Wisdom

I wonder how Obed-Edom felt when the Ark of the Covenant was first brought into his house? (1 Chronicles 13:13). He had no doubt seen Uzza being struck down by the Lord for daring to touch it during David’s ill-fated attempt to bring it to Jerusalem. David had ignored all the Lord’s instructions about how to lift it on poles carried by the Levites, and had instead constructed a new cart for it. When the oxen drawing the cart stumbled, Uzza put his hand out to prevent the ark from falling and the Lord struck him down.

I can imagine Obed-Edom feeling very fearful when he saw David heading in the direction of his house and must have wondered if he too, might be struck dead. Gradually, however, as he began to feel the tremendous blessings of the Lord on him and all his house, his terror changed to awe and reverence. The ark was only resting there for three months before David removed it, correctly this time, and took it to its resting place in Jerusalem. For Obed-Edom that must have been a sad day. He had been deeply touched by the Lord’s presence and did not want to be away from Him again. The last reference to him says that he was one of the gate-keepers to the ark (1 Chronicles 15: 21).

Today there is a great deal of teaching about how much God loves us, rightly, but less on the fear of the Lord. We somehow need to strike a proper balance between the image of ‘Daddy God’, who loves each one of us passionately, and the awesome, mighty God, the Alpha and Omega, who holds the entire world in His hands and knows our every thought, even before we speak it. (Psalm 139: 4).

Prayer: Heavenly Father, Thank You so much for Your wonderful love for me. Please forgive me if I have approached You in an irreverent way and help me to recognise Your holiness. Amen.