Legalism vs. Liberty

2 Chronicles 30:17-20 KJV

For there were many in the congregation that were not sanctified: therefore the Levites had the charge of the killing of the passovers for every one that was not clean, to sanctify them unto the LORD.

For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim, and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the passover otherwise than it was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, The good LORD pardon every one

That prepareth his heart to seek God, the LORD God of his fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary.

And the LORD hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people.

We often use the story of the death of Uzzah[1] as an example of "doing the right thing the wrong way" and getting very bad consequences. Here is a case of doing the right thing but not with right people, and God being gracious to them. 

I see in these two instances demonstrations of what might be thought of as:

Old Testament law vs. New Testament grace

Someone might also see them as illustrations of;

Legalism vs. liberty

What we have to reconcile is that both are equally true. Hezekiah did not excuse the ill-preparedness of these people, he rather acknowledged it and asked God to pardon it.

The conflict then is not between legalism and liberty but between legalism and license.

• Praise God that He is gracious despite our failings.
• Thank God He will accept our worship though "all have sinned and come short if the glory of God."

But woe be it to the person who expects God's acceptance. Woe to the man who views God's pardon as evidence of the justness of sin.

---

[1] 2 Samuel 6:3-8 KJV

And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart.

And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab which was at Gibeah, accompanying the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark.

And David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals.

And when they came to Nachon's threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it.

And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.

And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzzah: and he called the name of the place Perezuzzah to this day.