One of the first things David wanted to do when he became Israel’s king was to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. For twenty years the Ark was in the house of Abinadab under the care of his son Eleazar. The Ark had been hijacked by the Philistines during a battle with Israel (1 Sam. 5). They attempted to return it when they were cursed with plagues (1 Sam. 6). In their efforts to return they Ark, they put the ark on a cart and was sent away to Kirjath-jearim (1 Sam. 6:21-7:2).
David attempted to bring the Ark to Jerusalem the same way the Philistines had tried. He put it on a cart with some oxen and tried to bring it home. As the Ark teetered upon the cart, Uzziah reached out and touched it, and he was immediately killed (2 Sam. 6:1-9). No matter how innocent Uzziah’s intentions, touching the Ark was a direct violation of God’s Law (Num. 4:15). Why did it work for the Philistines and not for David? The Philistines didn’t know any better. But David and Israel? They had been taught there was a specific way to move the Ark, and that was upon the shoulders of the Levites (Ex. 25:14-15; Num. 4:15; 7:9; Deut. 10:8; 31:9; Josh. 3:15).
Afraid of the Lord, David was unwilling to move the Ark. So David took the Ark to the house of Obed-Edom. The Ark remained in Obed-Edom’s house for three months, and the Lord blessed him and his household (2 Sam. 6:10-11).
Your doorbell rings. In anticipation you jump up from your couch. You peek through the peephole, or try to look through the blinds trying to see who it is. If it’s a salesman, you don’t answer. If it’s family or friends you hurriedly compose yourself and answer the door. I cannot imagine what went through Obed-Edom’s mind when he seen King David at his door with the Ark of the Covenant behind him. I bet David said something like, “Hey, Obed. I was wondering if you would do me a solid. I’ve got the Ark of the Lord with me, and I’m needing you to stash it in your spare bedroom for a little while. Oh, and don’t touch it. We are on our way to bury Uzzah, because he reached out and touched it. Thanks!”
Obed-Edom pulls the Ark into his house, and his wife is worried with the thought of having the Presence of Almighty God in her home. This is no ordinary guest! There was still blood stains on the Ark from the Day of Atonement. Inside the Ark was the pot of manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of stone which were engraved with the Law of God. This was the very Ark the Priests carried while the Jordan parted. Furthermore, the Philistines were struck with painful sores when they tried to open the Ark. Poor Uzzah was killed simply trying to keep it from falling. And now Obed-Edom’s wife was going to have to try to clean her house without touching it. The fear of the Lord was put into their children in attempt to keep them from climbing on it, or trying to build a fort with it. I would dare say that Obed-Edom and his family were always aware of God’s Presence while the Ark was in their home.
Their home was to be the place where the Presence of God would dwell. Not the Tabernacle, or the Temple. For three months the Ark would be in their home. During that time the Ark was in their home, they were blessed. No death or sores, but blessings. Because it’s all in how you treat the Presence of God. You cannot be flippant with the Presence of God. Obed-Edom and his family lovingly welcomed the Ark into their home, and because of that they were blessed.
Some are too uncomfortable with the Presence of God in their home. It causes them to be sore, they don’t like anyone trying to be too holy, for it brings conviction. Many homes aren’t blessed because they don’t make room for God.
Brothers and sisters, is your home open to the Presence of God? Is your home the type of environment that the Presence of God can dwell in?