Have you ever been angry at God? It’s a topic that most Believers may not want to consider, but I believe being angry at God is part of the journey of faith we have in Christ. Now, I’m not saying that everyone will be angry with God at some point in time. I do believe it is something we should consider. Therefore, I’m going to discuss the time King David got angry at God. 

In 1 Samuel 6, we read the account of David bringing the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem after its 20-year stay in Kiriath Jearim (cf. 1 Samuel 7:2). While bringing the Ark back, something disturbing happens. The oxen carrying it stumbles, and Uzzah reaches out to steady it and is struck dead by the Lord because of “his irreverent act” of touching the Ark (2 Samuel 6:7 NIV). After this, we read that David was angry.

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

2 Samuel 6:8 (NIV)

David was not only angry, but he was also afraid of God because of what had happened to Uzzah! (cf. 2 Samuel 6:9) 

There are many reasons why we get angry. Instead of trying to cover any of them, I’m going to point out where I believe we can find the root of all of our anger. Pride. When something doesn’t go the way we want it to go, we can become angry. I can’t think of any situation where I’ve gotten angry where that wasn’t the root cause. The only exception that comes to me is righteous anger, but that’s not the same thing as our anger. What does Scripture say about the difference between the two?

19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires (emphasis added).

James 1:19-20 (NIV)

Verse 20 references human anger and not just anger. Therefore, there must be at least two types of anger. God’s righteous anger and human anger. While human anger can be rooted in pride, God’s is not.

David was angry at God. I’ve been angry at God. Many years ago when my best friend died, I was angry at God. Oh, I didn’t acknowledge that I was angry with Him. Instead, I did something worse. I was angry, and I stuffed it down inside of me because I couldn’t acknowledge my anger. All of the pain I went through stemmed from one thing. God didn’t heal my friend after I believed he would. My faith was so complete that when I got the call about my friend, I almost collapsed in shock. Even though he had been sick with cancer for over a year. How could God take my friend? I believed what His word said and felt swindled even though God had always been faithful. 

Was my anger justified? Was David’s anger justified?

In my case, as a stage of grief. My anger was justified. However directing my anger at God, although logical in some sense of the word. Was not. I could have been angry because my friend died. My faith, on the other hand, if I had listened to it, told me that my prayers had been answered and my friend was not only healed, but with the Lord, and I would see him again. The problem I had then wasn’t a lack of faith but a lack of maturity in the Lord. Now, I am not saying that being angry at the Lord means you are immature in your faith. We can be mature in some areas and immature in others. This is a fact of life. Whether it be our spiritual, mental, or physical lives. If we were all completely mature in our faith, would the Lord still keep us here? 

Before we answer the question of whether or not David’s anger was justified, we need to examine the situation. 

Way back in Numbers the Lord told Moses how the Ark was to be carried. It was to be carried on the shoulders of the Kohathites like all of the holy things. Evidenced by this verse from Numbers.

But Moses did not give any to the Kohathites, because they were to carry on their shoulders the holy things, for which they were responsible (emphasis added).  

Numbers 7:9 (NIV)

The thing that Moses didn’t give to the Kohathites in this verse is carts. 

He gave two carts and four oxen to the Gershonites, as their work required, and he gave four carts and eight oxen to the Merarites, as their work required. They were all under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron, the priest.

Numbers 7:7-9 (NIV)

The Ark wasn’t supposed to be carried on a cart, but that’s exactly how David ordered the cart to be carried!

They set the ark of God on a new cart and brought it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab, were guiding the new cart.

2 Samuel 6:3 (NIV)

That’s the first mistake that was made in the case of Uzzah. The second was touching the Ark. 

“After Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy furnishings and all the holy articles, and when the camp is ready to move, only then are the Kohathites to come and do the carrying. But they must not touch the holy things or they will die. The Kohathites are to carry those things that are in the tent of meeting.”

Numbers 4:15 (NIV)

What happened to Uzzah is exactly what God told them would happen if they touched the Ark. Since David was the impetus behind the Ark being returned, we could say the fault for this falls onto his shoulders because he was ignorant of how to handle the Ark. We get more insight into this from this verse in 1 Chronicles.

It was because you, the Levites, did not bring it up the first time that the Lord our God broke out in anger against us. We did not inquire of him about how to do it in the prescribed way.”

1 Chronicles 15:13 (NIV)

This verse confirms why Uzzah died. In the case of David’s anger, was it justified? Yes and no. David’s anger toward the Lord was misdirected. If David was going to be angry, he should have directed his anger towards himself and the situation. 

What matters is how we respond when we realize our anger towards God was unjustified. This is where we either mature as a Christian or do not. 

God is so graceful that he allows us to be angry at him when it’s never justified. Instead, He allows us to be angry and uses it as something to teach us more about himself. It’s in these times such as these, that we truly get to see how awesome and amazing He is.

Do you know God? God knows you, and he loves you. He sees you as significant because you are. No one is insignificant to Him. He’s with you today, and he wants you to know him. Jesus died for your sins and mine so we could be free of guilt, be free from death, and live eternally with him. Eternal salvation is just a prayer away. 

Pray this prayer with me to accept the gift of salvation today:

Lord Jesus, forgive me for all my sins. I repent from my ways. Wash me in your blood and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. I believe that you died on the cross, were buried, and on the third day, God the Father raised you from the dead. Right now, Lord Jesus, I open the door to my heart, and I receive you into my heart as my Lord and personal Savior. Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, then congratulations! You are on the first step of a brand new life. Allow me to be the first to welcome you to my family, the family of God. There are abundant resources available online for new Christians. You can visit here for more information on what to do next. You can also leave me a comment, and I’ll do my best to help you on the next step of this incredible journey.

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