In the Bible, we find characters who played significant roles, even if their time in the spotlight is relatively short. One of these characters is Obed-edom, a Levite who became known as the “keeper of the presence of God”. Although we don’t know much about his personal life, the Scriptures reveal important insights into his experience with God and the impact it had on his life. In this Bible study, we’re going to explore who Obed-Edom was and the lessons we can learn from his story.
Obed-edom and the Ark of the Covenant
Obed-Edom is first mentioned in the Old Testament during the reign of King David. At that time, the Ark of the Covenant, a symbol of God’s presence, was being brought back to Jerusalem. At a certain point, King David decided to bring the Ark back to Jerusalem. However, during transportation, a tragic incident occurred. Uzzah, one of the men who was carrying the ark, touched it inappropriately, disregarding the instructions given by God on how to handle the sacred object. As a consequence of his recklessness, God struck him and he died immediately .And when he came to the threshing floor of Nacom, Uzzah stretched out his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; because the oxen let it hang. Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah, and God smote him there for this rashness; and he died there by the ark of God. (2 Samuel 6:6-7) .
This frightening event left King David fearful and concerned about the presence of the Ark. He decided not to take the ark into the city of Jerusalem at that time. Instead, King David delivered the Ark into the hands of Obed-edom, the Levite from the family of Kohath.
Obed-Edom was given the responsibility of sheltering the Ark in his home. For three months, the Ark of the Covenant remained in Obed-Edom’s house. During this time, Obed-Edom’s family was blessed and prospered. This showed that God was present and blessing the house of Obed-Edom because of the Ark.
After these three months, King David learned that the presence of the Ark had brought blessings to the house of Obed-edom. This encouraged David to bring the Ark to Jerusalem, this time following the divine directions correctly. The Ark was then taken into the city of Jerusalem in a solemn ceremony, with great rejoicing and celebration. (2Samuel 6:11-15) This story shows how King David, faced with a tragic event related to the Ark of the Covenant, sought to understand God’s will and take the right steps to honor the divine presence. Obed-edom, in turn, was blessed for having properly welcomed the Ark into his home, demonstrating the importance of following God’s instructions.
Obed-Edom and the Divine Blessing
During this period, something extraordinary happened in the house of Obed-edom. The presence of the ark brought a significant blessing to him and his entire household. The ark of the Lord prospered in his life and in all his undertakings. The ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months; and the LORD blessed Obed-edom and all his house. (2 Samuel 6:11)
This experience demonstrates the importance of God’s presence in our lives. When Obed-edom opened the doors of his home to the ark, he also opened his heart to the presence of God. And the divine answer was not long in coming. As with Obed-edom, when we surrender to God’s presence and seek to live in obedience to his commandments, we experience his blessing and favor.
Obed-edom promptly received the ark in his home again. He didn’t see Uzza’s death as an impediment or cause for fear, but as an opportunity to experience more of God’s presence in his life. The biblical text reveals to us that Obed-Edom not only sheltered the ark, but also devoted himself to caring for it with fear and reverence. He recognized the sanctity of God’s presence and strove to fulfill his responsibilities as caretaker of the ark. This attitude of dedication and submission before God brought remarkable results.
From that moment, God’s blessing began to overflow on the house of Obed-edom. His family experienced prosperity, health and peace. The presence of God was so evident in his life that it became notorious throughout the region. The biblical text declares:
“So the ark of God stayed with the family of Obed-Edom for three months in his house; and the LORD blessed him and all his house.” (1 Chronicles 13:14).
Obed-edom’s experience is a powerful reminder that God’s presence in our lives brings transformation and blessing. When we seek to be faithful and dedicated to his presence, making room in our hearts and homes for him, he manifests himself in a powerful way.
The Impact of Obed-Edom on Society
Obed-edom’s influence was not restricted to just his household. His family’s prosperity and testimony attracted the attention of King David and the entire nation of Israel. They witnessed firsthand the power and blessing of having God’s presence in their lives.
This powerful testimony caused David to rethink his approach to the ark. Realizing the importance of God’s presence, David made the decision to bring the ark to Jerusalem once more. This time, he strictly followed the divine instructions regarding the transportation and worship associated with the ark.
