ï» back to title page Let's Get Acquainted With Obed-odom (7 of 10) Let's Get Acquainted Series Ken Trivette II Samuel 6: 10-11 1. Professor Nick Stinnett, chairman of the Department of Human Development and the Family at the University of Nebraska, did a "family strengths research project." His study included strong black families as well as white, strong ethnic families and strong single-parent families. His project was not limited to the domestic scene in America, but included strong families in South America, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, and South Africa. There was only one criterion for being included in the sample of strong families: the families had to rate themselves very high in marriage happiness and in their satisfaction in parent-child relationships. All sorts of questions were asked of these families such as, "How do you deal with conflict?" and "Do you experience power stuggles?" and "How do you communicate?" The researchers asked questions that provided information about and insight into the entire range of human relationship patterns within each family. The goal? Very simply to find what makes families strong. Dr. Stinnett writes of his findings: "All together, we studied 3,000 families and collected a lot of information. But when we analyzed it all, we found six main qualities in strong families. Strong families:? Are committed to the family,
? Spend time together,? Have good family communication,? Express appreciation to each other,? Have a spiritual commitment,? And are able to solve problems in a crisis. 2. I found it interesting that Dr. Stinnett found in his research that one of the elements in a strong family is that they have a spiritual commitment. It is my opinion that a spiritual commitment is the single most important factor in a strong family. 3. Dr. M.R. DeHaan wrote: "The nearest thing to heaven on earth is the Christian family and the home where husband and wife and parents and children live in love and peace together for the Lord and for each other. The nearest thing to hell on earth is an ungodly home, broken by sin and iniquity, and separate, and children are abandoned to the devil and all the forces of wickedness." 4. A home can be a heaven on earth and it can also be a hell on earth. There are many factors that determine which, but again, it is my opinion that a strong and happy marriage requires a spiritual commitment. 5. But it is not just enough to call yourself a Christian and go to Church on Sunday. You can be a Christian and go to Church on Sunday and not have a strong home. That is evident in the number of divorces that occur among Christian
families. 6. It is more than two Christians in the home. It is God in the home and the two Christians with a spiritual commitment to God. God must be present in the home. 7. As we continue getting better acquainted with some of the not so well known's of the Old Testament, we meet a man whose home was blessed because God was in his home. His name was Obed-edom. He was a man that had a most unusual piece of furniture in his home. 8. I'm sure that he had in his home such pieces of furniture as a table, bed, chairs, etc. But he could boast that he had a piece of furniture that nobody else had, had ever had, or ever would have. We read in verse 11 that for 3 months the ark of God resided in his home. 9. Let's look at the story and get better acquainted with Obed-edom, a man who had an unusual piece of furniture in his home. 1. THE DEATH ATTRIBUTED TO THE ARK! 1. To set the background to the story we find that a death is connected to the ark. We read in 2 Samuel 6:6-7, "And when they came to Nachon's threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it. [7] And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God." 2. The ark was that sacred piece of furniture that sat in the Most Holy Place of the Tabernacle. The ark was a chest (the Hebrew word "ark" means "chest, box, or coffin) made of acacia wood and was overlaid within and without with pure gold. It's size was three feet nine inches long, two feet three inches wide, and two feet three inches high, making it about the size of a small cedar chest. 3. Surrounding its top was a crown of gold which held the mercy seat. Two rings were on each side through which ran staves to transport the ark. Inside were four items: the two tables of the law, the book of the covenant, a pot of manna, and Aaron's rod
that budded. 4. One of the darkest hours in Israel's history was when the ark was stolen by the Philistines and placed in the temple of Dagon. We read in I Samuel 4 that the daughter-in-law of Eli the priest gave birth to a son at the time the ark was taken and he named the son Ichabod, which means, "the glory has departed." 5. You see, wherever the ark was, God was. It was there that His glory rested and abode. It was there that He was present on the earth. Eli knew that when the ark was taken from Jerusalem, the glory of God had departed from Israel. 6. The scene before us in our text finds David, years later, bringing the ark home. It is an impressive sight. David and 30,000 chosen men of Israel are bringing the ark back. Their journey is accompanied by music played on all sorts of instruments. It is a festive occasion, a happy hour, a glorious event. Why? As verse 2 describes, they were bringing back "the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the Lord of Hosts that dwelleth between the Cherubims." 7. The glory of God was returning. The glory, blessing, and presence of God would once again dwell in Israel. It was a reason to be festive. It was a cause that called for celebration. 8. But as they traveled a strange thing happened. The ark was being carried on a cart and for some reason the ark was shaken. A man named Uzzah reached out to stablize the ark and when he did the Lord killed him. 9. You may ask, "Why did God kill him? He was trying to protect the ark. He was doing a good thing." That is true. What Uzzah did says something about him. It tells us that he was a man that loved the ark and was concerned about the ark. But his death says something about God. A. IT TELLS US THAT GOD'S PERSON IS TO BE REVERENCED. 1. His death tells us that God is holy. The ark was not to be touched with human hands and furthermore, only priestly personnel, those consecrated for that service,
