Are you shocked by irreverent attitudes and behavior? You know, the sort of attitude and behavior that shows no respect for anything or anyone.
Consider the definition of irreverent: Lacking or exhibiting a lack of reverence; disrespectful. Critical of what is generally accepted or respected; satirical without due respect or veneration; a flippant attitude.
Human respect, empathy for one another, caring, gentleness, generosity... all the things that make for peaceful relationships among people seems to be at an all‐time low. I have a theory: Lack of respect for others reflects and is exacerbated by a lack of reverence for God. In other words... how you see and interact with God, is how you see and interact with other people.
It's difficult to understand casual irreverence toward God considering what He has done for humanity. Just his unfathomable power alone should be enough to push you to your knees whenever you ponder His name!
In the last thirty years we've watched our culture change dramatically. Today's youth rebel against their parents, there's blatant disrespect for authority, almost everything seems to foment a fight. Battle lines are drawn, people take sides in opposition to one another, even to values and godly principles. Respect and caring for one another are growing as scarce as hens teeth. What is most disturbing, is the lack of reverence many so-called followers of Christ actually show toward God as they get embroiled in unholy lifestyles.
There is such a great difference between the holiness of God and the unholiness of men. Yet it seems like today we relate to God as something just a little higher than ourselves, someone we impose our smallness on. We bring Him down to our size to avoid responsibility for living reverent lives. He's no longer revered as the Infinite, Almighty, Holy God that created us and sustains life. He is no longer feared; no longer given His due respect and reverence. It's interesting what people will stand up for today. They show reverence for the military, historical days, and the dead. God may or may not be on the “list” of those we revere.
This attitude stems from a lack of understanding of God’s nature and character. Of course, if you don’t read your Bible and pour over the Scriptures to gain the wisdom He has promised, then you will surely lack in understanding of who He is and how to live in reverence of Him.
Everyone should search the scriptures to learn how to live reverently towards God. He gave us His Word the Bible to get us through the challenges of living in a sinful world. Someday Jesus Christ will return... when He does, will we have followed the instructions He has given us? Or will we be found to have ignored, rewritten or redesigned His instructions to suit our own desires and preferred way of religion?
There is a story in 2 Samuel 6:1-15 that illustrates the problem of ignoring God's Word. I think this passage is especially appropriate for Christian’s today. Why? Because too many so-called Christians are doing things and living lives contrary to the standards God has set before us. It’s dangerous to call ourselves His followers and then to live by standards that trifle with His holiness. Such an attitude cost a man named Uzzah his life.
The story involved plans to move the Ark of the Covenant, the symbol of God’s presence with His people the Israelites. For several years the Ark had not been properly housed in the Tabernacle. It had been carried off by the Philistines, recovered by the Israelites and stored for an extended time in the house of a Levite priest. So, King David wanted to return the Ark to Jerusalem and restore it to its rightful and proper place in the “most holy place” in the Tent of Meeting [Tabernacle].
Many years before David’s plan was hatched, God had given very detailed and specific instructions as to how the Ark was to be carried and moved. It was to be borne upon men's shoulders, Levites only, and only those of the family of Kohath (Exodus 25:12-14; Numbers 7:9), using long poles as prescribed by God. Moving the Ark came with a stern warning... DO NOT touch it or gaze upon the holy things contained therein or those who do will die. God was clear... failing to follow His precise instructions would be seen as (1) not revering God’s words when He spoke them through men such as Moses whom He had appointed; (2) having an independent attitude that might border on rebellion, i.e., seeing and acting on things from a worldly, rather than a spiritual, perspective; or (3) outright disobedience, expediency, ignoring precise details.
An aspect we often neglect to consider in our relationship to God’s holiness... is summed up in the phrase... “familiarity breeds contempt.” The Ark had stayed for a long period of time at Abinadab’s house (2 Samuel 6:3), where his sons, Uzzah and Ahio, may well have become accustomed to its presence. Uzzah, having been around the Ark in his own home, could very likely have marginalized the holiness that it represented. The Ark became like just another piece of furniture. He became too familar with it, and lost focus on what it really represented. There are times when we, too, fail to recognize the holiness of God. We focus too much on the warm fuzzies we get from thinking of God's great love for us and become too familiar with Him. We can easily develop an irreverent attitude, even though we don’t realize that’s what we are doing.
So, it’s time to move the Ark to Jerusalem. It’s not a long journey, less than 10 miles. How did they do it? NOT the way God had prescribed, not even close! Instead of following the precise instructions given by God, they moved the Ark on a cart pulled by oxen, escorted by Levites, but not carried by them. The journey begins. Along the way on level ground, the oxen stumble, the Ark begins to tip as if it was going to fall off the cart and crash to the ground.
Uzzah, a Levite, walking alongside the cart seeing what was happening, felt it was his responsibility to reach out his hand and steady the Ark so it would not fall. What was going through his mind? Did he believe that his actions were going to save the integrity of God? Did he think that Almighty God somehow needed his assistance? Did he presume that, without his intervention, God’s presence among the Israelites would be dealt a blow? Who knows what he was thinking. God killed Uzzah. When Uzzah reached out and touched the Ark of the Covenant, God’s anger burned against him for “his irreverent act” (2 Samuel 6:7)
Many Christians are horrified by the story of Uzzah. The story is not just about the holiness of God... it also demonstrates, harshly so, the reverence we must always have towards Him. This story should teach Christians that the holiness of God is not something to take lightly.
When you reflect upon the holiness of God today, do you stand in awe of Him? Do you have the sense of “hallowed be your name” (Matthew 6:9) when you pray? In your encounter with God, do you reflect upon the Old Testament’s concept of God’s holiness? What does “take off your sandals” convey to you? The worshipers of the Old Testament knew that “take off your sandals” (Exodus 3:5) spoke of the presence and holiness of God. Abraham’s meeting with God called forth this cry: “I am nothing but dust and ashes” (Genesis 18:27). Do you ever feel this way? The God of the Old Testament has NOT changed... He is the same holy God today as then and we must treat Him with awe and reverence.
Christians are servants of righteousness... Christians are to present themselves holy to the Lord. It is in this regard that Paul admonishes the believers at Rome: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:1-2). Peter also called for holiness in the life of the believers: “Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy” (1 Peter 1:13-16).
Something of God’s presence as embodied in the Ark of the Covenant seems to be lost in the Church today. It's not reverence for a relic or sacred piece of furniture... its an attitude of the heart. We’re not even sure what irreverence look like because the attitudes of our minds have not changed (Ephesians 4:23). In the time of Moses, the people knew the awesomeness of God’s absolute holiness. They had witnessed great miracles when the Ark was with them. They respected that God’s ways and thoughts are much higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9).
In truth, the more we try to bring God down to our worldly way of thinking and reasoning, the further away He will seem to us. That’s what irreverence looks like today... intentional or not, it’s minimizing and marginalizing the commands of God, so that what He demands doesn’t interfere with the way we want to live.
Those who would draw near to God and have Him draw near to them are those who approach Him in reverence and holy fear. Uzzah forgot that and the consequences were tragic.
