A The Baptist Deacon

This will be my last post on the Ark of the Covenant. I had been looking for a way to sum up what I had studied.

Below is a copy of an email a “friend” sent to me that was intended to help and encourage my study. It is composed of bits and pieces found on the internet. The more I though and dwelt on the information I had received the more clear it became that this email, as it was sent to me, was meant to be the post I was looking for.

I say thank you for being inspired to send me the email and your permission to use it, even though your permission was not required.

So here goes… please pay attention as you read.

Only once per year on Yom Kippur could man enter beyond the veil. The veil separated man from the holy of holies. It was behind this veil and in the 10 cubit squared room called the holy of holies that the most sacred piece of furniture in the whole tabernacle structure was found. This was the Ark of the Covenant which was mentioned first before all the other furniture in the tabernacle. The lid on top of the ark was traditionally known as the Mercy Seat which was considered a separate piece of furniture but one with the ark, with the Cherubim of glory facing one another with wings outstretched. The blood was sprinkled between the judgment angels who were looking down and when they would see the blood the wrath of God was stayed.
The ark was right in the center of the camp and the glory cloud was seen above the mercy seat and above the back portion of the tabernacle.

Acacia (known also as shittim), the wood used in the construction of the tabernacle boards and furniture, is very clearly a type of the sinless humanity of the Lord Jesus Christ.
It grows in the desert, reminding us that He Whom it portrays is described as “... a root out of a dry ground,” Isa 53.2. As the acacia grew in the desert and was cut down to furnish an essential material for God’s earthly house, the tabernacle, so did Christ grow up in the spiritual desert of this world, and was “cut down” in death to be the very basis of God’s spiritual house, the Church.
In its being virtually impervious to decay or attack by insects, it depicts the Lord’s incorruptible humanity. There was neither sin in Him, nor was there even the possibility of his ever being tempted to commit sin. The testings He endured were not to reveal any possibility of sin, but rather the spotless holiness for which sin held no attraction.
The acacia wood was the foundation of all the tabernacle furniture except the laver and the lampstand; and inasmuch as each article consisted of acacia wood and a metal overlay of either brass or gold, the truth being set before us is that He combines in Himself perfect humanity (the wood) and perfect Divinity (the metal).
In the boards which formed the walls of the tabernacle, all exactly the same size, each standing on a foundation of silver, we have a picture of believers as the mystical body of which Christ is the head. But since those boards were of the same acacia wood as that which formed the brazen altar, the table, and the golden altar, we are reminded that each believer has the very same nature as the Lord Himself. The new nature obtained at the new birth, is as holy and sinless as that possessed by the Lord, for the simple reason that it is His nature.
Whenever therefore we read of acacia wood, let us remember that God is pointing symbolically to some truth relative to the sinless nature of Christ, or to truth relative to the new nature possessed by every believer.

The Stone Tablets:
It is important to note that the ark contained the two tablets of the Decalogue (the Ten Commandments). Remember that God had made a covenant with Israel, but the people had broken it. In grace God renewed it and ordered that its enduring record (the unbroken tablets) should be deposited in the holy ark. The Book of the Covenant, which dealt at length with other aspects of law and procedure, was deposited alongside the ark. But the 10 commandments were stored within the ark itself.

The Golden Pot of Manna:
It was also a type Christ who was the living bread which came down from heaven. The golden pot of manna speaks of Jesus as the bread of life who came down from heaven to bring food, the Word of God, to a world in darkness and dying of hunger.

Aaron's Rod:
Aaron's rod that budded also speaks of Jesus. Something that had died and supernaturally came to life again. Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life." 

It all points to Jesus. Even the golden poles speak of the ever living and ever present Savior who is with us in all our journeying and will never leave us nor forsake us. If you were to examine the history of the ark there would be striking resemblances to the ministry of Jesus our Lord:

