2 Samuel 6:11 NKJV
“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.”
The ark of the covenant, a physical representation of God’s presence among the Israelites, had a significant role in their relationship with God. Housed in the tent of meeting during the Exodus, the ark was where the visible cloud of God’s presence would settle. The Scripture says, “When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent, and the LORD would speak with Moses. And when all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, all the people would rise up and worship, each at his tent door” (Exo 33:9-10 ESV). Oh, what a sight!
When the Philistines captured the ark in the days of Eli the high priest, they witnessed a trail of dangerous problems in their land and resorted to returning it to Israel. To the contrary, on its way to Jerusalem, “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”, as in our text. Hallelujah! Notice, the very ark of the covenant that made tumours and other plagues hit the Philistines brought blessings in Obed-Edom’s household! What made the difference? Among other reasons, Obed-Edom most likely honoured God’s presence and never treated the ark with contempt like the Philistines did (1 Sam 5).
The only three months of hosting the ark brought a remarkable change in Obed-Edom’s household that it was told King David, “The LORD has blessed the household of Obed-Edom and all that belongs to him, BECAUSE of the ark of God” (2 Sam 6:12 ESV). Hallelujah! In a similar parallel, the Word asks, “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” (1 Cor 3:16 ESV). Beloved, if all that belonged to Obed-Edom was blessed by the presence of the ark of God in just three months, how much more should we—and all that belongs to us—be blessed by the presence of the Spirit of God, who has been given to dwell in us “forever” (Joh 14:16 ESV)! Start honouring the Person and the presence of the Holy Spirit within you more—and watch the blessed testimonies that will unfold in your life!
Pst. Emmanuel