were allowed to transport it. That is why there were staves on each side to carry the ark. It tells us that fallen humanity cannot come into contact with the pure holiness of God. Only in glorified bodies will that be able. 2. God is Holy! He is to be reverenced. That's why it bothers me when people talk about the man upstairs or the big daddy in the sky. He is God, thrice holy and to be reverenced. B. IT SAYS THAT THE PRECEPTS OF GOD ARE TO BE RESPECTED. 1. The death of Uzzah was more David's fault than anyone's. The story tells us that David put the ark upon a new cart. That is not how God had declared the ark to be carried. 2. The priests were to carry the ark by the staves. It was to be carried lifted up on their shoulders. It was not be bounced around on some cart. David's moving of the ark on a cart, new cart or not, was a violation of God's command. 3. The Word of God is to be respected. The laws of God are to be obeyed. The statutes of the Lord are to be followed. Since He is holy, He is to be heeded. 1. The Death Attributed to the Ark! 2. THE DWELLING ALLOWED FOR THE ARK! 1. Notice 2 Samuel 6:9-11a, "And David was afraid of the Lord that day, and said, How shall the ark of the Lord come to me? [10] So David would not remove the ark of the Lord unto him into the city of David: but David carried it aside into the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. [11] And the ark of the Lord continued in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months."
2. Because of what happened David was fearful to transporting the ark any further. He found a place that the ark could be kept. The place was the home of Obed-edom. For three months the ark would sit in the home of Obed-edom. 3. You could say that for three months God dwelt in the home of Obed-edom. For three months, the most sacred piece of furniture in Israel's history abode in the home of Obed-edom. For three months the glory of God rested upon the home of Obed-edom. 4. Think with me. A. WE SEE A HOME OFFERED TO GOD. 1. Verse 10 says that, "David carried it aside into the house of Obed-edom." Now I can imagine that everyone after what had happened would have been terrified to have the ark in their home. I can imagine someone saying, "Oh no, not my house. want to live for awhile." I can hear some mother saying, "Not in my home. I on't want my kids playing around it." 2. But it would appear that Obed-edom offered his home as a resting place for the ark. He opened his home to the glory of God. 3. I think of what Ivor Powell, in his commentary on David, had to say: "Obed-edom probably asked to be allowed to prepare a place to receive the sacred
ark, and when all was in readiness, men carried it to the table or stand where it was to rest. When Obed-edom was alone, he reverently bowed and whispered, 'Welcome to my home, O Lord.' When he retired for the night, he probably said, 'Good night, Lord,' and when the sun arose, he exclaimed, 'The Lord's mercies...they are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness.'" ("David, His Life and Times" by Ivor Powell) 4. Have you opened your home to the Lord? Have you welcomed Lord as the honored guest of your home? Have you made a special place in your home for Him to dwell? Have you given His sacred presence a hallowed space in your home? 5. I read of a wealthy man who purchased an extremely expensive painting of Jesus. He sought, with difficulty, an appropriate place for it on the walls of his home. At last he called in an architect who, after carefully examining the house and the picture, said: "Sir, you cannot fit this picture into your home! You must make a home to fit it!" (Knights Master Book of New Illustrations) 6. Have you "fit" your home for the Lord? Is your home "fit" for the Lord? As Christians, our homes ought to be sanctuaries in which God dwells. Each home ought to be Temples where God abides. 7. Bishop Coxe told of how he visted an feudal castle in England, so old that one of its towers dated back to King John. When the Bishop went down to breakfast, he found the owner of the castle, his family and servants, assembled for morning prayer. As the Bishop lifted his eyes, he noticed high overhead on a massive beam that spanned the grand, old hall, the inscription:
That house shall be preserved and never shall decay, Where the Almighty God is worshipped day by day. (Ibid) 8. You may be planning on getting married in the very near future. You may have been married only a short time. You have been married for a few years or for many years. Whatever the case, open your home to the Lord. Let your home be a dwelling for God. 9. It is true that the home where the Almighty God is worshipped day by day, shall be preserved and never decay. B. WE SEE A HEART OPENED TO GOD. 1. You will notice in verse 10 that Obed-edom is identified as a "Gittite." His identification as a Gittite indicates he was a resident of Gath, a Philistine town. The Philistines were bitter enemies of Israel. The citizens of Gath were worshippers of idols and viewed Dagon as the greatest of all gods. 2. But apparently there had been a change in Obed-edoms life at sometime. Somewhere he had turned from the false gods of the Philistines to the One True and Living God. The reason he had offered his home to God is that he had opened his heart to God. 3. I asked you if you had offered you home to God. I ask you if you have opened your heart to God. Have you invited the Lord into your life to live and reign?
