The Ballestero Blog

Several years ago, I heard one of the most amazing sermons I will ever hear in my life. It was Bro. Kenneth Bow’s sermon about Obed-Edom. It was anointed and unforgettable.  His love for research and attention to historical facts makes this outstanding.

Please go to his blog and find the link or go to http://www.savecom.org/orderform.htm and get it for yourself. It will change your life.

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The Obed-Edom Interview

TBB: Welcome Obed-Edom, to The Ballestero Blog. I’m so glad you agreed to grant me a short interview today. I’m very honored to have you here. I know that you are a very busy man.

OE: I am pleased to be here. Thank you for the opportunity.

TBB: For the record, you are of the tribe of Levi, and of the family of Korhite. You’re also from Gath-Rimmon if I remember. That makes you a Gittite?

OE: That’s true.

TBB: And let’s see here…you and your wife have 8 sons?

OE: That we do, counting my sons and grandsons, there are 62 men in my family. It’s never quiet at my house.

TBB: Whew. I can imagine. Tell me, what’s a day like in the life of Obed-Edom?

OE: Well, the first thing every morning after daybreak, I get a report from my Gate Security Office concerning the activities of the past night. I report then to the King. At 9 am I go to Prayers every morning, then later in the day I have either choir practice or orchestra practice. I check on the Storehouse during the day also.

TBB: The Gate Security Office. That’s right, you are in charge of keeping the gates of the city of Jerusalem secure. Let’s talk about that first. So then, is Captain Obed-Edom your official title?

OE: (Nodding modestly) Don’t call me captain. My guards do that out of respect. My friends just call me by my name.

TBB: How many men do you command as the Keeper of the Gate?

OE: Right now, about 1,000. My sons and grandsons included. I might add that we also are in charge of the storehouse as well.

TBB: Wow. The King must really trust you to commission you to this post.

OE: We’ve been friends for quite a while now. I’m honored to do everything I can for My God, my King and for Israel.

TBB: How long have you known King David?

OE: A long time. Remember when the King was transporting the Ark to the Tabernacle and there was a problem and Uzzah touched the Ark and he died because the Lord smote him?

TBB: Yes.

OE: I know it was the Lord that my house was close by, but it didn’t hurt that out of all the houses in the area, the King chose mine as the place to put the Ark. Our friendship, no doubt, helped make that choice easier. It may have made a few of my neighbors a little jealous though.

TBB: I’m sure. How long was the Ark in your home?

OE: About 3 months.

TBB: What was it like to have the Ark in your home?

OE: It was THE biggest Blessings of my life. When I say my home was Blessed, I mean Blessed with a capital B. My finances were blessed, my herds multiplied from that time on. Our health mysteriously improved over night. Everything I touched seemed to turn to gold. It’s never stopped.

TBB: How wonderful. You’re the only man in Israel that has had that honor.

OE: I know. I am thrilled that my house was home for the Ark of God, even for a brief time.

TBB: What was it like after the Ark was moved from your house to where it is now?

OE: I don’t know. I couldn’t bear the thoughts of staying in that house without the Ark in it. So I moved too.

TBB: You moved?

OE: Yes I did. After our home was blessed like it had been because of the Ark., my wife and I decided that wherever the Ark was, that’s where we wanted to be. So we moved here and bought a house just to be close by. Here, I can look in the direction of where the Ark sits and know I am close to His presence. There’s nothing like being in the presence of Jehovah. I wish everyone could have experienced that.

TBB: I do too. That’s amazing. You mentioned about choir practice and orchestra earlier. That’s because you are the worship leader?

OE: Actually Asaph is the Chief Musician and there are 68 others that do what I do. I’m just honored to be part of the worship. We all take turns. You might laugh at me, but after my experience with the Ark, I volunteer for every opening that Asaph has. I’m willing to be a singer or a musician. Sometimes I get the job, sometimes I don’t, but they can count on my name being on the list. I do my best to stay involved.

TBB: You have one of Israel’s greatest hero’s in your lineage. Samuel, the Prophet and Judge, is one of your ancestors!

OE: That’s true!

TBB: He’d sure be proud of you if he was alive today.

OE: That’s kind, thank you. I hope he would.

