From the Pastor's Desk . . . .
“Holiness That Can Be Seen and Touched”
David wanted to bring the Ark to Jerusalem, so he and his men went to retrieve it. When the Ark of the Covenant needed to be moved, the priests were supposed to use poles, sliding them through the rings on each corner of the lid (Exodus 25:14). This allowed them to carry the Ark without touching it. Anyone who touched the Ark of the Covenant would die.
To see how serious God was about these regulations, we need only consider the tragic death of Uzzah, the man who touched the Ark. Rather than carrying it properly—on their shoulders using poles—the priests loaded the Ark onto an ox cart.
“And when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah, and God struck him down there because of his error, and he died there beside the ark of God” (2 Samuel 6:6-7).
Because of God’s holiness, people could not come near to see or touch Him. If people were ever to be able to come close enough to touch Him, the holy God would have to pour Himself into flesh. And that is what He did. Jesus was God who could be touched. Matthew tells us what happened when someone dared touch Jesus: “And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His garment, for she said to herself, “If I only touch His garment, I will be made well.” Jesus turned, and seeing her He said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well” (Matthew 9:20-22).
Jesus was God become man to walk among us. People could look at Him and live. They could be touched by Him. His touch brought life and health, not death. John wrote of Him, “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life” (1 John 1:1).
By Pastor Edwards
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