Obed-Edom

2 Samuel 6

We can see that King David was trying to bring the ark of Covenant to Jerusalem. Nonetheless, when the ark was being carried, and the oxen was about to fall off, Uzzah, one of the men there reached out his hand to avoid the oxen from falling. Because of that, God's wrath was upon him (you cannot just simply touch the ark of covenant)...and Uzzah died on the spot.  King David was upset with the death of  Uzzah. So he left the ark of covenant in a place called Gitite, in a house that belongs to Obed-Edom.

Now, the ark of covenant was left there for 3 months! And throughout the three months...just imagine, the presence of God is in your house! (In those days, the presence of God is only in the ark of covenant. That is the reason why the ark of covenant is placed in the holy of holies...) Imagine, back then, the temple can only have the presence of God because the ark of covenant is there (not like now, presence of God can be anywhere within us and we are His temples)....and only once a year, the priest will enter the holy of holies and sacrifice offerings for the people. Now note...the priest at that time...their legs needed to be tied to a rope with bells. So that if the priest somehow died (probably because of his own sin) while in the holy of holies, people can pull him out. Not everyone can enter the holy of holies because it is where the presence of God is. And where the presence of God is, sin cannot exist.

So just imagine...that same ark that carries the presence of God in the very house of Obed-Edom! And Obed-Edom throughout the three months is able to be close to God, and able to attract blessings. The bible says, his house was very very blessed! Definitely! When God is with you...who can be against you? So you can imagine the whole village is probably looking up to Obed-Edom! Wow...that man is super blessed...wow anything you need just ask from Obed-Edom! That is the power of the presence  of God in your life! It attracts all the good things to you. So much so, that the blessings are overflowing, that Obed-Edom became so famous...that King David heard about his blessings. And King David wanted to bring the ark of covenant back to Jerusalem.

Now...notice the changes in Obed-Edom after experiencing the presence of God for three months. Even when the ark of covenant was taken away...Obed-Edom, volunteers himself to serve the ark of covenant.....just to be close to the presence of God.

Look at these verses:

1 Chronicles 15:18
and with them their brothers next in rank: Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom and Jeiel, the gatekeepers.

1 Chronicles 15:21
and Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel and Azaziah were to play the harps, directing according to sheminith .

1 Chronicles 15:24
Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah and Eliezer the priests were to blow trumpets before the ark of God. Obed-Edom and Jehiah were also to be

1 Chronicles 16:5
Asaph was the chief, Zechariah second, then Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-Edom and Jeiel. They were to play the lyres and harps, Asaph was to sound the cymbals,

See, a man like Obed-Edom had experienced the presence of God...and forever in his life, he was devoted to be near the ark of covenant, just to be near the presence of God. One man, if his life is touched and changed by the presence of God will never stay the same again. And Obed-Edom depict true hunger to be close to God. How many of us today, with the convenience of having the presence of God in our lives, can treasure this presence of God as much as Obed-Edom? Obed-Edom...I am sure he already had a lot of possessions and blessings from the three months of having the ark of covenant in his house. But what did he do? Did he got happy, thank God and continue living his life? No! He left everything he has....just to pursue the presence of God....and to be near the ark of covenant. See from the verses above...from a gatekeeper, to a musician...then to the doorkeeper of the ark. I can imagine Obed-Edom right now....when the King or minister ask...."There is an opening for gatekeeper. Who wants to be the gatekeeper?"...Obed-Edom without hesitant would shout..."me me me! I am up for that position!".....next when there is position for musician....Obed-Edom offered himself again....when there is an opening for doorkeeper....Obed-Edom jumped at the opportunity. Each step he took...it was for one reason only....to be nearer and nearer and nearer to the presence of God.

Wow...Obed-Edom was really an inspiration and example of a man that will go all out to pursue God. And notice. Not only did he do that....but his WHOLE FAMILY....left their home....to pursue that presence of God and to be near to the presence of God.

1 Chronicles 16:38
He also left Obed-Edom and his sixty-eight associates to minister with them. Obed-Edom son of Jeduthun, and also Hosah, were gatekeepers.

1 Chronicles 26:8
All these were descendants of Obed-Edom; they and their sons and their relatives were capable men with the strength to do the work—descendants of Obed-Edom, 62 in all.

See...one touch from God, and these people gave their lives to serve God all their lives. How many of us have been touched by God again and again and again....but find that it is still hard to follow God, and run after or hunger after His presence? Why is it that we do not appreciate the presence of God now as before? Because God took a risk to give us the access and decision to have His presence dwell in us or not. That we thought we can have it anytime...even when we choose to only be in His presence later on. A lot of us...prefer living comfortable lives...that we do not appreciate such privileges. Do you think Obed-Edom do not struggle to leave his old ways? To leave the comforts of his home? To leave whatever blessings he already had then? I believe he did! Just like all of us. When we meet God we struggle to leave our old ways, our sinful natures and desires. But Obed-Edom knew one thing. That God was all he ever needed, and it was worth it to leave it all to pursue God's presence. And Obed-Edom knew that if he did not go after the ark of covenant, he would not be able to experience the presence of God. So he appreciated each and every opportunity there is to be near to God. True enough. Obed-Edom and the generations after him were tremendously blessed and honored by God.

So the question today is....do you want to be like Obed-Edom? That you would devote your lives to serve God and do His will....even when it means being uncomfortable? The choice is yours =)