The ark of the Covenant was a picture of Jesus Christ. The Acacia wood speaks of the indestructible humanity of Jesus. He was 100% man. God Himself became flesh and suffered the agonies of the human experience. He was tempted, He was weary, He thirsted, He had to learn the Scriptures and learn obedience and to hear God's voice and be led by the Spirit as a man. Not only does the Acacia wood tell us that He was 100% man but the pure gold that overlayed the wood teaches us that He was 100% God. Jesus said "unless you believe that I AM you will die in your sins." He used the same words (Heb. eheyay asher aheyay) as when the Lord spoke to Moses at the burning bush. The Jewish Messiah was none other than Jehovah Himself visiting His people and becoming their savior by dying for the sins of the world and that is the etymology of the name Jesus (Heb. Y'shua 'Yaweh has become salvation'). Jesus condemned the religious leaders for not recognizing "the day of their visitation."
The crown of gold around the top of the ark speaks of the Lord Jesus Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords. Jesus overcame the onslaught of opposition that was set against Him His whole life by the religious leaders, the wealthy Jewish aristocracy, Rome itself, and even all the power of the enemy. He overcame even death itself and rose triumphantly and was given a crown, and glory, and honor, because He is the King. According to John it was Jesus who Isaiah saw seated on the throne of glory with the angels crying 'holy, holy, holy.'
The unbroken tables of stone set forth Jesus as the One who perfectly kept the Law and never broke God's Commandments. The Bible says that He "committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth." Jesus felt the pressure of temptation at its full intensity yet he never sinned. Even the look in His eye and the tone of His voice reflected the very perfections of the holiness of God Himself. Aaron's rod that budded also speaks of Jesus. Something that had died and supernaturally came to life again. Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life." The golden pot of manna speaks of Jesus as the bread of life who came down from heaven to bring food, the Word of God, to a world in darkness and dying of hunger.
It all points to Jesus. Even the golden poles speak of the ever living and ever present Savior who is with us in all our journeying and will never leave us nor forsake us. If you were to examine the history of the ark there would be striking resemblances to the ministry of Jesus our Lord:

The ark went before the people - Jesus went before them:
Jn. 10:4

The ark was in the middle of God's people - Jesus is in His people:
John 14:20

The people were to follow the ark - We are to follow Jesus:
Luke 5:27-28

May God Bless You

⁸At that time the LORD separated the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to minister unto him, and to bless in his name, unto this day.  ⁹Wherefore Levi hath no part nor inheritance with his brethren; the LORD is his inheritance, according as the LORD thy God promised him. This is from Deuteronomy chapter 10: 8 and 9

Here we see that the tribe of Levi had been separated to bear the ark of the Lord, to minister unto him, and to bless in his name. Numbers 1:50 But thou shalt appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of testimony, and over all the vessels thereof, and over all things that belong to it: they shall bear the tabernacle, and all the vessels thereof; and they shall minister unto it, and shall encamp round about the tabernacle.   The Levites had an awesome responsibility.

Deuteronomy 31: 9 – 13  ⁹And Moses wrote this law, and delivered it unto the priests the sons of Levi, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and unto all the elders of Israel. ¹⁰And Moses commanded them, saying, At the end of every seven years, in the solemnity of the year of release, in the feast of tabernacles, ¹¹When all Israel is come to appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose, thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing. ¹²Gather the people together, men and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the LORD your God, and observe to do all the words of this law:  ¹³And that their children, which have not known any thing, may hear, and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as ye live in the land whither ye go over Jordan to possess it.

The verses above are for a little bit of a background to help us better understand the Tribe of Levi, what there responsibility was and what was placed in the ark. Hebrews 9: 4 tells us that the ark contained the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant. This tribe was responsible for carrying the ark, not only when they wondered in the wilderness but when they went into battle the ark always went first.  

It was there duty to carry the ark. No one but the priestly tribe of the Levites could even touch the ark. Look at 1^st Samuel 6:19 And he smote the men of Bethshemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the LORD, even he smote of the people fifty thousand and threescore and ten men: and the people lamented, because the LORD had smitten many of the people with a great slaughter. Also look at 2^nd Samuel 6:6-7 ⁶And when they came to Nachon's threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it. ⁷And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God. That kind of changes your image you may have from Raiders of the Lost Ark doesn’t it?

I want to look at one more thing before I close this study out today. Paula from http://flutterby.christianblogsites.com/blog/ left a comment on my last post, one that I haven’t even considered. Here is the comment: “Consider the words of John (20:12) describing Mary Magdalene's view as she looked into the tomb - "She saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain." Is this not a perfect rendition of the drawings you've seen of the mercy seat? An angel at each end, wings overspread, covering, watching, protecting? No longer are they watching, their faces "toward the mercy seat" - they are as Mary saw now simply sitting - the work of mercy has been accomplished! The One whom they watched over, guarded, the purveyor and Master of Mercy is no longer there - He is risen!! Awesome!!!!” Paula I hope you don’t mind me reposting your comment, but it a great point and needs to be made again. Here is the verse from John that she mentioned: And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.

God Bless You!

Brent

Okay let’s go back and look at how the Ark was constructed. (If you haven’t done so already you need to read part one.) The construction was commanded by God. It’s dimensions were two-and-a-half cubits in length, by one-and-a-half cubits in heights, by one-and-a-half cubits in width (a cubit is about 18 inches). That is 3 ¾ feet long, 2 ¼ feet tall and 2 ¼ feet deep.

