1. The Significance of the Ark in relation to God’s Holiness

1David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. 2And David arose and went with all the people who were with him from Baale-judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the LORD of hosts who sits enthroned on the cherubim. 2 Samuel 6:1-2 (ESV)

Though the Ark of the covenant was in no way an image of God, it had the important function of representing His presence among His people.

2. The Disobedience toward God in taking lightly His Holiness
3And they carried the ark of God on a new cart and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. And Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were driving the new cart, 4with the ark of God, and Ahio went before the ark. 2 Samuel 6:3-4 (ESV)

David failed to inquire the will of the Lord in bringing the Ark to Jerusalem.1 Chronicles 13:2

David’s failure to follow God’s specific directions for transporting the Ark and his implementation of the Philistine methodology for this purpose infers an unbiblical and dangerous casualness in the way he approached God.

3. The Consequences from God for failing to consider His Holiness.

5And David and all the house of Israel were celebrating before the LORD, with songs and lyres and harps and tambourines and castanets and cymbals. 6And 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. 7And 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 6:5-7 (ESV)

Uzzah made the error of presumption in assuming his hand would be cleaner than the dirt on the ground.

4. David’s Anger toward God and His failure to understand God’s Holiness
8And David was angry because the LORD had broken out against Uzzah. And that place is called Perez-uzzah to this day. 2 Samuel 6:8 (ESV)

Are we right to be angry when God does not appreciate our best efforts? James 1:19-20

4The LORD said, "Do you have good reason to be angry?" Jonah 4:4 (NASB)

5. David’s Fear of God when He correctly perceived God’s Holiness
9And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and he said, “How can the ark of the LORD come to me?” 2 Samuel 6:9 (ESV)

6. David’s Failure when considering God’s Holiness not to consider God’s grace
10So David was not willing to take the ark of the LORD into the city of David. But David took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. 11And the ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months, and the LORD blessed Obed-edom and all his household. 2 Samuel 6:10-11 (ESV)