It's easy to feel sorry for Uzzah. The poor guy was just trying to do his job and - BAM! - struck down by the Lord's wrath for reaching out to steady the Ark of the Covenant. I have talked to more than one person who has asked me about the fairness of Uzzah paying the ultimate price for a momentary lapse of judgment.
Certainly David felt bad about the whole affair. After all, David was the one who had proposed the idea to bring the ark from Kiriath Jearim to Jerusalem and who had assembled the procession. Now it had cost one of his men his life. The Bible says, "Then David was angry because the Lord's wrath had broken out against Uzzah, and to this day that place is called Perez Uzzah" (vs. 11). David was also struck with fear. "David was afraid of God that day and asked, 'How can I ever bring the ark of God to me?'" (vs. 12) Sadness, anger, and fear were what was left in the wake of Uzzah's sudden death.
And yet, also present was a new-found appreciation for the holy things of God. The people may have been guilty of acting too cavalierly toward the Lord, and a deeper reverence was needed. One of God's laws from the time of Moses was that you don't handle the holy. Uzzah broke this rule, however unwittingly, and his death served as a reminder to all the people about the need to maintain separation from God because of their sin.
The good news is that the tragedy of Uzzah and the ark wasn't the end of the story. The ark didn't remain at Obed-Edom's house under a cloud of gloom and fear. Instead, the real impact and intention of the ark is one of blessing for the nation, when it is treated with proper respect as had been spelled out in the law. With an attitude of reverence, you don't "handle the holy" but you do reap the blessings of a relationship with the Lord.
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