In the Old Testament in the Bible King David was right in wanting to bring the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem. The Ark of the Covenant had been captured as a war trophy and had been in the hands of the Philistines, enemies of Israel, for a while.The Philistines had seen nothing, but trouble while they had it. Eventually they sent it back inside the territory of Israel where it remained in Kiriath Jearim for twenty years.
King David now firmly established in the kingdom consulted with the military and the people who decided that it was time to bring back this sacred possession to Jerusalem. Elaborate preparations guaranteed that this was going to be a spectacular day of lots of music using big choirs and bands and a disciplined army. The parade route festooned with greenery and flowers set the festive atmosphere for the Ark’s return. Thousands of people were in the streets. King David in his royal robes went out to greet the Ark. Everything was going well. until one of the oxen tripped and stumbled. A helpful Uzzah stuck out his hand to steady the Ark. God struck Uzzah dead. Shock and bewilderment beset the king and the crowd.
David was miffed and became angry with God. I imagine he must have thought, "I was trying to do the right thing by bringing the Ark back to Jerusalem." "Now look at this disaster." "Uzzah was only trying to help." "Now he’s dead." The event was ruined. The parade ended and people were horrified and saddened. All the joy left the atmosphere.
What was the Problem? David was trying to do the right thing the wrong way. David was going against the rules of God’s laws. The Mosaic law said the ark was to be carried on the shoulders of the priests. It was not to carried on an oxcart by unthinking sentient beasts.
It does matter to God how a task is completed.
In 2026 bringing President Maduro of Venezuela to justice may have been the right thing. However to break every International Law, violate a sovereign country’s borders and and to disregard the United States Congress and Constitution to do so was certainly not the right way. The only thing this does is to open up our country to censor, distrust and to sully the reputation of our nation.
No the end does not justify the means.
If you would like to read the whole Biblical account of the Ark of the Covenant it is in
I Chronicles 13: 1-14 and I Chronicles 15:11- 28
