There I Will Meet With You

Introduction

The Westminster Catechism begins by asking, “What is the chief and highest end of man?” and answers, “To glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” Similarly, Question 15 of the Baptist Catechism asks, “What special act of providence did God exercise towards man in the estate wherein he was created?” It answers:

“When God had created man, he entered into a covenant of life with him upon condition of perfect obedience; forbidding him to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, upon pain of death.” Further, Question 23 of the Baptist Catechism asks: “Did God leave all mankind to perish in the estate of sin and misery?” The answer is powerful: “God, having out of His mere good pleasure, from all eternity, elected some to everlasting life, did enter into a covenant of grace to deliver them out of the estate of sin and misery, and to bring them into an estate of salvation by a Redeemer.” These answers reveal God’s profound desire for humanity: not only to create and sustain us but to establish a lasting relationship with us.

These catechisms echo a core message that spans Scripture: God’s unchanging desire to dwell with His people. This message is beautifully foreshadowed in the Tabernacle and, specifically, in the Ark of the Covenant in Exodus 25.

In Genesis, we see this clearly as God creates man in His image, gives humanity dominion over all creation, places His law in our hearts, and provides abundantly. We see Him walking in the garden, desiring a close relationship with His creation. Then, at the culmination of time, we see His ultimate desire to reconcile us to Himself in Revelation 21:1–3, which describes the new heaven and new earth, where “the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them.” This is God’s purpose, woven throughout Scripture, that He might dwell among His people.

Today, many overlook this redemptive arc. They focus on the discipline and correction found in Scripture, missing the purpose behind it all: God desires to dwell with His people. Numerous passages in both the Old and New Testaments reveal this deep desire of God to be with us, His creation.

Our text today, in Exodus 25:10-22, continues this theme in the historical narrative. Last week, we began our discussion of the Tabernacle, ending with Exodus 25:9: “According to all that I am going to show you, as the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furniture, just so you shall make it.” Here, God’s command to build the Tabernacle precisely according to His design underscores His intention to dwell among His people in the place He has chosen and prepared. As we walk through our text today we will see God’s direction for the building of His ark, what the ark is to contain, the specifications for the lid and God’s statement to Moses regarding that place, “There I will meet with you.” As we look at this text, however, it is important that we note the true message of these words to believers today and that we understand that the arc, the testimony, the lid and the meeting place find their ultimate fulfillment in the person of Christ.

We must also recognize that God is directing His people specifically regarding worship, and for us, this means that we must keep, as the central focus of our worship, Christ. When we ensure that His atoning work is our focal point we will be continually reminded of the truth contained within God’s righteous standard and His gracious provision to us, seen in the testimony placed within the ark and the lid placed upon the ark,

Turn with me if you will in your Bibles to Exodus chapter 25 and stand as we read together verses 10-22

Text

Exodus 25:10–22 LSB

“And they shall make an ark of acacia wood two and a half cubits long, and one and a half cubits wide, and one and a half cubits high. “You shall overlay it with pure gold, inside and out you shall overlay it, and you shall make a gold molding around it. “You shall cast four gold rings for it and fasten them on its four feet, and two rings shall be on one side of it and two rings on the other side of it. “You shall make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. “You shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, to carry the ark with them. “The poles shall remain in the rings of the ark; they shall not be removed from it. “You shall put into the ark the testimony which I shall give you. “You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold, two and a half cubits long and one and a half cubits wide. “You shall make two cherubim of gold; make them of hammered work at the two ends of the mercy seat. “Make one cherub at one end and one cherub at the other end; from one piece you shall make the mercy seat with the cherubim at its two ends. “The cherubim shall have their wings spread upward, covering the mercy seat with their wings, with their faces toward one another; the faces of the cherubim are to be toward the mercy seat. “You shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the testimony which I will give to you. “There I will meet with you; and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony, I will speak to you about all which I will command you for the sons of Israel.

Father, we praise You today for the truth found in your Word. We thank you that we can come together as a body of Christ because of the work of Christ. As we seek Your truth in Your Word this morning we pray for the Holy Spirit to illuminate this text, that we understand not only it’s historical significance but also it’s implications on our lives today. Father we ask all of this in the name of Your precious Son, Jesus Christ, amen.

Please be seated

The Divisions

It is important to first be sure that we understand the four different elements that are pictured for us here in these instructions and which I mentioned earlier. Typically when we discuss the Ark or mention the Ark of the Covenant, we are in fact including all four elements and lumping them into one big category but each has its own specific purpose and role.

First, we see the ark, the box itself.

