The Ark of the Covenant

The Ark of the Covenant- Ex. 25:10–22; 37:1–9

We return to our study of the book of Exodus this morning, but we are taking a different approach. The first half of the book of Exodus is primarily narrative, connecting the events of this book to the previous book of Genesis, and placing it in the midst of the Pentateuch, or Torah, or the first five books of the Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy), while the second half focuses almost exclusively on the instructions, construction, and raising of the Tabernacle.

We begin, though, not with reading Exodus, but with Paul, who reminds us of two things from two passages of Scripture.

First, although the OT is not typically the testament from which we desire to hear, it is nonetheless God’s Word and is just as profitable (or, useful), for our lives as Christians (2 Tim. 3:16–17).

Second, we learn from Paul that there are “shadows of Christ” in the OT (from which we get the series title). Paul writes this in Colossians 2:17 “These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.” The “these” to which Paul refers are the food, drink, festivals, new moons, and Sabbaths in the OT. In other words, the people, places, and things of the OT point to Jesus. They are shadows in the OT cast by His presence in the NT.

I have two goals in this series. First, I hope this series inspires praise on our parts. That we see the glorious plan of redemption shadowed all the way back in the OT and presented in glorious clarity in the New through Christ. This is doxology.

Second, I pray that through this study of the Shadows of Christ, we will follow Paul’s command to the Colossian church, “holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.” (Col. 2:19)

*Each week we will move further away from the Presence of the Lord, but as we do we are reminded that through the history of the Scriptures we move ever closer to Jesus Christ

Seeing and savoring the shadows of Christ should produce passionate, persistent, Christ-like living.

Seeing and savoring the shadow of Christ in the Ark should produce passionate, persistent, Christ-like living.

I. The Specifications of the Ark- Ex. 25:10–22; 37:1–9

We are moving past the instructions of the Tabernacle itself for two reasons. First, the Tabernacle will be addressed in the future (when we get to chapter 40), and second, because the items within the Tabernacle help explain the importance of it, not only in the national life of Israel but also in the revealing of Christ.

God is a God of precision, and He gracious provides the instructions for Israel to follow. They are to follow God’s commands exactly.

A. The Ark Itself-25:10–17

The Ark was to be made of acacia (shittim) wood (hard, durable wood), “two cubits and a half” long, “a cubit and a half” wide and tall.

It was overlaid with pure gold, and four rings were attached to the bottom of the ark (lifting it would have placed it higher than everyone).

Israel was to place “the testimony,” or 10 Commandments, inside the Ark. We know from other Scripture that it also contained the manna from the wilderness and Aaron’s rod that budded (Heb. 9:4, cf. Ex. 16:33–34; Num. 17:10).

The Ark, however, included a “mercy seat,” or “atonement cover.”

B. The Mercy Seat-25:17

This “mercy seat” would be like a lid, closing the Ark completely. It, too, was made of pure gold and matched the measurements with the Ark itself, besides the depth. This is where the blood from the sacrifice on the day of Atonement would be placed.

On this mercy seat two cherubim were placed.

C. The Cherubim- 25:18–21

The cherubim were a class of angels (seraphim were another) in Scripture. When we see references to them, they are guardians.

For example, after the fall and banishment of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden, God places the cherubim to prohibit them from reentering (Gen. 3:24).

They guard the Ark of the Covenant perpetually, symbolically.

D. The Placement of the Ark- Exodus 40:1–2, 20, 21

After the instructions and construction of the Tabernacle, Moses was to place the Ark of the Covenant within a special place, the holy of holies, the most holiest place.

Moses does as the Lord commanded, and the Ark of the Covenant is placed in the Tabernacle.

II. The Purpose of the Ark- 25:22

The Ark served as a meeting place between God and Israel. Listen to these astounding words: “There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the testimony, I will speak with you about all that I will give you in commandment for the people of Israel.”

We have seen, however, that Israel has a major problem. It is, in fact, the same problem the Egyptians had. They, like Pharaoh, with their lives ask, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey him?”

They, like us, had a sin problem. And the Testimony that God would give (25:16), the 10 Commandments, pointed out their sinfulness. Every time they would think of those Commandments they would have been reminded of Eccl. 7:20 “Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.”

What were they to do? What hope did they have?

The problem must be addressed, and later Scripture (Leviticus and Numbers) would detail the sacrifices required to cover (or, atone) for their sins. In fact, the Sacrifice of the Day of Atonement (see Lev. 16 and 23).

The Purpose of the Ark was to show them their greatest need—fellowship with God—as well as their greatest problem—sin.

Philip Ryken summarizes the basic story of Exodus up to this point,

“They [Israel] were the kind of people who liked to serve other gods, worship idols they made with their own hands, forget the Sabbath, take things that didn’t belong to them, and generally break the commandments of God. Therefore, what was in the ark could not save them; it could only condemn them.”—Philip Ryken, Exodus

“What was in the ark could not save them; it could only condemn them.” Those are haunting words that are curbed only by the Person of the Ark.

III. The Person of the Ark

This beautiful work of art, the wonders of God’s presence among Israel, served a purpose for the national people of God to dwell in the land of Israel. But it served a greater purpose, it being a shadow of the Person of the Ark, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Let us look to the Person of the Ark, and as we see and savor the shadow of Christ in the Ark, let it produce passionate, persistent, Christ-like living.

A. The Purity of Christ—he who knew no sin

Unlike the pure gold used to fashion the Ark, Jesus is completely pure. Peter tells us that

1 Pet. 2:22–23 “He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.”

2 Cor. 5:21 “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

B. The Presence of God—Emmanuel—God with Us

The Person of the Ark also brings us into the presence of God—because He is God!

Matthew 1:22–23 “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).”

No longer would the Ark dwell in the unapproachable holy of holies. God’s presence, in the person and work of Jesus Christ, would be with us!

Likewise, though we cannot handle the Lord Jesus as did His apostles, we see Him in the Scriptures!

1 John 1:1–3 “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.”

In Jesus we have our greatest need—Jesus Christ—God in the flesh!

But we are at the same time reminded, in the face of unimaginable purity and holiness, of our sinfulness!

C. The Persistent Reminder—all have sinned

But how? We no longer have sacrifices in the Tabernacle/Temple. What are we to do?? In Jesus we have a reminder of our greatest need as well as the remedy for our greatest problem—sin.

Matthew 1:21 “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.””

We read Matt. 1:21 where Jesus saves His people from their sins, and His very person reminds us, as did the Commandments in the Ark reminded Israel, of our sins. All have sinned, besides the lovely Lord Jesus, not one man or woman, boy or girl has stood innocent or righteous.

Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

Our problems point us to the Mercy Seat, the atonement cover, the need for a substitute, the need for Jesus and the glorious promise of redemption.

D. The Promise of Redemption—we have a great high priest

Heb. 4:14–16 “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

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Seeing and savoring the shadow of Christ in the Ark should produce passionate, persistent, Christ-like living.

passionate—we love God because He first loved us, removes half-hearted worship when we realize that wonders of the New Covenant

persistent—though we often fail, we boldly go, in good times and in bad, when we feel like it and when we do not

Christ-like living—we aim to be like the precious Lord Jesus, in our thoughts, words, and actions