Here is the last piece of furniture found in the
Tabernacle, but the ark is the most important and valuable of all the
items studied thus far. This ark fully represents the salvation of Jesus
Christ given to mankind by grace (mercy).
Here we see Jesus
"In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and
knowledge." Col 2:3
I). The Ark: Exodus
25:10-22; 37:1-9
A). 3 Arks in the Bible
*Ark defined: from Latin- arcere, meaning to hold off, defend. Something
that affords protection and safety.
1). Noah’s Ark Gen 6:13,14
2). Moses’ Ark Exodus 2:3
3). The Ark of the Covenant Exodus
25:10
B). Size and Description: Exodus
25:10-16
1). Made of Shittim wood overlain
with gold. As studied before the imperishable shittim wood representing
the perfect humanity of Jesus and the gold representing the Deity of
Jesus.
2). The dimentions are 2½ cubits
long x 1½ cu. wide x 1½ cu tall. (3¾’x2¼’x2¼’)
3). The ark had a crown of
gold around the top edge which speaks of our Saviour
"crowned with glory and honour"
(Hebrews 2:9). A crown is a symbol of sovereignty
and power.
4). The ark had 4 rings of gold with
which 2 gold covered staves of shittim wood were used to carry the ark.
The priests were to carry the ark with these staves.
C). The contents of the ark (Ex.
25:16; Hebrews 9:4)
1). The 2 tables of stone (the law) Exodus 20:1-17.
2). A golden pot of manna Ex.
16:11-33, Num 11:1-9
3). Aaron’s rod that budded. Num
16-17:13.
D). The meaning of the contents
1). The law was placed in the
ark which symbolizes Jesus Christ who was the only man who could keep
the law without breaking it.
*However, in the New
Testament God said: "I will put my laws
into their mind, and write them in
their hearts:" Heb
8:10. We are supposed to keep God’s word close to our heart (Ps.
1:1-3; 119:11)
2). The golden pot of
manna. Manna in Hebrew means: "what is it?". To the unsaved world
looking at Christianity from without says: "what is it?", but to the
believer we know Jesus as "the bread of life" (Jn 6:48-51). A golden
pot speaks of deity and our bread or provision comes from God. As the
Lord’s Prayer says: "Give us this day our
daily bread." Matt 6:11.
*The Israelites learned a lesson
in trusting God in that the manna was to be gathered daily and would
not last until the next day except for the 7th day. (Ex.
16:22-30)
*Daily we must meet with Jesus.
He cannot be stored up.
3). Aaron’s rod. Korah, Dathan &
Abiram led a revolt with 250 men against Moses & Aaron saying that
Moses had usurped authority in making Aaron (his brother) the High
Priest. (Ex 16). After these died by God’s wrath, God instructed the
princes to choose a rod for each of the 12 tribes and put them in the
tabernacle and God would cause one to blossom whom He had chosen to be
the High Priest.
"…the rod of Aaron for
the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed
blossoms, and yielded almonds." Num. 17:8
*remember the almond is the
"hastener" the first to bloom just as Jesus was the first to rise from
the dead (like on the lampstand).
"But now is Christ risen
from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept."
1 Cor 15:20
II). The Mercy Seat.
Exodus 25:17-22
A). Size and Materials:
1). It was solid gold with 2
cherubims facing toward each other looking down with their wings
overspread touching in the center.
2). It was the same size as the
top of the ark fitting like a cover.
3). The cherubims were faced
together, but looking down on the mercy seat. Cherubims are guardians
in the Bible (Gen 3:24). There is power in the blood and so God has it
covered and protected by His cherubims.
4). 1 Peter 1:12 says of
the salvation of God: "which things the
angels desire to look into". The
cherubims looked upon the mercy seat which was only offered to men. (2
Peter 2:4, Jude 6, Isa. 14).
B). Use of the Mercy Seat.
1). It was the place where the
Priest placed the blood of the sacrifices for sin once a year on the
day of Atonement. (Lev 16).
However, this blood was not good
enough (Heb. 10:4) and was only a symbol of the blood shed at Calvary.
Jesus after shedding His own blood acted as the High Priest and placed
the blood on the mercy seat of God in heaven (Heb 9:11-15, Rev.
11:19).
For this reason, Jesus would not
let Mary touch Him in the garden (Jn 20:16-17) as He had not yet
placed the blood on the mercy seat.
2). God spoke to Moses from the
mercy seat:
"And when
Moses was gone into the tabernacle of the congregation to speak
with him, then he heard the voice of one speaking unto him from
off the mercy seat that was upon the ark of testimony, from
between the two cherubims: and he spake unto him." Num 7:89
(see also Ex 25:21-22).
*In the New Testament we are told that we can
"…come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and
find grace to help in time of need." Heb 4:16
III). Important Points
concerning the Ark.
A) The ark was a holy and
sacred thing and was not to be touched except as prescribed.
1). The Philistines learned this
lesson when they confiscated the ark from Israel and sent it back after
only 7 months! (1 Sam 5-6).
2). David learned this lesson when
Uzzah died trying to steady the ark from falling from an ox cart. (It was
not carried properly). 2 Sam 6
3). The ark was to be carried by the
Kohathites and it was to be covered by the veil, the badger skins & then a
cloth of blue (Num 3-4:6)
B). Where the ark was
carried properly God blessed people working miracles.
1). God parted the Jordan (Josh 3-4)
2). Jericho defeated (Josh 6)
3). The house of Abinadab blessed (1
Sam 7)
4). The house of Obed-Edom (2 Sam
6:12-19).
*God has offered grace and mercy
through His Son Jesus Christ, but one cannot do anyway he pleases and
expect that God will continue to bless.
 John 10:9 I am the door: by me if
any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find
pasture.
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