歷代志上13:1-14

13:1 大衛與千夫長、百夫長，就是一切首領商議。
13:2 大衛對以色列全會眾說：「你們若以為美，見這事是出於耶和華─我們的上帝，我們就差遣人走遍以色列地，見我們未來的弟兄，又見住在有郊野之城的祭司利未人，使他們都到這裡來聚集。
13:3 我們要把上帝的約櫃運到我們這裡來；因為在掃羅年間，我們沒有在約櫃前求問上帝。」
13:4 全會眾都說可以如此行；這事在眾民眼中都看為好。
13:5 於是，大衛將以色列人從埃及的西曷河直到哈馬口都招聚了來，要從基列耶琳將上帝的約櫃運來。
13:6 大衛率領以色列眾人上到巴拉，就是屬猶大的基列‧耶琳，要從那裡將約櫃運來。這約櫃就是坐在二基路伯上耶和華上帝留名的約櫃。
13:7 他們將上帝的約櫃從亞比拿達的家裡抬出來，放在新車上。烏撒和亞希約趕車。
13:8 大衛和以色列眾人在上帝前用琴、瑟、鑼、鼓、號作樂，極力跳舞歌唱。
13:9 到了基頓（在撒母耳下六章六節是拿艮）的禾場；因為牛失前蹄（或譯：驚跳），烏撒就伸手扶住約櫃。
13:10 耶和華向他發怒，因他伸手扶住約櫃擊殺他，他就死在上帝面前。
13:11 大衛因耶和華擊殺（原文是闖殺）烏撒，心裡愁煩，就稱那地方為毘列斯‧烏撒，直到今日。
13:12 那日，大衛懼怕上帝，說：「上帝的約櫃怎可運到我這裡來？」
13:13 於是大衛不將約櫃運進大衛的城，卻運到迦特人俄別‧以東的家中。
13:14 上帝的約櫃在俄別‧以東家中三個月，耶和華賜福給俄別‧以東的家和他一切所有的。

1 David consulted with all his officials, including the generals and captains of his army.*2 Then he addressed the entire assembly of Israel as follows: "If you approve and if it is the will of the LORD our God, let us send messages to all the Israelites throughout the land, including the priests and Levites in their towns and pasturelands. Let us invite them to come and join us.3 It is time to bring back the Ark of our God, for we neglected it during the reign of Saul."   4 The whole assembly agreed to this, for the people could see it was the right thing to do.5 So David summoned all Israel, from the Shihor Brook of Egypt in the south all the way to the town of Lebo-hamath in the north, to join in bringing the Ark of God from Kiriath-jearim.6 Then David and all Israel went to Baalah of Judah (also called Kiriath-jearim) to bring back the Ark of God, which bears the name* of the LORD who is enthroned between the cherubim.7 They placed the Ark of God on a new cart and brought it from Abinadab's house. Uzzah and Ahio were guiding the cart.8 David and all Israel were celebrating before God with all their might, singing songs and playing all kinds of musical instruments—lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.   9 But when they arrived at the threshing floor of Nacon,* the oxen stumbled, and Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the Ark.10 Then the LORD's anger was aroused against Uzzah, and he struck him dead because he had laid his hand on the Ark. So Uzzah died there in the presence of God.   11 David was angry because the LORD's anger had burst out against Uzzah. He named that place Perez-uzzah (which means "to burst out against Uzzah"), as it is still called today.   12 David was now afraid of God, and he asked, "How can I ever bring the Ark of God back into my care?"13 So David did not move the Ark into the City of David. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-edom of Gath.14 The Ark of God remained there in Obed-edom's house for three months, and the LORD blessed the household of Obed-edom and everything he owned.

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    上帝有難的時候，人要不要去救祂呢？

    這是一的讓人費解的問題，就像約櫃掉下去的時候，烏撒就伸手扶住約櫃，卻是遭到擊殺的下場，難道烏撒這樣做不行嗎？

    這也是我們事奉上帝大難題，尤其是基督徒人數變少，教會越來越凋零的時候，想利用一些策略使教會的人數增長，這樣也會得罪上帝嗎？我們該不該這樣做呢？還是放著讓教會越來越退步呢？

    這就像摩西看到自己的百姓被埃及人欺負時，他大發熱心將埃及人殺死了，卻得不到同胞們的領情，讓他十分沮喪！

    親愛的弟兄姊妹，這是一個弔詭的狀態，上帝有難自己不會解決嗎？還要輪到我們來解嗎？當然不用！我們不可以用人的熱心和想法來事奉上帝。因為上帝並不缺乏，也不需要人來事奉祂。祂乃是要人藉由參與祂的事工，學習如何倚靠基督，不倚靠自己的能力。也因此，我們要清楚事奉是恩典，不是付出！不可以用此來居功，要將榮耀歸給上帝！