The Ark

The truth regarding the Ark is something much greater than this fantastical display, it is quite literally, the center piece of worship for the people of Israel. As God begins to outline His plan and pattern for His sanctuary, He begins, not as an earthly architect would do by focusing on the layout and construction of the building first, but with the furniture that is contained within the Tabernacle and there is no more important piece in the entirety of all that is to be built now in the wilderness and later when the Tabernacle is replaced by the Temple, than the Ark of the Covenant.

In Exodus 25:10–15 God commands ““And they shall make an ark of acacia wood two and a half cubits long, and one and a half cubits wide, and one and a half cubits high. “You shall overlay it with pure gold, inside and out you shall overlay it, and you shall make a gold molding around it. “You shall cast four gold rings for it and fasten them on its four feet, and two rings shall be on one side of it and two rings on the other side of it. “You shall make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. “You shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, to carry the ark with them. “The poles shall remain in the rings of the ark; they shall not be removed from it.”

Within these verses we need to take note of a few things regarding the construction of the ark. First, notice that the ark is entirely comprised of only two materials, wood and gold, and specifically acacia wood, which in the early translations was literally translated as “incorruptible wood”. While acacia is certainly not incorruptible, as all things in this world it will eventually rot and fade away, it is an extremely resilient wood that is highly resistant to rotting. Surrounding the wood on all sides, interior and exterior, so that nothing of the wood shows forth, the ark was to be covered in gold.

After the basic structure of the ark was completed, we see directions for an adornment of some type, also of gold, around the ark. It is likely that God was displaying an image for Moses so that he knew where the molding was to be attached and how it was to be shaped, however, these are details to which we are not privy. After the molding, the command is to place four feet on the corners of the ark and on those feet to place golden rings. God then instructs them to make gold covered wooden poles in order to transport the ark and commands that the poles not be removed from the rings on the feet of the ark. Although we are not given a specific reason for this most theologians agree that it is so that the ark will be ready to move at a moments notice and to prevent someone from accidentally touching the ark once it is finished.

After the introduction of the ark comes the Testimony

The Testimony

In Exodus 25:16 God commands Moses saying, ““You shall put into the ark the testimony which I shall give you.” This testimony was none other than the very tablets on which God would scribe with His own finger the decalogue or the Ten Commandments. Later in the Scripture we are also told that the rod of Aaron and a jar of manna were also contained within the ark, but God’s primary focus at this point is the testimony, His righteous standard, the very Word of the living God.

In ancient times, it was customary for a copy of a covenantal agreement between two people to be kept in a box for protection and access, however, this was no customary placement. Later as the overall construction of the Tabernacle is revealed God will direct Moses regarding the construction of the Holy of Holies and instruct him to place within the location the Ark. This would become the central focal point of all worship for the people of God, not in an idolatrous sense, as that of the golden calf, but in the sense of an understanding of significance.

Ultimately the Ark would go before the people as the moved from place to place. As it did, it would be a continual reminder to them of the instructions contained within the Law of God and of their covenantal responsibility to be obedient to those instructions. Quite literally it was to be their sustenance and comfort in all things, much as the Word of God is for us as believers today.

Once we have the instruction for the construction of the Ark and the command to place within the Ark the Testimony, God moves on to the next element, the mercy seat.

The Mercy Seat

The instructions for the fabrication of the lid of the Ark of the Covenant are contained is Exodus 25:17–21 ““You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold, two and a half cubits long and one and a half cubits wide. “You shall make two cherubim of gold; make them of hammered work at the two ends of the mercy seat. “Make one cherub at one end and one cherub at the other end; from one piece you shall make the mercy seat with the cherubim at its two ends. “The cherubim shall have their wings spread upward, covering the mercy seat with their wings, with their faces toward one another; the faces of the cherubim are to be toward the mercy seat. “You shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the testimony which I will give to you.”

It is important to note that although the box and the lid come together to form a piece of furniture, they are two separate elements with two separate functions and denote two separate types (we will get there in a few minutes). First, we will note that the lid is made only of gold and that it is to be made from one piece, not three. Note that the lid, in it’s construction is of the exact dimensions needed to serve as a cover for the Ark. On the top of the lid are two cherubim. God does not describe for Moses what these two beings are to look like, other than that they are to have wings and faces.