TBB: It’s common knowledge that King David is proud of you too and wrote Psalm 24 in your honor. That’s a very high honor.

OE: Yes it is. It is the highest of honors the King can bestow me. It is worth more to me than great riches. I am greatly honored by that and yet humbled as well.

TBB: Can you remember any of that Psalm offhand?

OE: I sure can:

“The earth is the LORD’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.

“For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.

“Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?

“He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.

“He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

“This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.

“Lift up your head, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.

“Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.

“Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.

“Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.

TBB: That’s a beautiful Psalm. Every family has a skeleton in the closet or some dark family secret. I know you’re probably wishing I wouldn’t bring up yours, because I imagine it’s uncomfortable for you.

OE: No, actually I’m glad you did. It’s really Okay; I want to talk about it. I believe that event was what reshaped the future of our whole family.

TBB: We’re talking about Korah, your ancestor and what happened to him, Is that correct?

OE: Yes.

TBB: In respect of where you are now and the high stations your family now holds, how did you tell your sons about your family’s dark days?

OE: Well Korah, as you know, was a very prominent leader in our tribe when Israel was in the wilderness. He was quite influential as well. I just hate it that he let pride and ambition get in his heart and got crossed up with Moses and Aaron. He was wrong. His thinking led him into rebellion. His actions invited the wrath of Jehovah.

TBB: I remember the Rabbi reading about the ground opening up and swallowing the rebellious men, and fire coming out of heaven. Then there was that plague that came because some sympathizers accused Moses of getting the people of God killed. 14,000 of them died in that plague. When I first heard the story, I thought the sons on Korah perished along with their father.

OE: Those living a home did, but not all. Some of Korah’s sons were married and living in their own homes when judgment fell. They loved their father, but they did not join him in his rebellion. Our family has handed down the story that when they saw they’re lives were spared; they fell on their faces and prayed. From that time on, all the sons of Korah have been extremely careful about our attitude concerning the House of God and the man of God. We have all been very respectful of our leader and submit ourselves to him. We refuse to let God have a problem with us again. We are thankful God doesn’t hold the sins for our father’s against us. I stress the importance of the fear of God and respect for God’s man to my sons lest history should repeat itself.

TBB: An amazing story. Your life lessons to your sons are extremely powerful as well. You mentioned the sons of Korah. Word on the street is that when King David fled from Absalom and went into hiding, the sons of Korah went with him to protect him. Do you know anything about that?

OE: I’ve heard that too.

TBB: There are a number of Psalms that are written just for your family to sing.  That’s a very special honor. Since that includes you, maybe you could share your thoughts on a few of them or at least tell us about them.

OE: Thank you, it would be my pleasure. Well, the first one that comes to mind is the one that starts out… “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.”

That’s from Psalms 42. I love that one. That’s how I feel. I cry sometimes when we sing Psalms 43 and it gets to the part where it says: “Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.”

When I sing those words, the memory of my family’s dark past comes to mind. Then I see that God has blessed me more than anyone. I just can’t keep quiet about it.

TBB: That’s beautiful.

OE: Psalm 46 starts out with: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

I need to sing that song some days. Then there are other days we feel like dancing while we’re singing. See if you remember this one from Psalm 47. “O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.”

I really love that one. The last one I’m going to talk about is one I can’t just quote. Would you mind if I sing a few lines?

TBB: Please do. I would love it.

OE: If you know what’s happened to my family, then maybe you can understand why I love to sing Psalms 84.

TBB: Sing it.

OE:  “How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts!

“My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.

“Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God.

“Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah.”

TBB: Thank you for that. You have a beautiful voice.

OE: Every time I sing that last line, I am reminded how blessed I am to be close to the House of God. I thank Him everyday.

TBB: I’m about out of time.  What word of wisdom or advice can you give me before you go?

OE: I’ve been honored to be here. Thank you for giving me a chance to speak about my passion. As far as imparting any wisdom to you, I can’t do much better than this. This one is from the 88^th Psalm, which is another one written just for the sons of Korah to sing.

“Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.

“I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.

“For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.”

We must walk in truth, fear God, praise Him with all of our hearts, and then God will find a way to deliver us and to bless us. That about sums it up for me.

TBB: That it does. It sums it up for me too. Thank you for coming and God bless you.