dwelling in your home? Can you fathom continual blessing for your entire household?
Oh! That’s right! His Spirit does dwell with us! Once the blood of Jesus purifies us, we house the very Spirit of God, “Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God?” (I Corinthians 6:19) We are not reduced to puddles on the floor in His presence because of this purification. We could never host the Holy Spirit in our homes and experience His wisdom and power in our lives without it. But do we really understand the Power within us?
Sometimes I forget the magnitude of hosting the Holy Spirit in my home and wonder how often I fail to reverence its power source. Today it’s not a problem of reaching out to touch it as with Uzzah, but it’s more a problem of failing to touch it. So often I face a challenge to fix this or that problem and carry its stress all alone when the power source of all Heaven is dwelling in me. “And the Holy Spirit [dwelling in us] helps us in our weakness…pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.” (Romans 8:26-27)
Perhaps our lack of trusting and using this powerful Source within us is a form of disrespect as well. Because of God’s grace through Jesus Christ, we may not experience a physical meltdown, but we may go through an emotional or spiritual meltdown even though this great power to overcome all challenges is available to us. With a purified heart, we have no need to fear an Uzzah experience. The Spirit is on our side and waiting to help us. Go ahead, reach out and touch Him!
Moving Forward: Unafraid, my heart sings for more, “More Love, More Power, More of You in my life. I will worship You with all of my heart…” (J. Del Hierro) Blessings for my entire household!
Tomorrow @ Psalms 51-53
Phyllis Benigas 