Cherubim decorate the pages of scripture and the descriptions that we have of them are very interesting. We first encounter them in the book of Genesis. In fact it is the cherubim who are left guarding the entrance to the garden, the way to the tree of life. This is seen in Genesis 3:24 where we read“So He drove the man out; and at the east of the garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim and the flaming sword which turned every direction to guard the way to the tree of life.” In Ezekiel we get the most complete description of these beings. We read in Ezekiel 1:1-21

Ezekiel 1:1–21 LSB

Now it happened in the thirtieth year, on the fifth day of the fourth month, while I was by the river Chebar among the exiles, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God. (On the fifth of the month in the fifth year of King Jehoiachin’s exile, the word of Yahweh came expressly to Ezekiel the priest, son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and there the hand of Yahweh came upon him.) Then I looked, and behold, a storm wind was coming from the north, a great cloud with fire flashing forth continually and a bright light all around it, and in its midst something like the gleam of glowing metal in the midst of the fire. And within it there were figures with the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: they had the likeness of a man. And each of them had four faces and four wings. And their legs were straight, and their feet were like a calf’s hoof, and they sparkled like the gleam of burnished bronze. And under their wings on their four sides were hands of a man. As for the faces and wings of the four of them, their wings touched one another; their faces did not turn as they went; each went straight forward. And as for the likeness of their faces, each had the face of a man; all four had the face of a lion on the right and the face of a bull on the left, and all four had the face of an eagle. And such were their faces. Their wings were spread out above; each had two touching another being, and two covering their bodies. And each went straight forward; wherever the spirit was about to go, they would go, without turning as they went. As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches going back and forth among the living creatures. The fire was bright, and lightning was flashing from the fire. And the living creatures ran to and fro with the appearance of lightning. Then I looked at the living creatures, and behold, there was one wheel on the earth beside the living creatures, for each of the four of them. The appearance of the wheels and their workmanship was like the gleam of beryl, and all four of them had the same likeness, their appearance and workmanship being as if one wheel were within another. Whenever they went, they went in any of their four directions without turning as they went. And as for their rims, they were lofty and awesome, and the rims of all four of them were full of eyes all around. And when the living creatures went, the wheels went beside them. And when the living creatures rose from the earth, the wheels rose also. Wherever the spirit was about to go, they would go in that direction, where the spirit was about to go. And the wheels rose alongside of them; for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. Whenever those went, these went; and whenever those stood still, these stood still. And whenever those rose from the earth, the wheels rose close beside them; for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.

and then in Ezekiel 10:2-22

Ezekiel 10:2–22 LSB

And He spoke to the man clothed in linen and said, “Enter between the whirling wheels under the cherubim and fill your hands with coals of fire from between the cherubim and scatter them over the city.” And he entered in my sight. Now the cherubim were standing on the right side of the house when the man entered, and the cloud filled the inner court. Then the glory of Yahweh rose up from the cherub to the threshold of the house, and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was filled with the brightness of the glory of Yahweh. Moreover, the sound of the wings of the cherubim was heard as far as the outer court, like the voice of God Almighty when He speaks. Now it happened that when He commanded the man clothed in linen, saying, “Take fire from between the whirling wheels, from between the cherubim,” he entered and stood beside a wheel. Then the cherub sent forth his hand from between the cherubim to the fire which was between the cherubim, took some up, and put it into the hands of the one clothed in linen, who took it and went out. And the cherubim appeared to have the form of a man’s hand under their wings. Then I looked, and behold, four wheels beside the cherubim, one wheel beside each cherub; and the appearance of the wheels was like the gleam of a Tarshish stone. As for their appearance, all four of them had the same likeness, as if one wheel were within another wheel. As they went, they went in any of their four directions without turning as they went; but they went in the direction which they faced, without turning as they went. And their whole body, their backs, their hands, their wings, and the wheels were full of eyes all around, the wheels belonging to all four of them. The wheels were called in my hearing, the whirling wheels. And each one had four faces. The first face was the face of a cherub, the second face was the face of a man, the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle. Then the cherubim rose up. They are the living creatures that I saw by the river Chebar. Now as the cherubim went, the wheels went beside them; also when the cherubim lifted up their wings to rise from the ground, the wheels would not turn from beside them. When the cherubim stood still, the wheels would stand still; and when they rose up, the wheels would rise with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in them. Then the glory of Yahweh departed from the threshold of the house and stood over the cherubim. When the cherubim departed, they lifted their wings and rose up from the earth in my sight with the wheels beside them; and they stood still at the entrance of the east gate of the house of Yahweh, and the glory of the God of Israel hovered over them. These are the living creatures that I saw beneath the God of Israel by the river Chebar; so I knew that they were cherubim. Each one had four faces and each one four wings, and beneath their wings was the likeness of human hands. As for the likeness of their faces, they were the same faces whose appearance I had seen by the river Chebar. Each one went straight ahead.

and while these descriptions are difficult to process, one reality about the cherubim is clear from the pages of Holy Scripture, they have a specific task that they are given, and that are related, inextricably linked, to the administration of God’s judicial authority.