Obed-Edom not only paved the way for God’s blessing in his household, but also became a catalyst for the nation’s transformation. Their witness of faithfulness and obedience inspired others to seek God’s presence in their own lives and to understand the importance of treating it with reverence and holiness.
The Reinstatement of the Ark
After the three months of shelter in the house of Obed-edom, King David decided to bring the ark to Jerusalem again. This time he carefully prepared for the journey, following the instructions in God’s law on how the ark should be transported. Then David said, No one can carry the ark of God except the Levites; because the Lord chose them, to carry the ark of God, and to serve him forever (1 Chronicles 15:2). Furthermore, David gathered a large entourage, including musicians and priests, to celebrate the arrival of the ark.
As the caravan moved towards Jerusalem, an atmosphere of joy and celebration permeated the air. Musicians played their instruments, the people sang songs of praise, and the priests offered sacrifices to the Lord. It was a time of great feasting and reverence before the presence of God.
However, something extraordinary happened along the way. As the ark was carried by the Levites, David and all present, including Obed-edom, witnessed a powerful manifestation of God’s presence. The biblical text reports:“Then David and the whole house of Israel danced before the LORD with all kinds of instruments of aspen wood, with harps, with psalteries, with tambourines, with tambourines and with cymbals. But when they reached the threshing floor of Kidom, Uzza reached out his hand to the ark to hold it, because the oxen stumbled. Then the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzza, and he smote him, because he had stretched out his hand to the ark; and he died there before God. David was grieved, because the LORD, with such a rigid hand, had broken out against Uzza; so he called that place Perez-Uzah, as it is called to this day. So David was afraid of God that day and said, How shall I bring the ark of God to me?” (1 Chronicles 13:8-12).
This incident served as a solemn reminder that God’s presence is not to be taken lightly. God is holy and demands obedience and reverence from those who approach him. Uzzah’s death was a painful but necessary reminder that we must not approach God irreverently or disobediently.
David’s reaction to the incident was one of fear and a quest for wisdom. He understood the seriousness of dealing with God’s presence and recognized his own failure to follow divine instructions. So he decided not to go ahead with the ark right away, but instead sought God’s guidance and wisdom.
At this critical moment, David turned to Obed-edom and his household. He realized that God’s presence had been a blessing in his home, and he wanted that same blessing to extend to the entire nation. David said to Obed-edom, “Then David said, We are not able to carry the ark of God with us, for we have not inquired about it properly” (1 Chronicles 13:13).
Conclusion
The story of Obed-Edom teaches us valuable lessons about the presence of God. He was a man who not only had the privilege of housing the ark of the covenant in his home, but also understood the importance of caring for and revering the divine presence. His obedience and dedication opened the door to blessing and transformation in his life and in the lives of those around him.
We can learn from Obed-edom the importance of seeking God’s presence in our daily lives. We must be diligent in our obedience and reverence, recognizing that God’s presence is not to be taken lightly. When we open our hearts and our homes to the presence of God, we experience a profound transformation. Like Obed-Edom, we can enjoy God’s blessing and favor in all areas of our lives, whether related to family, finances, health, or relationships.
Furthermore, just as Obed-Edom’s testimony impacted the society around him, our quest for God’s presence can also influence and inspire others around us. When we live consistently with the principles and values of the Kingdom of God, our witness becomes a shining light that attracts and impacts those around us.
Therefore, it’s important to remember that we don’t need to be known or have prominent positions to make a difference. Just like Obed-edom, an ordinary Levite, we can be agents of transformation in our context, simply by seeking God’s presence in our daily lives and living according to his principles.
May the story of Obed-edom inspire us to seek a life of intimacy and dedication to the presence of God. May we be caretakers of the divine presence, making room in our lives and homes for Him to manifest Himself powerfully. May we live in obedience, reverence, and faithfulness, being channels of blessing and witness to those around us.
May the example of Obed-Edom encourage us to seek the best that God has for us, knowing that when we value God’s presence above all else, we are abundantly blessed. May our life be marked by the manifestation of God’s power and grace, so that all those around us are impacted and awakened to seek a life of communion with the Father.
In short, Obed-edom teaches us that no matter how insignificant we may seem in the eyes of the world, when we open ourselves to God’s presence and care for it with dedication and reverence, we are transformed and become agents of transformation in our midst. May we follow the example of Obed-edom and seek a life of fullness and blessing in the presence of God.
