The Power of His Presence

1 Chronicles 16:37-40

So he left Asaph and his relatives there before the ark of the covenant of the Lord to minister before the ark continually, as every day’s work required; and Obed-edom with [n]his 68 relatives; Obed-edom, also the son of Jeduthun, and Hosah as gatekeepers. He left Zadok the priest and his relatives the priests before the tabernacle of the Lord in the high place which was at Gibeon, to offer burnt offerings to the Lord on the altar of burnt offering continually morning and evening, even according to all that is written in the law of the Lord, which He commanded Israel.

In 1 Chronicles 13, we hear of how Obed-Edom welcomed the presence of the Lord into his home. We understand this by the blessing that he received from the Lord. The Ark of the Lord was in his home for three months, and states that the Lord blessed all he had. I can imagine the weight of the decision based on the power associated with the presence of the Lord. When one man acted without understanding, the Bible says that the anger of the Lord burned against Uzza, and he died before the Lord. What a powerful illustration of the power of His presence and the understanding that we must have to touch Holy things. But, Obed-Edom welcomed the presence of the Lord, and being a Levite, he understood that ritual purification was needed. The sacrifice that he made forever changed his family. What I pull from this passage is when we invite the Holy Spirit into our homes and our children begin to experience His power, they are forever changed. It states in the passage above that all of his family ministered before the Lord. One day and one decision forever cultivated his children into worshipers, and they worshiped before the Lord daily. I want this for my children, but it takes my decision to offer up my home and sacrifice through repentance.

December 8 Pastor Benaiah Snider