We note the posture of these two cherubim, wings spread upward, facing the center of the mercy seat, head bowed. The wings of these creatures form the Throne of God and their faces are bowed because as majestic as they are, they are still creatures who serve and honor God.

Which brings us to the description of the final element contained in the construction of the ark, one that actually is not constructed of human hands, but the hands of God, Himself. The meeting place

There I will meet with you

The final verse of this section, verse 22, reads Exodus 25:22 ““There I will meet with you; and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony, I will speak to you about all which I will command you for the sons of Israel.”

In the “empty space” above the mercy seat and the cherubim, there is the meeting place between God and the mediator, Moses. We will read in Numbers 7:89 “Now when Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with Him, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim, so He spoke to him.” Can you imagine?

The Types and the Application

Now that we understand the construction of the Ark, we must turn to the significance of the Ark to the church today. It is clear from Scripture that the ark held a prominent place in the lives of ancient Israel, but as we noted last week, we are not ancient Israel, we aren’t even the first century church any longer and unfortunately for many places that call themselves churches, they aren’t even churches any longer.

There is some basic imagery that is simple to see here in a simple reading of the text. Most Christians who have at least attended Sunday School or small groups or a similar type of training session will be immediately drawn to the fact that the mercy seat is a type and representation of Christ. It is easy to acknowledge that God dwelling among His people today is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit within the lives of believers, but there are greater and deeper truths to be found here. Let’s take them element by element:

The ark, a type of Christ, its dual material construction is representative of the His dual nature. The wood is always completely wood and the gold is always completely gold, they come together to form the ark. Much like Christ, who is very man of very man and very God of very God, comprised of these two natures that never mix, never mingle and neither are ever diminished. It is the continual to the people of God of the presence of God, just as Christ, through the work of the Holy Spirit, is a continual reminder of the presence of God. Covered in gold, the Ark’s incorruptible nature mirrors Christ’s sinless nature and divinity. Its poles, never to be removed, remind us of God’s perpetual presence.

The testimony, the very word of God, a type of Christ, the true Word of God. In John’s gospel, written so that we may know Jesus and believe, the Word, took up flesh and dwelt among us. Christ is the very preservation of the word of God, just as the ark preserved the word. We should recognize as believers the significance of the word of God in our lives. God took great care in protecting and preserving His word. He writes it on our hearts, our inward most parts, our inner sacntum or holy of holies. Hebrews 8:10 states ““For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel After those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their minds, And upon their hearts I will write them. And I will be their God, And they shall be My people.” teaching us that where Gods word is, there He dwells.

Just as the ark and the testimony went everywhere that the people went, so too does our faith, our belief and through the indwelling of the Spirit we are emboldened to proclaim that truth, not being ashamed, but making known the great and wonderful mysteries of our God.

The ark and the testimony then becomes the foundation for the throne of God as the “mercy seat” or propitiatory is placed on the ark. With the mercy seat between the Ark’s contents and God’s throne, we see a foreshadowing of Christ’s atoning work, bridging the gap between God’s holiness and humanity’s need.This addition changes the dynamic somewhat. Once the lid is introduced the ark takes on an additional typology, that of the footstool of God. With the mercy seat between the Ark’s contents and God’s throne, we see a foreshadowing of Christ’s atoning work, bridging the gap between God’s holiness and humanity’s need.

Typically referred to as the mercy seat a better translation for what we find here in the Hebrew would be “atonement place or propitiatory”. In the Greek translation of the Old Testament, the word used is the same word we find in Romans 3:25 “whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith, for a demonstration of His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed;”. Once the ark is constructed and placed within the Holy of Holies, the only time it was truly accessed, not in order to pack it up and move it, but accessed by the high priest was on the day of atonement. Leviticus 16:2–15

