The lesson the writer intended this incident to teach the readers is that Yahweh is holy and His people should not take His presence among them lightly (cf. Lev. 10:1-11; Num. 16). God's presence is real, and His people must deal with it harmoniously with His character (cf. Exod. 25-31). It would have been tempting to regard the rituals and physical objects used in worship as common. The writer warned his readers not to make this fatal mistake.
"In a real sense Yahweh was wherever His Ark was. It crystallized His immanence, bearing witness to both His nearness and His sovereignty."49
Even though there was much joy and worship as the people transported the ark, they did not obey God's orders for its proper treatment (vv. 7, 9; cf. Num. 4:15). Worship can never replace obedience to God's revealed will (cf. 1 Sam. 15:22-23). Where God's presence abode, there was power, as always (v. 14).
