The Ark of the Covenant stayed in the house of Abinadab in Kirjath Jearim for about twenty years after being returned from the Philistines. When King David attempted to bring the Ark to Jerusalem, it was temporarily kept in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite for three months before being moved to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6:10-12). This pause allowed David to regroup and prepare for its proper transportation and placement in Jerusalem.
Some have argued because Obededom valued the presence of God more than Abinadab, God blessed him more. Others say “the Ark of the Covenant prospered in Obed-Edom’s house because Obed-Edom was a righteous and God-fearing man who treated the Ark with reverence and respect. Unlike in Abinadab’s house, where the Ark had been for about twenty years without recorded blessings, Obed-Edom’s proper stewardship and wholehearted acceptance of the Ark led to God’s blessings on his entire household, crops, and possessions (2 Samuel 6:11-12, 1 Chronicles 13:14). His home became visibly prosperous, which was so evident that the news reached King David. The key difference was Obed-Edom’s attitude of honor and his faithfulness in caring for the Ark, which attracted God’s favor and blessing.”
Truthfully, it could be a combination of these reasons, why I believe their names settled it Abinadab name means a generous one, he was an embodiment of the father – ab means Father, Nadab means “willing to give”. Abinadab life was an epitome of the father’s nobility and love, whereas Obededom name translates to “a hired servant to the red one”. Not only is a flame red, but it also signifies servantship and embodiment of one who serves. Abinadab name is a state of the fathers being whereas Obededom is servantship. Truly, there is no way they could act as priest in the Old Testament without true worship to God, because the ark of the covenant could be brought out (i.e. signifying the presence of God) they had to worship and praise to offer sacrifice, it was that strict. And King David was king as of this period.
Why am I bringing this up: Some people associate the presence of God with material blessing, but we have clearly seen in Job that God was with Job through his trail even when he was not blessed and when he was. Some have said God blesses us when we suffer and wait long enough but King David was blessed at age 16, he killed Goliath became the Kings armor bearer. He was clearly favored before he became King at 30. Joseph got blessed at a latter age.
Isaiah 40: 28 says ’28 Hast thou not known? hast thou did not hear that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. 29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.’
We may know Gods ways but there is no searching of his understanding. Who he chooses to bless, at what he chooses to bless is based on his understanding. Theres no formular for this. It’s not head over heart or heart over logic (i.e. head). Its Gods understanding and there’s no searching of this, we can only know the way of the father in faith, as scriptures would say who put the thought in man?
Jesus would paint a picture of Lazarus a poor beggar and a rich man who died and went to heaven, the physical state doesn’t determine what a person is in the kingdom of God it’s the heart. And only God searches the heart.