“Let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them.” “There I will meet with you, and I will speak with you.” Exodus 25:8, 22

The Ark of the Covenant

The Ark teaches us about God’s Character—His Glory, His Name God is sovereign God is holy God is powerful God is self-existent God is faithful God is righteous God is merciful God is gracious God is approachable God is personal

The Ark teaches us about God’s Character—His Glory, His Name The ark of God which is called by the Name, the very name of the LORD of hosts 2 Sam 6:2 Isaiah 37:16 He is sovereign (Lord of Hosts, throne, footstool) The ark was covered in gold. The ark of God which is called by the Name, the very name of the LORD of hosts who is enthroned above the cherubim. 2 Sam 6:2 The footstool of our God (Elohim) 1 Chronicles 28:2 The ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth between the cherubims: 1 Sam 4:4 He is holy. The Cherubim angels are guardians of the holiness and glory of God. The Holy Ark (His separateness from all other beings) 2 Chronicles 35:3 He is all powerful (strength, Elohim) The ark of God (the mighty one) 1 Samuel 3:3; 4:11 The ark of thy strength 2 Chronicles 6:41 Psalm 132:8 He is the self existent one (Yahweh) The ark of the Lord (Yahweh) Joshua 4:11; 6:6, The ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth (Yahweh, Adonai) Joshua 3:13 The ark of the Lord God (adonai, Yahweh) 1 Kings 2:26 He is faithful to His covenant The ark of the covenant Numbers 10:33; 14:44 The ark of the covenant of the Lord Joshua 4:7 The ark of the covenant of God (Elohim) Judges 20:27 The ark of the covenant of the Lord of Hosts 1 Samuel 4:4 The ark of the testimony In particular, it represents those commandments as written on the tablets and existing as a reminder and "testimony" of Israel's relationship and responsibility to God. The tabernacle as the housing for the ark containing these tablets was sometimes called the "tabernacle of testimony" Ex 38:21 or the "tent of the testimony" Num 9:15. He is righteous—His Law is the standard of righteousness He is merciful—His mercy seat He is gracious—His provision of manna He is approachable in a mediator—His priesthood, Aaron’s rod He is our God The ark of the Lord your God (Yahweh, Elohim) Joshua 4:5 The ark of our God (Elohim) 1 Chronicles 13:3 The ark of the God of Israel (LORD God of Israel) (Yahweh, Elohim) 1 Samuel 5:7, 8

The Ark teaches us about God’s Covenant “And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments” Exodus 34:28 “And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.” Deuteronomy 4:13 “When I was gone up into the mount to receive the tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant which the LORD made with you, then I abode in the mount forty days and forty nights, I neither did eat bread nor drink water: And the LORD delivered unto me two tables of stone written with the finger of God; and on them was written according to all the words, which the LORD spake with you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly. And it came to pass at the end of forty days and forty nights, that the LORD gave me the two tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant.” Deuteronomy 9:9-11

The Ark teaches us about God’s Covering for the Transgressions of the Covenant

“So Moses took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, and said, ‘Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words.’“ Exodus 24:8 "For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement.” Leviticus 17:11 "For as for the life of all flesh, its blood is identified with its life” Leviticus 17:14 "Only be sure not to eat the blood, for the blood is the life, and you shall not eat the life with the flesh.” Deuteronomy 12:23 "For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink.” John 6:55 “For this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.” Matthew 26:28 “For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.” Hebrews 9:15

The Ark teaches us about God’s Christ—the Covenant of the People Messiah’s perfect obedience in life merits eternal life for His People. Messiah’s perfect obedience in death cancels the sin debt of His people. “I am the LORD, I have called you in righteousness, I will also hold you by the hand and watch over you, And I will appoint you as a covenant to the people, As a light to the nations.” Isaiah 42:6 “And I will keep You and give You for a covenant of the people.” Isaiah 49:8

The Messiah is the Righteous One. "Behold, the days are coming," says the LORD, "That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell safely; now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” Jeremiah 23:5-6 “So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.” Romans 5:18-19

The Messiah’s righteousness merits life for His people. “I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh." John 6:48-51 “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” John 6:53, 54

The Messiah is God’s representative for all His people. “For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” 1 Timothy 2:5 “We have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” 1 John 2:1 “We have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God.” Hebrews 4:14 “Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:24, 25 “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.” 1 Corinthians 15:22

The Messiah’s death cancels all the transgressions of the first covenant. “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” 1 John 4:10 “For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance” Hebrews 9:15

God in His grace will allow the life and death of the Messiah to count for any and all who will put their faith in the Messiah. Believe!