20260923 [새벽묵상] 모든 것 위에 절대적인 하나님의 거룩하심 The Absolute Holiness of God Above All Else (대상/1Chron 13:9~14)

13:9 기돈의 타작 마당에 이르러서는 소들이 뛰므로 웃사가 손을 펴서 궤를 붙들었더니

13:10 웃사가 손을 펴서 궤를 붙듦으로 말미암아 여호와께서 진노하사 치시매 그가 거기 하나님 앞에서 죽으니라

9 When they came to the threshing floor of Kidon, Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the ark, because the oxen stumbled. 10 The Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah, and he struck him down because he had put his hand on the ark. So he died there before God.

13:11 여호와에서 웃사의 몸을 찢으셨으므로 다윗이 노하여 그 곳을 베레스 웃사라 부르니 그 이름이 오늘까지 이르니라

11 Then David was angry because the Lord’s wrath had broken out against Uzzah, and to this day that place is called Perez Uzzah.

13:12 그 날에 다윗이 하나님을 두려워하여 이르되 내가 어떻게 하나님의 궤를 내 곳으로 오게 하리요 하고

13:13 다윗이 궤를 옮겨 자기가 있는 다윗 성으로 메어들이지 못하고 그 대신 가드 사람 오벧에돔의 집으로 메어가니라

13:14 하나님의 궤가 오벧에돔의 집에서 그의 가족과 함께 석 달을 있으니라 여호와께서 오벧에돔의 집과 그의 모든 소유에 복을 내리셨더라

12 David was afraid of God that day and asked, “How can I ever bring the ark of God to me?” 13 He did not take the ark to be with him in the City of David. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. 14 The ark of God remained with the family of Obed-Edom in his house for three months, and the Lord blessed his household and everything he had.

                오늘의 말씀은 기쁨 가운데 시작된 언약궤 이송이 웃사의 죽음으로 인해 갑작스럽게 중단되는 장면을 다루고 있습니다. 우리는 이 장면을 보면서 당혹감에 휩싸일 수 밖에 없습니다. 분명 선한 의도를 가지고 하나님의 궤를 다시 모셔오겠다고 시작한 일입니다. 중간에 소들이 날뛰어서 그 궤를 보호하고자 반사적으로 손을 댔을 뿐이었을 것입니다. 그런데 웃사는 그 일로 말미암아 그 자리에서 죽임을 당하고 말았습니다. 마치 축제와도 같이 뜨겁게 달아오르던 온 이스라엘의 열심이 이 순간 차갑게 얼어붙어버렸습니다. 두려움에 휩싸인 다윗은 언약궤 이송을 전면백지화 합니다. 여기서 우리는 질문하게 됩니다. 대체 무엇이 그렇게 잘못된 것이었을까? 웃사가 아무리 잘못을 범했다고 할지라도 분명 선한 의도로, 또는, 반사적으로 그렇게 했을텐데 그것이 즉사할만큼 잘못된 일이었는가? 이 질문에 대한 대답은 이렇습니다. 인간의 선한 의도, 인간의 열심, 인간의 그 어떠함보다도 하나님의 거룩하심은 절대적입니다. 우리는 차원이 다른 하나님의 거룩하심의 절대성을 두려워해야합니다. 그것이 우리로 하여금 본문을 제대로 이해할 수 있게 할 것입니다. 오늘은 본문을 통해 “모든 것 위에 절대적인 하나님의 거룩하심” 이라는 제목으로 말씀을 나누기 원합니다.

Introduction

Today's passage describes a shocking interruption: a journey that began with jubilation is suddenly halted by the death of Uzzah. Reading this scene, we cannot help but feel bewildered. This effort began with the noblest of intentions—to bring back the Ark of God. When the oxen stumbled, Uzzah instinctively reached out his hand to steady and protect the Ark. Yet, for that very act, he was struck down on the spot.

The burning zeal of all Israel, which had reached a fever pitch like a grand festival, instantly froze in horror. Seized with fear, David halted the entire operation. We are left asking: What went so terribly wrong? Even if Uzzah made a mistake, was an instinctive act born of good intentions truly deserving of instant death?

The answer lies in this fundamental truth: God’s holiness is absolute, standing far above human good intentions, human zeal, or any human effort. We must stand in awe of the absolute nature of God’s holiness—a dimension far beyond our own. Understanding this truth allows us to perceive today's passage rightly.

Today, through this text, I would like to share a message titled: “The Absolute Holiness of God Above All Else.”

