11. And the ark of the Lord continued in the house of Obededom in the Gittite three months: and the Lord blessed Obededom, and his household.

12. And it was told King David, saying, The Lord hath blessed the house of Obededom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obededom into the city of David with gladness.

Obed-Edom was a servant of Edom that is what his name means.  He was a Gittite, a native of Gath-rimmon to whose house the Ark had reside.  Prior to Ark being place with Obed-edom.  The Ark rested with Abinadab in Gibeah for almost 20 years, after the Philistine had returned the Ark to the Children of Israel, seeing that God could rescue Himself.  God curse the Philistines with tumors, on their private parts, while they had the Ark in their possession, so the Philistines beg the Israelite to take back the Ark along with gifts of gold tumors. 

The Ark had left Israel long before Saul became King of Israel, and before David came into office as king.  The Ark was with Israel when Eli was Judge, when God rule His people through the prophets.  However, because of the backslidden church condition, the nation backside, due to Eli sons, who were spiritual leaders, being corrupt with sin.  The Bible tells us that the Ark taken remained with Abinadab for 20 years.  (I Samuel 7:1-2)  David was the only one that wanted the Ark back with in the country, so David when he became king tries to retrieve the Ark.  It remained with Obed-edom for three months before it was carried to the City of David; and God "blessed Obededom and his entire household" (II Sam. 6: 10-11).

II Samuel 6:10-11 KJV

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 Obededom the Gittite.

11. And the ark of the Lord continued in the house of Obededom the Gittite three months: and the Lord blessed Obededom, and all his household.

The Ark or some call it the Covenant was a container for the stone tablets called the Ten Commandments to be place in. This was a wandering wilderness sanctuary, which symbolized the presence of God being with His people Israel. The starting point of the Ark goes all the way back to Moses at Mount Sinai. During Moses, first stay at Sinai, he did not construct the tabernacle, until all stipulations communicated to the people, and the furniture completed.After the breaking of the original ten rules of conduct, that Moses gave to the Israelites by God, and the golden calf incident.  Moses then made a plain box of acacia wood as a container to house the Laws of God.

I Samuel 4

In I Samuel forth chapter the Bible tell us that Israel was at war with the Philistines.  The Israeli army had been camped near Ebenezer, (stone that help) the Philistines the Bible states was at Aphek (bed of brook, river, or fortress).  The Bible reveals to us, through this portion of scriptures; because of the sins of the Israelites, the Philistines were able to defeat them in war.  Sin had separated the children of Israel from God, so they lost the war, and the Philistines won the battle killing four thousand of them.  After the battle was over, the leaders in the camp of the Israelites gather together are dismays to as to why they had lost the battle with the Philistines.  Why had the Lord not protected them and ensure them of a victory.

I Samuel 4:1-4 KJV

 1.  And the word of Samuel came to all Israel.  Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and pitched beside Ebenezer: and the Philistines pitched in Aphek.

 2.  And the Philistines put themselves in array against Israel: and when they joined battle, Israel was smitten before the Philistines: and they slew of the army in the field about four thousand men.

 3.  And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the Lord smitten us to day before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies.

Therefore, after a long talk with each other, they decided to bring the Ark from Shiloh, and carry it into battle, maybe this would bring them, better luck.  Maybe if they brought the Ark as they had in the past, the Lord from Shiloh would come and defeat their enemies.  Shiloh, means “tranquil, secure” this city was 30 miles north of Jerusalem.  It was the religious center for over a century after the Israelites through Joshua had captured that area (Josh. 18:1).  This was the home, at the time for the Tabernacle.

Therefore, these leaders sent for the Ark, the two evil and wicked sons of Eli Hophni and Phinehas were with the Ark. When the Ark of the Lord finally got there at the camp the people were shouting outcries’ of joy, they just knew victory was at hand. They were making so much noise that the earth reverberate and ring until the Philistines could hear them rejoicing and wonder what could all that noise coming from the Hebrews could mean.

Upon learning that the Ark of the Covenant had come into the Israelite camp, the Philistines began to fear, they had heard what had happen to the other enemies of Israel when the Ark of the Lord was in their mist. Whenever the Israelites carried the Ark of the Covenant, it became fatal to many, because of its divine powers. The Philistines reply was, their God has come into their mist, and we are in trouble who or what type of god could defeat their God. Why this was the God that struck down the Egyptian gods, with all different types of plagues and pestilences. The Philistines where afraid of becoming the slaves of the Hebrews and decided that they were going to fight with all of their might against the Israelites.

