1 Chronicles 13:14: “The ark of God remained with the family of Obed-Edom in his house three months. And the LORD blessed the house of Obed-Edom and all that he had.”

September 1st, 2023 by Pastor Ed in devotional

King David desired to bring the ark of the covenant, which represented the presence of God, into Jerusalem; but he failed to do it in God’s prescribed way: having Levites carry the ark on poles (Ex. 25:12–15) and not allowing anyone to touch the ark (Num. 4:5). Instead David had it brought back on a cart. On the way, one of the men helping, Uzza, touched the ark and died. So instead of taking it into Jerusalem, David left the ark at the house of Obed-Edom. As a priest, Obed-Edom met the requirements of the law for service as caretaker of the ark, and both he and his family were greatly blessed by God. We should not be surprised that the presence and power of God in this man’s home changed his family’s home life. When we invite God into our lives, He blesses us as He changes us.

The presence of God changed Obed-Edom’s home. We read in 1 Chronicles 26:8 that he had 62 descendants who followed in his footsteps. This man not only allowed the power of God to work in his life, but he was an example to his family of how the presence of God changes a person. We can expect God’s blessing on other family members in our own homes. As we allow God to flow through, He will bring change in them. If we want to influence others for Jesus Christ, we must first allow God to take control and empower our own lives.

As a boy, author Robert Louis Stevenson was born and raised in Edinburgh, Scotland where the streets were still lit by gaslights in the 1860’s. Each evening at dusk a lamplighter would go from lamp to lamp and carefully light it. Stevenson watched out his window as this happened one evening and said to his mother, “Look, Mom, the man is coming down the street making holes in the night.” That is what God has called us to do, make holes in the darkness.

“LORD, fill us with Your power and presence so that we might take You into our world today.”