A The Baptist Deacon

The Ark

deaconfarley | July 15, 2008 13:01

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

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Comments

Re: The Ark

frangelo | 07/15/2008, 13:35

could not have said it better myself. ; ) The whole Bible speaks of Jesus. "Search the scriptures for in them you think you have eternal life and they are they which testify of ME" JN. 5:39.

Yes!

p | 07/15/2008, 16:52

It does "all point to Jesus"! Isn't this an awesome study? If you look at the tabernacle (the tent) you'll find the same incredible detail, all pointing to Christ. Beautiful post. Beautiful subject. Thanks for sharing. Blessings ~
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