“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 household.” (II Samuel 6:11, NKJV)
While reading II Samuel 6, I became caught up in the story of Obed-Edom and his family who unexpectedly found themselves as keepers of the Ark of the Covenant for several months. You may remember that the Ark and its Mercy Seat was the most sacred item in the Old Testament Tabernacle and was kept behind the veil in the Holy of Holies. Once each year, the High Priest entered the Holy of Holies to sprinkle the blood of the sacrifice on the Mercy Seat for atonement of sin.
Let’s do a quick recap on how the Ark came to be in Obed-Edom’s home. Many years previously, the Israelites had carried the Ark with them into battle, an unwise decision. This most holy item was captured by their enemy, the Philistines (I Samuel chapters 4-6). When God brought judgment upon the Philistines because of the Ark, they soon determined to send it back to Israel. It remained in the home of Abinadab for twenty years before ending up in the home of Obed-Edom. This symbol of God’s presence was in his house.
Do you appreciate the joy that comes from having God’s presence in your home all the time?
I remembered an old gospel song popular many years ago titled “If Jesus Came to Your House.” It was a poem by Lois Blanchard Eades (1919-2011) that had been set to music. The poem begins by asking,
“If Jesus came to your house to spend a day or two –
If He came unexpectedly, I wonder what you’d do.”
The poem goes on to question what changes we would want to quickly make before allowing the Lord to step inside. Would we need to hide some things? Change our conversation? Find the Bible and put it out in place of the things we hid? Would we alter our activities or feel reluctant to introduce some of our friends? What if the Lord decided to stay a while? How would that affect our daily routine?
“I wonder if the Savior spent a day or two with you,
Would you go right on doing the things you always do?
Would you go right on saying the things you always say?
Would life for you continue as it does from day to day?”
I wonder what life was like in the house of Obed-Edom for the three months the Ark sat there. Were they awe-struck? Humbled? Worshipful? Scripture tells us that God blessed his home during that time, which infers that he and his household were God-fearing people and treated the Ark with utmost respect. God honors such people and showers them with blessings. The same is true today.
- “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.” (II Chronicles 16:9, NKJV)
- “The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked, but He blesses the home of the just.” (Proverbs 3:33, NKJV)
- “But He said, “More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!’” (Luke 11:28, NKJV)
God’s blessings continued to rest upon the household of Obed-Edom long after the Ark was carried to Jerusalem. God blessed him with eight sons and then grandsons who also honored God (I Chronicles 26:4-8).
If the Lord physically stood at your front door today, would you scurry about before you let Him in? Or could you open it wide and joyfully invite Him to enter?
I pray the Lord is already part of your household and feels very welcome there. As His children, let us open our hearts and homes to Him—not just for a short visit but to reside with us every day of our lives. May His blessings rest upon your home and your family.
Lord, I eagerly invite You into my home today and every day. Search my heart to reveal any thoughts or actions that are not pleasing to You. I desire Your blessings upon my home and my family.
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