How can we ensure God's presence remains central in our lives today? Drawing Near Through Obed-edom’s Doorway 1 Chronicles 13:13: “So David did not take the ark into the City of David; he took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.” A Scene Worth Pausing Over • Israel has just endured the shock of Uzzah’s death. David halts the procession. • The Ark—the visible sign of God’s presence—stays three months in Obed-edom’s house. • Verse 14 (just beyond our focus): “The LORD blessed the household of Obed-edom and all that he owned.” God’s presence brings unmistakable blessing. Why Obed-edom Experienced Blessing • Reverence: He treated the Ark as holy, not familiar furniture (cf. Psalm 89:7). • Availability: He opened his home without delay, prioritizing God over convenience. • Consistency: For ninety days he ordered life around the Ark, not vice-versa. • Scriptural alignment: The Levites eventually learn to carry the Ark as prescribed (1 Chronicles 15:2,13); obedience protects and prospers. Tending the Ark in Our Hearts Today The New Testament reveals a staggering truth: “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16). • God’s presence is no longer localized in a golden chest; believers themselves are His dwelling. • Yet the principles remain identical—reverence, availability, consistency, obedience. Practical Ways to Keep His Presence Central Reverence • Start each day acknowledging His holiness (Isaiah 6:3). • Guard speech and conduct to reflect the sacred One within (Ephesians 4:29–30). Availability • Schedule margins for uninterrupted fellowship—Scripture reading, meditation, worship (Psalm 119:164). • Practice quick obedience to promptings of the Spirit (Acts 8:29–30). Consistency • Anchor routines: morning Word intake, mealtime thanksgiving, evening reflection (Deuteronomy 6:6–9). • Gather weekly with believers; His manifest presence rests on corporate worship (Hebrews 10:24–25). Obedience • Submit decisions to clear biblical commands (John 14:21). • Tithe talents, time, and treasures, signaling that His rule governs every sphere (Malachi 3:10). Verses That Reinforce the Pattern • John 15:4—“Remain in Me, and I will remain in you.” Presence depends on abiding. • Psalm 24:3–4—Clean hands and pure heart open the “gates” for the King of Glory. • Exodus 33:15—Moses’ plea, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here,” sets the timeless priority. Living Like Obed-edom in the 21st Century When our homes, schedules, and decisions make room for God first, blessing follows—not merely material, but the rich awareness that the Lord Himself is near. Keep the Ark at the center, and everything else finds its proper place. |
    |