I WANT TO BE A OBED-EDOM

Admin Thu 04 Apr 2019, 1:04 am

I WANT TO BE A OBED-EDOM

David was afraid of the Lord that day and said, “How can the ark of the Lord ever come to me?” He was not willing to take the ark of the Lord to be with him in the City of David. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. The ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite for three months, and the Lord blessed him and his entire household. (2 Samuel 6:9-12)

It is important to give some background to this Scripture, as we must remember that the ark of God represented His power and presence to the nation of Israel. It was in the Tabernacle, behind the veil, where God’s presence dwelt and the sacrifices were offered on the Day of Atonement. I believe that the Ark was the most precious possession Israel had.

David dropped off the Ark while moving it to Jerusalem because he was afraid at God for slaying one of his men. While it was in the care of Obed-edom, that the Lord blessed the house and everything in it. Just like Obed-edom, we need to make room in our lives and homes for the Lord. I am aware that every believer possesses the Holy Spirit within. He is with us wherever we go, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that all welcome the presence of the Lord or seek Him continually. I want to live in such a way that I welcome the Lord’s presence into my life daily. I want to wake in the morning to experience Him. I want to commune with Him throughout the day, and I want to speak with Him as I prepare to lie down at night.

We shouldn’t come near to God just to receive His blessings, but it is good to receive His abundance. I want all the Lord has to offer. I want to experience His presence and power in my life. I desire that for my family, our church, and our land. Having the Lord’s presence will not prevent difficulty, but it sure helps as we face those trials. Are you interested in the Lord’s presence? Make Him welcome in your life!

As the Lord blessed Obed-edom and his house, others began to notice. Eventually word came to David. Those who were aware of Obed-edom’s blessings soon told the king of God’s goodness. He possessed a strong witness to the goodness and favor of God. The life of Obed-edom testified of the God he served. This caused others to desire what Obed-edom had.

Wouldn’t it be great if every child of God possessed such a testimony? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the world had to take notice of our relationship with Christ? What if we all lived in such a way that it created a desire in the hearts of others for what we possess in the Lord? We have such an opportunity, but we must welcome the Lord into our lives as Obed-edom did.

Never underestimate the power of a life lived for Christ. There is always someone watching your life. They are aware of your faith, and many are watching to see what it produces. If you are saved by grace, you have the Spirit abiding within. You have the ability to be an effective witness for the Lord. Obed-edom didn’t do anything special. He simply welcomed the ark into his house and impacted the king. What would happen if we would welcome the Lord into every area of life? I am certain our lives would reflect the Lord more than they currently do, and we would make a significant impact on the lives of others.

This passage reveals the impact of a life lived in obedience to the Lord. It reveals the benefits of desiring the Lord and seeking His presence. I believe the average Christian is living well below their means spiritually. Is the Lord welcome in your life? Do you enjoy sweet fellowship with Him daily, or is it more of a rarity? We can enjoy His presence and power continually, but we must welcome His presence and humble ourselves before Him.

……Edd Wilder (revedd@comcast.net) by way of “Christian Voices” (christianvoices@att.net)