Blog

(written around 2008)

The New Ark of the Covenant

Even before I was a Christian I was always fascinated with the Ark of the Covenant. What was it. What was it used for, and why was God living inside of a box? I was confused to say the least. I’ve since come to learn that, according to the Bible, it’s impossible for a person to understand the meaning of the Bible and it’s stories unless they have the Holy Spirit, which only exists in those who have a relationship with Christ. Like most people I had seen “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and most of my ideas came from that movie. Obviously the movie wasn’t very accurate.

The Ark of the Covenant, in the Old Testament, was a physical symbol and reminder of God’s agreement, or covenant with the Israelites. It contained “… the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant.” (HEB 9:4) Each of the items was a reminder of what God had done for the Israelites., specifically rescuing them from slavery under the Egyptians and Pharaoh. The tablets were a reminder of how they must live.
There are very detailed writings in the Old Testament that explain what the Ark looked like. Here are a few key facts:

• The Ark of the Covenant is the best known item in the Tabernacle, renowned for its mysterious powers against the enemies of Israel (I Samuel chapters 5 & 6).
• The Ark of the Covenant resided in the Holy of Holies, the innermost room of the Tabernacle. Access was only permitted once per year, on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). Access was restricted to one person only, the high priest. He had to come into the Holy of Holies with the blood of a goat, on behalf of his own and the people of Israel’s sins.
• The Ark itself was a small box made of acacia wood, overlaid with gold. It measured 1.15 meters long, 0.7 meters wide and 0.7 meters high. It was carried by two long bars, also made of acacia wood overlaid with gold.
• Attached to the Ark’s covering lid were two Cherubim. God’s presence did not dwell inside the box, but remained over the Ark, in between the two Cherubim. Here God dwelt “in unapproachable light” (I Timothy 6:16 Psalm 104:2). The high priest had to shield his eyes, because “no man shall see Me and live” (Exodus 33:20). This was where God met with Moses (Exodus 25:21-22 Leviticus 16:14-15). The glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle on the day it was reared up and anointed (Exodus 40:9,18,34-35), exactly fourteen days short of one year since the Exodus from Egypt (Exodus 40:2; 12:6,31). The two Cherubim on the Mercy Seat represented God’s glory (Hebrews 9:5).

Pay close attention to the phrase above: “Attached to the Ark’s covering lid were two Cherubim. God’s presence did not dwell inside the box, but remained over the Ark, in between the two Cherubim.“

When the high priest would go into the Holy of Holies to present the blood offering, he would sprinkle the blood on the top of the Ark between the two Cherubim (called the Mercy Seat). Once the blood was sprinkled he would promptly leave. I’ve always wondered why God had the Ark designed the way he did. Why were there two Cherubim and why was the blood to be sprinkled between the two angels? Tonight I believe I found it.

¹⁰Then the disciples went back to their homes,
¹¹but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she
wept, she bent over to look into the tomb ¹²and saw
two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one
at the head and the other at the foot. John 20:10-12

The true “Mercy Seat” was the place where Christ’s body was laid in the tomb. Christ was the blood of the new covenant, poured out upon the Mercy Seat for the forgiveness of sins. No longer would man earn his way to heaven with the outward signs required by the law; Man would only be saved by faith in Jesus Christ. No longer would men make temporary sacrifices, in effect purchasing a 365 day stay of execution until the next day of atonement. God would make the sacrifice this time, and it would be permanent.

¹¹Day after day every priest stands and performs
his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices,
which can never take away sins. ¹²But when this priest
had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down
at the right hand of God. ¹³Since that time he waits
for his enemies to be made his footstool, ¹⁴because
by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being
made holy. Hebrews 10:11-14

Many are interested in finding out if the Ark of the Covenant still exists, and if it does, where is it. The
truth is, if it does, it’s worthless. The things it once symbolized have since become obsolete, and the law it contained no longer sufficient for reconciliation. Christ is the New Ark of the Covenant.

⁶Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:6

All praise be to the One who was not only sufficient but willing to be offerered as a spotless sacrifice to the Holy Father. And not only a sacrifice, but a permanent sacrifice for the salvation of our souls! Praise Him!