“耶和华的约柜在迦特人俄别以东家中三个月 …。” - 撒下 6:11

你有没有在电视或互联网上看过出版商票据交换所（Publishers Clearing House）的广告呢？一群兴高辨烈、满面笑容的人拿着鲜花、气球、和一张巨型的假支票，从小货车里跳出来，他们走到一个毫不知情的人的家通知他，他赢得了一笔供他终生支取的巨款，那人便以震惊、诧异、和兴奋之情来回应这个消息。

俄别以东完全不知道约柜会出现在他的家门口，而这件事是在悲伤和令人震惊的背景下发生的。当牛失前蹄时，乌撒试图保护约柜不从车上跌下，然而这样做违反了约柜的神性，乌撒因此赔上了他的性命。

发生了这件令人费解的事后，大卫和所有的百姓都人心惶惶。大卫中止了运送约柜的行动，改为把约柜送到俄别以东的家，约柜便停留在那里三个月。俄别以东一定意料不到，代表神同在的约柜竟然会停留在他家中。

俄别以东和他的家人，看到神像从天上降下吗哪那样赐福给他们时，感恩必然从他的心中涌流出来，他感谢神赐他做神仆人的机会。他和家人蒙神赐福，完全是出于他们本不配得的恩典。

祷告

亲爱的主，我为你所赐下的我本不配得的恩典感到惊喜。求你帮助我，不会将你赐给我各方面的人际关系和丰富的物资视为理所当然。奉耶稣名祈求，阿们。

撒母耳记下 6:1-11

1大卫又聚集以色列中所有挑选的人三万。
2大卫起身，率领跟随他的众人前往，要从巴拉犹大将神的约柜运来，这约柜就是坐在二基路伯上万军之耶和华留名的约柜。
3他们将神的约柜从冈上亚比拿达的家里抬出来，放在新车上。亚比拿达的两个儿子乌撒和亚希约赶这新车。
4他们将神的约柜从冈上亚比拿达家里抬出来的时候，亚希约在柜前行走。
5大卫和以色列的全家在耶和华面前，用松木制造的各样乐器和琴、瑟、鼓、钹、锣作乐跳舞。
6到了拿艮的禾场，因为牛失前蹄，乌撒就伸手扶住神的约柜。
7神耶和华向乌撒发怒，因这错误击杀他，他就死在神的约柜旁。
8大卫因耶和华击杀乌撒，心里愁烦，就称那地方为毗列斯乌撒，直到今日。
9那日大卫惧怕耶和华，说：“耶和华的约柜怎可运到我这里来？”
10于是大卫不肯将耶和华的约柜运进大卫的城，却运到迦特人俄别以东的家中。
11耶和华的约柜在迦特人俄别以东家中三个月，耶和华赐福给俄别以东和他的全家。

Undeserved Grace

"The ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite for three months. . . ." - 2 Samuel 6:11

Have you seen some of the Publishers Clearing House commercials on TV or the internet? A happy group of people jumps out of a van with flowers, balloons, smiles on their faces, and a huge fake check. They approach the home of an unsuspecting person with the news of winning large amounts of money for the rest of their lives. And the person responds with shock, surprise, and excitement.

Obed-Edom had no idea that the ark of the covenant would show up at his door. And the circumstances were sad and shocking. Uzzah had tried to make sure the ark would not fall from the cart when the oxen stumbled. But that violated the holiness of the ark, and Uzzah paid with his life.

This puzzling event brought fear into the hearts of David and all the people. David halted the procession and took the ark to the house of Obed-Edom, where it stayed for three months. It must have taken Obed-Edom by surprise to have the ark of the presence of the Lord at his house.

As Obed-Edom and his family saw the blessings of God pour out on them like manna from heaven, his heart must have swelled with gratitude for the opportunity to be God’s servant. It was all by undeserved grace that he and his household were blessed.

Prayer

Dear Lord, I am surprised by your gifts of undeserved grace. Help me not to take for granted the abundance of relationships and material blessings you have brought into my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.