The Bible states that it was made out of shittim wood.  I think that is acacia wood and I am not sure what kind of wood that is. It was plated with gold both inside and out. On the bottom of the box, four gold rings were attached, through which two poles also made of shittim wood and plated in gold. The poles were to remain in the rings at all times. The lid on the top was called the atonement cover, or "mercy seat." On top of it were two carved cherubim, with their wings spread upward, overshadowing the cover.

²²And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel. This is from Exodus chapter 25.

I want to draw attention to the mercy seat. It is symbolic of what some people in my church call the mourner’s bench. My pastor refers to it as the mercy seat. We still have a mercy seat at the alter in my church. I believe many churches if not most used to have this in there alters. I was raised in this church and I believe that the alter with the mercy seat is a good place to go and pray. I was saved when I was kneeling at the mercy seat begging God to save me. I had to work my salvation out myself with fear and trembling. My family and members of the church prayed for me, but they couldn’t save me nor could I repeat a prayer from them that could save me.  I have been in churches that the mercy seat has been removed. Why? Is it no longer needed? Do they take the person who is between life and death to a back room to counsel them into Heaven? I believe God still meets and communes with his people from above and beyond the mercy seat.

In my next post I plan to look at what was inside the ark, the penalty for touching the ark and if the possibility that the ark is still in existence.

God Bless You.

This is the beginning of my study (in print) of the Ark of the Covenant. I have been running references and consulting commentary (Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible) off and on for the last week.

As we study this important artifact from the Bible I plan to present scripture from different books that refer to the Ark. I plan to look at what was kept inside the Ark. I plan to look at the penalty for touching the Ark if you were not of the “Priestly Tribe”

Today we will begin in Exodus chapter 25 and we will take verses 10 – 22. We are going to do this in order for your mind’s eye to get a picture of what the Ark looked like.

¹⁰And they shall make an ark of shittim wood: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof.    ¹¹And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, within and without shalt thou overlay it, and shalt make upon it a crown of gold round about.    ¹²And thou shalt cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in the four corners thereof; and two rings shall be in the one side of it, and two rings in the other side of it.    ¹³And thou shalt make staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold.    ¹⁴And thou shalt put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark, that the ark may be borne with them.    ¹⁵The staves shall be in the rings of the ark: they shall not be taken from it.    ¹⁶And thou shalt put into the ark the testimony which I shall give thee.   ¹⁷And thou shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof. ¹⁸And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat.   ¹⁹And make one cherub on the one end, and the other cherub on the other end: even of the mercy seat shall ye make the cherubims on the two ends thereof.  ²⁰And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be.   ²¹And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee.   ²²And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.

The above should give you something to think about for the next few days. With my next post I plan to go back and pick out some verses from the above text and explain them (to the best of my ability).

To be continued…

May God Bless You!

The Ark of the Covenant??? My youngest son and I were watching Raiders of the Lost Ark over the weekend. He asked if there really was an ark. I was a little shocked that he (ten years old) didn’t know that there was an Ark of the Covenant.

I have opportunities to teach my children and this was one more that had just presented itself. We talk about things in the Bible and I guess that the ark had never come up. Apparently it had never come up in Sunday school either.

I told him about how things on television often portrayed things the way they wanted too in order to get more people to watch the show. That if there was something he saw on t.v. he should ask to make sure what he was seeing was correct or incorrect.

He next wanted to know where in the Bible he could read about the ark. My answer? The first five books of the Bible would be a good place for him to start. Remember he is ten so that answer was not good enough. I started looking and so did my wife. She found some scripture, which I read and began running references. Soon I found where the Ark was being designed and built. We gave that scripture to him to begin learning about the Ark.

This brings me to where I am at today and what is on my heart. As a parent and father (spiritual leader of my house) it is my job to answer my children’s as well as my wife’s spiritual questions. I am unable to on some occasions to answer instantly. I must pray for guidance and scripture to use. I must teach correctly what God wants my family to learn. I must teach correctly what I put into my blog. I must teach correctly what I tell my class and I must speak correctly when God places something on my heart to bring before the church (in testimony).

I am being lead to study the Ark of the Covenant and post in my blog. This may take several entries and several weeks. I ask for your prayer that this will be presented exactly how God wants it to be presented. I also ask for your comments to my post’s.

So within the next few days look for my first post on this subject.

Rev 11:19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

May God Bless You!