To set the scene, in 1 Chronicles 13 we hear how David was bringing the ark of God from Kiriath-jearmin to the city of David. As they were carrying the ark there were great celebrations before God with song and lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals and trumpets – what a noisy party that must have been! As they reached the threshing floor of Kidon, the oxen pulling the cart stumbles so Uzzah put his hand out to steady the ark. The anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah and He struck him down and he died there. David was afraid of God that day and said, “How can I bring the ark of God home to me?”
And this is where we get our first mention of Obed-edom. Chapter 13, verses 13-14 tell us: “So David did not take the ark of God home into the city of David but took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. And the ark of God remained with the household of Obed-edom in his house three months. And the Lord blessed the household of Obed-edom and all that he had.”
Hold on a moment – back up there! It suddenly struck me that Obed-edom was a Gittite. He wasn’t a Levite who were meant to be the only ones to look after, or even touch, the ark of God (as poor Uzzah discovered to his cost). Not only that but the Gittites came from Gath, one of the five principal cities of the Philistines (I had to look this up, I didn’t know this), who were the sworn enemies of Israel. Had not Goliath been killed by David when he was a boy? He had come from there too. So, what was David thinking by leaving the ark with this man? We can only assume that Obed-edom had turned from the Philistine ways and had become a faithful follower of God. God did not strike him down like Uzzah as we would expect. Ours is not to reason why, God sometimes works in mysterious ways! He does not do what we would do, he has a greater plan in mind.
I thought that was the end of Obed-edom until a few verses later when the ark was to be collected from him and taken to the city of David. This time it was carried by the Levites so was successfully delivered. David had commanded the chiefs of the Levites to appoint singers and musicians to raise sounds of joy whilst leading the ark home (another noisy party!). A long list of names is then given, all of which are very alien to my mind so I would normally tend to skip over them without too much thought. Then, suddenly, there he is again! In Chapter 15, verse 18, “…. the gatekeepers Obed-edom and Jeiel.” and in 15:21 “but Mattihiah, Eupheletius, Mikmeicih, Obed-edom, Jeiel and Azaziah were to lead with lyres according to the Sheminith” (see how easy it is to miss him amongst these names!). 15:24 also states that Obed-edom and Jehiah were to be gatekeepers for the ark.
So what does this mean? Has Obed-edom come with the ark from his house to the city of David? I suppose that once you have been so very close to the presence of God you would be totally bereft if it was taken away from you and you couldn’t help but follow it. As we read on we find that our man is listed amongst others who had been appointed to play harps and lyres before the ark regularly. So, we understand that he stayed in the presence of God and did not turn back.
This is not the last we hear of Obed-edom. A little bit further on in 16:38 we hear that not only is Obed-edom serving before the ark but 68 of his brothers are too. In chapter 26 it is particularly mentioned of him among the gatekeepers that he had been blessed by God with eight sons who went on to father many others who were all men of great ability. In total there were 62 men qualified for service over the age of 20 and they were allocated the south gate and gatehouse.
The final mention of Obed-edom does not come until 2 Chronicles 25:24 and is not a particularly happy event, although it does show how far he had come and how much he was trusted. We read that he was in charge of all the gold and silver vessels in the house of God, although, unfortunately, this is when they are being seized when Judah was defeated by Israel in battle – but that is another story.
What an amazing testimony! From being a Philistine living amongst giant men of war to serving the very presence of the living God and being entrusted with his treasures. I think I know which life I would choose! If I had skipped over that name in 1 Chronicles, as I had in Samuel, I would not have learnt of this humble, faithful servant of God. A gentile saved by the grace of God, just like many of us.
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