(The Ark of the Covenant)
Joshua 3:2-3 "So it was, after three days, that the officers went through the camp; and they commanded the people, saying, "When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests, the Levites, bearing it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it. "
Not an Ordinary Box
The ark of the covenant was a kinda mysterious box that the people of God in the Old Testament days were obsessed with. In it contains some stuff such as
Ten Commandments Tablet 1
Ten Commandments Tablet 2
Aaron's rod
Some Mana food
It seemed to be a box with mysterious power. The people of Israel loves to bring it along in battle, as its presence can somehow give them victory. It was as if God was with them.
Lost?
Somehow through history, the people of Israel actually lost the ark through a messed up battle and it ended with the Philistines. Initially, the philistines were rather excited having captured the "winning formula". After a series of strange troubles (like their favourite dagon god being smashed headless and armless), they lost their enthusiasm. As an act of "good will", they decided to sent the ark away.
David
After securing his kingship, David longed to bring the ark back. So he organised a trip to fetch their favourite box. While they are on their way back, one of David's guy tried to help God out by holding the ark after one of the ox stumbled. As history tells, God zapped him. Yes. God zapped him.
David was so upset at God, but at the same time, he was kinda .. scared too. So he T-loaned the ark to some chap.
Who's that guy??
This particular chap has a strange name, Obed-Edom. Up to this day, little was known about him. Little cared anyway. We know Moses. We know Paul. We even know the shorty Zacchaeus. But who was Obed-Edom??
Anyway, the Ark of the Covenant was kept in Obed-Edom's house for a couple of months (3 - to be precise) , and God blessed his whole household.
David again
David become "jeolous" after hearing the news and decided to do a "good one" and bring their favourite box back into the city of David. This time, everything went pretty well .. well except for Michal. (Penalized for laughing and jeering during Praise and Worship)
Obed-Edom
Something very strange happened to our unknown chap.
1) He joined the music / quoir / worship ministry.
1 Chr 15:16-18 "Then David spoke to the leaders of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers accompanied by instruments of music, stringed instruments, harps, and cymbals, by raising the voice with resounding joy. So the Levites appointed Heman the son of Joel; and of his brethren, Asaph the son of Berechiah; and of their brethren, the sons of Merari ... Obed-Edom, and Jeiel.. "
1 Chr 15:19-22 "the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were to sound the cymbals of bronze; Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah, with strings according to Alamoth; Mattithiah, Elipheleh, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah, to direct with harps on the Sheminith;"
1 Chr 15:21 "Mattithiah, Elipheleh, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah, to direct with harps on the Sheminith;"
Mm.. maybe he was musically inclined.
2) Strange .. He went into ushering. ..
1 Chr 15:24 "Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, were to blow the trumpets before the ark of God; and Obed-Edom and Jehiah, doorkeepers for the ark. "
He sure was On-The-Ball.
3) More Strange .. He joined the security minsitry.
1 Chr 16:37-38 "So he left Asaph and his brothers there before the ark of the covenant of the LORD to minister before the ark regularly, as every day's work required; and Obed-Edom with his sixty-eight brethren, including Obed-Edom the son of Jeduthun, and Hosah, to be gatekeepers;"
I don't know about you, but I found this guy rather strange. He was ALL OVER THE SHOP.
Conspiracy Theory
May I boldly suggest that our Obed-Edom was planning a conspiracy. After the 3 months with the presence of God in his house, he's addicted. Somehow, he seemed to taste a measure of God during that period which changed his life.
2 Sam 6:11 "The ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite three months. And the LORD blessed Obed-Edom and all his household"
Now it seemed to me that he hadn't had enough of God. He joined the worship teams, the ushers, and even the gate-keeping! All he wanted was .. simply .. close to God! Maybe he's sentimental. Maybe abit nostalgic. But he sure looked serious.
Conclusion
Some people say "One touch from God" is enough. Some people will prefer two or three. For Obed, three months made a difference. How about you?
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P.S.
1) If you thot I was so hoLY to stayed up so late to write this stuff, you are wrong. Bought some crappy games that couldn't installed, so I decide to do something more meaning to make the night look good. Always thought installation problems only comes with pirated games ... *&^
2) I heard and adapted this article so I was not the original. Bill Wilson's the man I copied from. CopyCat!!
August 2004
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