                 먼저 하나님의 거룩하심은 우리의 선한 의도보다 높으십니다. 다윗과 온 이스라엘은 선한 마음을 가지고 언약궤를 그들 가운데로 옮겨오려 했습니다. 그러나 사실 그들의 의도는 선하였을지 모르지만 그들은 그 과정에서 하나님의 율법을 어기고 말았습니다. 우리는 그 어긋남이 이미 어제의 본문에서 시작되었던 것을 볼 수 있습니다. 2절, “다윗이 이스라엘의 온 회중에게 이르되 만일 너희가 좋게 여기고 또 우리 하나님 여호와께로 말미암았으면” 3절, “하나님의 궤를 우리에게로 옮겨오자” 자 그런데 4절을 보면 “뭇 백성의 눈이 이 일을 좋게 여기므로” 라는 말은 나오는데 처음 제시하였던 하나님의 말씀을 귀담아 듣는 장면이 빠져있습니다. 정작 다윗이 밝혔던 언약궤를 옮겨오는 목적은 3절, “사울 때에는 우리가 궤 앞에서 묻지 아니하였느니라,” 즉, 하나님의 말씀을 구하고 그 말씀을 따르겠다는 것이었습니다. 그런데 그 궤를 옮겨오는 과정에서는 정작 자신들이 하겠다는 일은 하지 않고 자신들의 임의대로 자신들의 열심대로, 자신들의 선의대로 이 일을 행한 것을 볼 수 있습니다. 7절에서 그들은 하나님의 궤를 새 수레에 실어 나르지요. 그러나 하나님께서는 민수기 4:15에서 반드시 레위 자손들 중에 고핫 자손이 언약궤를 멜 것이라고 말씀하셨습니다. 그러면서 “그러나 성물은 만지지 말라 그들이 죽으리라” 라고 말씀하셨습니다. 왜 그렇습니까? 그 하나님의 성물은 지극히 거룩하여 구별된 것이기 때문이었습니다. 그러나 오늘 말씀 10절은 어떤 일이 일어났다고 말하고 있습니까? 함께 읽어보겠습니다. “웃사가 손을 펴서 궤를 붙듦으로 말미암아 여호와께서 진노하사 치시매 그가 거기 하나님 앞에서 죽으니라” 본문은 그가 죽은 이유를 분명히 밝히고 있습니다. 만약 그가 자신의 열심과 자신의 선의대로 행하지 않고 하나님의 거룩하심을 존중하여 그 규례를 따랐다면 어땠을까요? 그러나 그는 의도는 선하였을지 모르지만 말씀을 따르지 않으므로 하나님의 거룩하심을 침범하였습니다. 10절은 그가 “거기 하나님 앞에서 죽으니라”라고 분명히 말하고 있습니다. 이는 같은 내용을 다루고 있는 사무엘하 6:7의 “하나님의 궤 곁에서” 와는 완전히 다른 부분을 강조하고 있는 것이지요.  사무엘하가 그가 죽은 장소에 집중하고 있다면 본문은 웃사가 거룩하신 하나님의 보좌를 침범했다가 그 하나님 존전에서 죽었다는 그 죽음의 이유를 말해주고 있는 것입니다. 하나님의 거룩하심을 존중한다는 것은 그분의 말씀과 규례에 대한 순종을 뜻하는 것입니다. 우리의 선한 의도와 열심으로 그것을 무마하려해서는 안됩니다.

1. God's Holiness Transcends Our Good Intentions (vv. 9–10)

First, God's holiness stands far above our good intentions.

David and all Israel possessed good hearts in wanting to bring the Ark of the Covenant into their midst. However, while their motives may have been sincere, they violated God's law in the process. We see the seeds of this derailment in yesterday's text.

In verse 2, David said to the assembly, "If it seems good to you and if it is the will of the LORD our God..." In verse 3, he proposed, "Let us bring the ark of our God back to us." Verse 4 notes that "the whole assembly agreed to do it, because it seemed right to all the people." Yet, nowhere in this consensus do we see them carefully inquiring of God's written Word.

The original purpose David stated in verse 3 was to seek God's Word—"for we did not inquire of it during the reign of Saul." Yet, in the actual execution of bringing the Ark, they failed to do what they set out to do. Instead, they acted according to their own discretion, zeal, and good intentions.

In verse 7, they placed the Ark of God on a new cart. But in Numbers 4:15, God explicitly commanded that the Ark must be carried on the shoulders of the Kohathites, adding the solemn warning: "They must not touch the holy things or they will die." Why? Because the holy things of God are infinitely sacred and set apart.

What happened in verse 10? Let us read together:

“The LORD’s anger burned against Uzzah, and he struck him down because he had put his hand on the ark. So he died there before God.”

The text makes the reason for his death abundantly clear. What if Uzzah had respected God’s holiness and followed His prescribed ordinances rather than relying on human zeal and good intentions? Sincere as his motive may have been, by neglecting God's Word, he encroached upon divine holiness.