Leviticus 16:2–15 LSB

And Yahweh said to Moses: “Tell your brother Aaron that he shall not enter at any time into the holy place inside the veil, before the mercy seat which is on the ark, so that he will not die; for I will appear in the cloud over the mercy seat. “Aaron shall enter the holy place with this: with a bull from the herd for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. “He shall put on the holy linen tunic, and the linen undergarments shall be next to his body, and he shall be girded with the linen sash and attired with the linen turban (these are holy garments). Then he shall bathe his body in water and put them on. “And he shall take from the congregation of the sons of Israel two male goats for a sin offering and one ram for a burnt offering. “Then Aaron shall bring near the bull for the sin offering which is for himself, that he may make atonement for himself and for his household. “And he shall take the two goats and present them before Yahweh at the doorway of the tent of meeting. “And Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats, one lot for Yahweh and the other lot for the scapegoat. “Then Aaron shall bring near the goat on which the lot for Yahweh fell, and he shall offer it as a sin offering. “But the goat on which the lot for the scapegoat fell shall be presented alive before Yahweh, to make atonement upon it, to send it out into the wilderness as the scapegoat. “Then Aaron shall bring near the bull of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make atonement for himself and for his household, and he shall slaughter the bull of the sin offering which is for himself. “And he shall take a firepan full of coals of fire from upon the altar before Yahweh and two handfuls of finely ground fragrant incense, and bring it inside the veil. “And he shall put the incense on the fire before Yahweh, that the cloud of incense may cover the mercy seat that is on the ark of the testimony, so that he will not die. “Moreover, he shall take some of the blood of the bull and sprinkle it with his finger on the mercy seat on the east side; also in front of the mercy seat he shall sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times. “Then he shall slaughter the goat of the sin offering which is for the people and bring its blood inside the veil and do with its blood as he did with the blood of the bull. And he shall sprinkle it on the mercy seat and in front of the mercy seat.

Note that before the priest could approach, the sweet incense of offering had to cover the mercy seat and then the blood needed to be applied both on the mercy seat, as an acceptance by God of the sacrifice that had been made and before the seat to gain a place for man to stand.

Let me paint a picture for you, if you will. Before you sits the Ark of the Covenant containing the Law of God forming the foundation for the throne of God. The wings of the cherubim, the executors of God’s judicial authority, form the seat of the throne of the living God, making that which falls beneath His footstool. Between God and His law there is nothing but the mercy seat. If the blood is not applied to the mercy seat, the righteous demands of the law are not satisfied, God’s Holy Wrath is not pacified. Do you begin to see? Do you begin to understand the picture that has been placed before us?

The point is so significant that it is necessary, even a responsibility to belabor it just a bit more.

God has desired to dwell with His creation, in fact we were created for the distinct purpose of Glorifying God and enjoying Him forever, dwelling with Him eternally, but we fell. Our nature, our desire, our actions, our motivations became twisted and broken, literally to the point of being at enmity with God, hating Him. But God, rich in love and mercy, desired still to dwell with His people and did, from all eternity past, decree a means of reconciliation for His people to Himself through the precious blood of Jesus. This blood is presented to God as payment, as a means of propitiating God’s wrath, for our sins. Apart from this the righteous demands of the law found in Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death...” is required. Many say, what of it, I must die anyway, but my friend, there is death and then there is death. The first death, the physical death, we all must face. However, this is not the death that is being described in Romans 6:23, that death is the second death, the death that results in being under the holy wrath of God for all eternity, in the outer darkness where there is wailing and weeping and gnashing of teeth. The remedy, the second part of Romans 6:23 “...but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” and the reason is found in Romans 3:24–25 “being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith, for a demonstration of His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed;”

And finally, the meeting place, for us now, that meeting place is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit illuminating the Word of God in our lives but the future sees that meeting place as face to face.

Conclusion

In closing, let us not miss the powerful truths woven into its design, purpose, and presence among God’s people. Through the Ark, God communicated not only His holiness and righteousness but also His deep desire to dwell with humanity—a desire He expressed from the Garden of Eden to the new heavens and new earth we glimpse in Revelation. This desire is fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the true Mercy Seat, where justice and mercy meet, reconciling us to God.

The Ark, with the testimony inside and the mercy seat on top, served as the focal point of Israel’s worship, but it also foreshadowed something much greater. In Christ, we see the perfect fulfillment of the Ark. He is the very Word of God, the embodiment of the law written on our hearts, and through His sacrifice, He becomes the place where God meets His people in peace. His blood, offered as the ultimate atonement, covers us so that God’s justice is satisfied, and His wrath is turned away. Because of Christ, we can approach the throne of grace with confidence, knowing we are fully reconciled to our Creator.

Today, as believers indwelt by the Holy Spirit, we are God’s living temple, the place where He dwells. The presence of God that once rested above the mercy seat now abides within us, guiding, comforting, and transforming us. Yet, we look forward to that glorious day when, as Revelation declares, “The tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them.” Until that day, let us live with a profound sense of gratitude, reverence, and devotion, keeping Christ at the center of our lives and worship.

May we remember that, from the beginning to the end of Scripture, the desire of God’s heart is clear: He desires to be with us. This truth should move us to draw near to Him, to live for His glory, and to rest in His love, for He has provided everything we need to dwell with Him forever. Amen.