4. I doubt seriously if Obed-edom would have offered his home and he had not opened his heart to God. If God is to dwell in our homes He must first dwell in our hearts. 5. There was a day when I opened my heart to God. That was an hour when my life was changed. I began a new life with a new Lord. If you have not opened your heart to the Lord, do so and then offer your home to the Lord. 1. The Death Attributed to the Ark! 2. The Dwelling Allowed for the Ark! 3. THE DIVIDENDS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ARK! 1. We read in 2 Samuel 6:11, "And the ark of the Lord continued in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months: and the Lord blessed Obed-edom, and all his household." 2. What a blessed three months in the life of Obed-edom. We read that because Obed-edom had opened his heart and offered his home to the Lord, the Lord blessed him and all his household. 3. What did the ark in his home mean? A. IT MEANT THAT HE HAD A SPECIAL HOME. 1. In the days to come, people would talk about the ark resting once again in Jerusalem. But Obed-edom would smile and remember the days when that sacred piece of furniture had rested in his house. 2. His home was special. There had been no one in the past and would be no one in the future that could ever make such a claim. The ark in his home had made his home special.
3. Bill Cosby in his book "Fatherhood," said, "My father would not have been particularly interested in a book about fathering, although he did like to read." He told the story about how one day when his father was reading in the living room, he and his brother decided that they would play basketball without breaking anything. Cosby took a shot that redesigned the glass table. His mother came in with a yardstick and said, "So help me, I'll bust you in half" Cosby said his father, without lifting his head from his book, said, "Why would you want twice as many?" (Bill Cosby, Fatherhood, Doubleday) 4. In all honesty, for many children are a burden instead of a blessing. The marriage relationship is a deadlock instead of a wedlock. Instead of the home being something special, it is lacking. 5. The Bible says much about the home and it is clear that God intended the home to be special. The marriage relationship is described as an enrichment of life. The rearing of children is described as an enjoyment in life. 6. There is something very important to understand about having a special home. When God describes the home in ultimate terms, it is always with the understanding that He is present in that home. 7. You can have a special home. Let the Lord be present in the home. Let Him be Lord of your heart and lord of your home. Give Him a special place and He will give you a special home. It can be as M.R. DeHaan described as a heaven on earth. 8. A married couple was often fussing and fighting. One day the wife looked at him and said, "What would you have without me?" The husband equipped, Paradise." 9. The home should be paradise. William Lyon Phelps the American educator, said: "The highest happiness on earth is in marriage is in marriage. Every man who is happily married is a successful man even if he had failed in everything else." (More of Knights Timely Illustrations)
B. IT MEANT THAT HE HAD A SPIRITUAL HOME. 1. God was in his home. His home was a temple and sanctuary. The present of the ark made it a special home but marked it a spiritual home. 2. We not only want to have good homes but Christian homes. We want homes where God is real, God is worshipped, and God is loved. 3. J.C. Penny said, "The highest duty of parents is to build Christian homes where children can grow spiritually strong, and to teach the Bible in season and out of season. I never apologize for better Christian homes, because my entire experience tells me that the dealings between men in business, government and social relationships are influenced for good or ill by home background."4. Conrad S. Jensen, retired deputy inspector of the New York Police Department once wrote: "I've missed out on life. At least that is what many of my associates have said, and it is true in a way. I've missed out on a lot of things." "First of all, I missed coming from a broken home. I missed having an alcoholic for a father or an unfaithful woman for a mother. I missed growing up as a juvenile delinquent. I missed being a 'regular guy' or 'one of the boys' and getting into trouble with them. I missed being a drunk, a dope addict or a degenerate." "By the grace of God, I missed an unhappy marriage leading to divorce. I missed the heartbreak of having our two children bring disgrace and shame to our home." "I missed the misery, during over a quarter of a century in police work in New York City, of being tainted and destroyed by the corruption that confronts every policeman in America." "Ours was a Christian home with emphasis placed on Christian living. Throughout my school days, and then in the business world for a time, I tried to live my convictions as a child of God. Surrounded by those who found pleasure in worldly pursuits, my Christian stand seemed to be out of place and often caused them to remark that I was missing out on a lot of things and thank God for it."
5. May God give us all Christian homes. I ask you, "What kind of home do you have?" Is it a special home? Is it a spiritual home? Have you offered your home to the Lord? Have you opened your heart to the Lord? 6. God wants to live in your home. Whereas the ark only abode in the home of Obededom for 3 months, God can abide in your home permanently. 7. Like Obed-edom, we can have a special home and a spiritual home if we let God live in it.