1 Chronicles 13
A unanimous decision is not always a right decision, and enthusiasm is not the best test of truth. Were David’s motives mixed as he sought to bring the ark home? Was the king subtly promoting himself as well as glorifying the Lord (v. 3)? Perhaps.
One thing is sure: David did not pause to seek the Lord’s direction in the venture. It was his habit to seek the will of God before he acted, but that time, he failed. Any Levite could have told him how to do the job!
The ark was God’s throne (Ps. 99:1), and the throne of God does not depend on the hand of man for support or protection. Had the ark been where it belonged, on the shoulders of the Levites, Uzza would have lived. No matter how successful at the beginning, man’s methods without God will ultimately fail. The time to find out how to do His work is before the job begins, not after the funeral.