Therefore, the Philistine fought against the Israelites, and Israel lost again, thirty thousand men die that day, and the remainders of them, ran into their tents to get away from the Philistine, the Ark did not protect them this time. They had to learn the hard way that the Ark is not a good luck charm, the Word of God is in the Ark, the commandments of God is the Ark and that is where the safety is, in the Word of God that is the Ark.

Proverb 30:5 KJV

5. Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

Luke 4:4 KJV

4. And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

But when we disobey the Word of God this what the Bible says will happen.

Mark 7:13 KJV

13. Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

People will break the laws of God to protect human traditions, and to control others. God presences will not stay in a church, ministry or in an individual person’s life that goes against His Word.

In addition, to add insult to injury the Philistine had enough nerve to take the Ark, they became bold. Now the children of Israel have become worry about the Ark because the enemy had taken it, which meant that the presence of the Lord was no longer with them. When Eli the prophet heard that, his sons had not survived the battle that did not concern him.

I Samuel 4:10-17

10. And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man into his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen.

11. And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.

12. And there ran a man of Benjamin out of the army, and came to Shiloh the same day with his clothes rent, and with earth upon his head.

13.  And when he came, lo, Eli sat upon a seat by the wayside watching: for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city, and told it, all the city cried out.

 14.  And when Eli heard the noise of the crying, he said, What meaneth the noise of this tumult? And the man came in hastily, and told Eli.

 15.  Now Eli was ninety and eight years old; and his eyes were dim, that he could not see.

 16.  And the man said unto Eli, I am he that came out of the army, and I fled to day out of the army. And he said, What is there done, my son?

 17.  And the messenger answered and said, Israel is fled before the Philistines, and there hath been also a great slaughter among the people, and thy two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God is taken.

However, when old prophet Eli, got word that the Ark had been taken by the Philistines, the Bible states that Eli was so devastate that he  fell backward, broke his neck, and his daughter in law who was pregnant went into an early labor.  The Bible states that, all of this was the result of the Ark had been taken away by the Philistines.  So she name the child Ichabod meaning the “glory of the Lord is gone.”  She did not name her child this, because Eli her father in law had died or even because of the death of her husband.  She knew that as a community, as a country, and as a nation of people, they were in trouble, they were now prey to all of their enemies, because the wonder and the glory of the Lord, the Word, which was, and had been their protection, their enemies the Philistines had successfully taken it away.

That the power of God does not reside inside of an object, but the power manifested in the obedience to His word. Remember that one of the definitions of “touch” is when some one or something affects our environment to the point were there is a dramatic change, good or bad. Remeber the presence or the lack of presence of God touching our lives and can influences our environment

God wants you to know that you cannot save yourself.  As the Israelites when fighting against the Philistine, could not win, you cannot either without a Savor, the Word made flesh, came to save and deliver you from your Philistines enemies.

(Romans 3:23)

“For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”

Remember the glory of the Lord left them, because they had no Savior blood to apply to their sins.  In addition, they did not obey the Lords Word.

Acceptance or refusal determines your destiny.

(John 3:36)

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”

Because the Israelites would not take heed to the Word of God through obeying the Word, they tried to use the Tabernacle as a good luck charm and it fell.  Obedience to Jesus is what brings protection, not just  saying His name, alone will not save you, but being obedient to Jesus, who is “the Word,” is how you get victory over your Philistine army, this is where the power is, it is in the Word of God.

Matthew 7:21-23 KJV

21.  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

22.  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23.  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Prayer

Say after me, Lord Jesus I am in need of a Savior, forgive me of all of my sins and wash me with your blood.  Please come into my heart.  If you have said that, write me in my comment box.  Tell some one that you have accepted Jesus, for confession is made unto salvation.

Romans 10:10 KJV

10.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Why do you think Obed-Edom family was so bless, or had favor with God, and Eli family met with tremendous devastation when the Philistines came up on them?  How does this apply to your life?  How does this apply to church and some of the abuse that we see, and how does this apply to our nation as a whole?

You can hear the teachings the Lord Jesus gives me on BlogTalkRadio/Thecrowngem Every Sunday mornings 12:00 AM to 1:00 AM eastern time.  Call me at (347) 857-2403 on blogtalkradio/Thecrowngem and I will talk with you about this topic.

I want to pray for you I want to P.U.S.H Pray Until Something Happens.  Write me some of your comments or prayers.  You need the prayer, and I need the practices, if there is a subject or question you would like to ask me, I will research it for you and get you the answer.

Remember: Isaiah 62:3 KJV

3.  Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.