The LORD is faithful to chasten those who are HIS children. “If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.” (Heb 12:7-8) So it is quite appropriate that we see that chastening hand manifested towards David whom the scripture says was a man after GOD’s own heart.
The LORD’s love for David caused HIM to interrupt the natural religious bent which David (even as an example of us all) displayed. David was not ignorant of the law and its prescribed order in the moving of the Ark. In order to wean David from carnal religious reliance, the LORD ordered David’s path to include a foray into the indulgence of his religious flesh even as HE ordered David’s steps up the stairs to the roof where he looked upon Bathsheba. The resultant outcomes of both instances were ultimately a grief unto David which caused him to fall upon his face before the LORD. “And David was afraid of the LORD that day.” (2Sam 6:9) “And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD.” (2Sam 12:13)
David devised a grand religious ceremony to move the ark of GOD from the house of Abinadab to the city of David. He had a brand-new ox cart built and even personally led a large band of musicians who played upon numerous instruments in glorious fashion as they went before the ark in a raucous celebration fit for a king. Yet it was not a celebration which was fit for THE KING of kings and HE demonstrated HIS displeasure in it in the death of Uzzah as he reached out his hand to steady the ark. “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice.” (1Sam 15:22)
How quickly can the LORD turn rejoicing into mourning when it pleases him to chasten HIS own. “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercisedthereby.” (Heb 12:11) Uzzah should never have touched the ark, but then he should never have been on the cart with the ark in the first place. “Make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.” (Rom 13:14) “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die.” (Rom 8:13) Yet Uzzah perished primarily because of David’s sin, even as Uriah the Hittite and the newborn child, of Bathsheba and David’s union, did.
These deaths added to David’s grief and though he was initially angered by the death of Uzzah; whenever the truth of what had happened sank in, he was mortified for his own sin and was fearful of the power of GOD knowing that he too was worthy to be destroyed. Yet as awful and tragic as the death of Uzzah was, the LORD brought it to pass in order to lead David from darkness to light. “Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.” (Isa 43:4) What a glorious place it is to be the object of the LORD’s affections.
Thus we see this complex chain of events take place in order to fulfill the purpose of GOD which is past finding out in all of its detail and we only see it revealed through a glass darkly. Yet we are certain that there is no stone turned nor blade of grass broken which is not ordained by the hand of HIM who does all things according to the good pleasure of HIS will. From the day when the Ark of GOD was taken into captivity to the day when it was ultimately brought to the city of David, every event surrounding it was orchestrated by HIM who is in the heavens and has done whatsoever HE hath pleased.
It is with this in mind that we notice that the Ark was brought to the house of Obededom. I am certain that Obededom had no idea that such a blessing would be bestowed upon him when he awoke that morning. I am equally certain that David had no intention of bringing the Ark to Obededom’s house either. Yet the purpose of GOD to show his grace and mercy to Obededom needed no planning or cooperation by either David or Obededom. Until the Ark came into Obededom’s house he was not a man of great fame or noted for any particular religious activity, yet the abundance of the LORD’s blessing was made manifest there. (see Mat.11:19)
Paul said, “But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace.” (Gal 1:15). So, it was that according to the LORD’s timetable, the moment of blessing which was ordained by the LORD unto Obededom’s house occurred without any collaboration or prior knowledge on his part. The oxen stumbled at the proper time and the parade was halted at Obededom’s front door along with a corpse in an ox cart. In this I am reminded of Zacchaeus sitting in a sycomore tree, completely surprised when the LORD stopped and invited HIMSELF into Zacchaeus’ house.
Such is the kindness and mercy of GOD who sent HIS SON into the world “to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke19:10) The LORD knew Obededom before he ever drew his first breath even as HE said to Jeremiah, “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee”.(Jer 1:5) HE appointed the house of Obededom to receive mercy and then displayed it when HE saw fit. Who is sufficient for these things? What can a man do or say at the display of HIS grace, but fall upon his face and magnify the mercy of this FRIEND of sinners?
We have no record that Obededom operated in any priestly activity, before this time, but there is ample evidence that he operated in that capacity to some extent after this, since he is mentioned as a doorkeeper of the ark (see I Chron.15:24). “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.”(Rev 5:9-10) He is not mentioned by name among those who praised the LORD with music until the Ark came to his house. (see I Chron.16:5) “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.” (Psa 122:1) We know that after the ark was brought to his house he was made the keeper of treasures. (see II Chron.25:24). “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” (2Cor 4:6-7)
So Obededom is clearly a type of those whom the LORD has chosen to be the “heirs of salvation.” (Heb.1:14) Not only has he appointed them to inherit an eternal kingdom which HE has prepared, but HE does also appoint an hour when HE will visit them with the light and enjoyment of all of those blessings which CHRIST has procured for them by HIS death on Calvary’s cross. “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Rom 10:10)
mam