Notice that verse 10 specifically states he died "there before God." This highlights something distinct compared to the parallel account in 2 Samuel 6:7, which states he died "beside the ark of God." While 2 Samuel focuses on the physical location, 1 Chronicles emphasizes the spiritual reason: Uzzah breached the sacred presence of God's throne and died right before the Sovereign LORD.

Respecting God's holiness means obeying His Word and His commands. We cannot substitute obedience with our own good intentions or zeal.

                두번째로 우리는 그 하나님의 거룩하심을 두려워해야 합니다. 11절에서 다윗이 이 일을 통해 느꼈던 첫번째 감정은 분노였습니다. 제가 이 부분이 이해가 되질 않아서 조금 살펴보았더니 10절에서 여호와께서 ‘진노하사’ 라고 하는 단어와 11절에 다윗이 ‘노하여’라고 하는 단어가 같은 단어입니다. 역대기의 저자는 의도적으로 하나님의 진노와 다윗의 분노를 서로 맞대어 놓은 것입니다. 왜 그랬을까요? 웃사의 사건과 같이 우리의 의도와 하나님의 거룩하심이 부딪혔을 때에 우리는 분노할 수 있습니다. 특히 우리가 선한 의도를 가지고 그렇게 했을 때에 더 그렇습니다. 그러나 하나님의 거룩하심은 절대적인 것입니다. 우리는 기억해야 합니다. 하나님이 바뀌셔야 하는 것이 아니라 우리의 감정이 바뀌어야 한다는 것을 말이지요. 우리의 태도와 관점이 바뀌어야 합니다. 우리의 뜻이 좌절된 순간에 보여야 하는 것은 하나님이 정하신 거룩한 방식에 순복하는 것입니다. 다윗이 그랬습니다. 12절을 보니 다윗은 분노하는 것에서 하나님을 두려워하는 것으로 감정이 바뀌었습니다. 그는 자신의 생각, 자신의 의도, 자신의 선함으로 인한 분노가 아닌 하나님을 경외함으로 그 마음을 바꾸었습니다. 그것은 후에 하나님의 방식으로 다시금 언약궤를 옮기게 되는 힘이 되었습니다.

2. We Must Revere the Absolute Holiness of God (vv. 11–13)

Second, we must stand in reverent fear of God’s holiness.

In verse 11, David’s initial emotional reaction to this tragedy was anger. Looking closely at the original text, the word used for the LORD’s anger in verse 10 (“the LORD’s anger burned”) and the word used for David’s anger in verse 11 (“David was angry”) share the exact same root. The author of Chronicles intentionally places God's holy wrath and David’s human anger side by side.

Why? Because when our human intentions collide with God's absolute holiness, we are prone to feel frustration or anger—especially when we thought we were acting out of good motives. But God's holiness is absolute. We must remember that it is not God who needs to adjust to us; rather, our emotions, attitudes, and perspectives must align with Him. In moments when our plans are thwarted, our proper response is surrender to God's holy ways.

David realized this. In verse 12, his emotion shifted from human anger to godly fear: "David was afraid of God that day." He moved away from frustration over his thwarted plans and embraced a profound reverence for God. This shift in heart later provided the foundation for bringing the Ark in the way God had originally commanded.

                말씀을 맺습니다. 하나님의 거룩하심은 모든 것 위에 절대적입니다. 그렇기에 오늘의 말씀은 꽤나 무겁습니다. 거룩하다는 히브리어 단어가 본래 ‘무게’라는 뜻을 가지고 있는 것도 우연은 아닌 것 같습니다. 그러나 너무 마음을 무겁게 가지시지 않으셔도 될 것 같습니다. 오늘 본문은 또한 희망을 말하고 있기 때문입니다. 14절, 하나님의 임재가 이방 사람이며 변방에 살았던 오벧에돔의 집에 거하실 때에 여호와께서 그의 집과 그의 모든 소유에 복을 내리셨습니다. 하나님의 거룩하심은 절대적이시지만 그를 존중하는 자에게 내리시는 복 또한 놀라운 것입니다. 그 하나님을 존중하여 그 말씀을 따르고 그 거룩함에 순종하는 여러분, 그분의 넘치는 축복을 누리시며 살아가시는 오늘 하루 되시기를 주님의 이름으로 축원합니다.

Conclusion

God’s holiness is supreme over all things. In light of this, today’s text carries a heavy weight. It is no coincidence that the Hebrew root for "glory" and "holiness" carries the weight of solemn majesty.

Yet, we do not need to leave with heavy hearts, because today’s passage also shines with immense hope.

In verse 14, when the presence of God rested in the household of Obed-Edom the Gittite—a foreigner living on the periphery—the LORD blessed his household and everything he owned. God’s holiness is absolute, but His blessing upon those who reverence and honor Him is overwhelming and glorious.

As you honor God, walk in His Word, and submit to His holiness today, may you experience the abundant blessings of the Sovereign LORD. Amen.