The Ark

Introduction:

Drawings of our home

LET’S LOOK AT WHAT THE ARK OF THE COVENANT SHOWS US ABOUT THE PRESENCE OF GOD, THE PROBLEM OF SIN AND THE PROMISE OF RESTORATION.

I) The Presence of God:

A. God comes to be Present With His People

i. “You can take person out of Egypt, but can you take Egypt out of the person?”

1. NOW WHAT? How would Israel shed idolatry/slavery, live with God?

2. How do we live as God’s redeemed people in a world of idolatry etc.?

ii. God desires to live among us! (vs. 8)

1. God – not Moses – commands the building of a place to dwell

2. Why? The God of the universe wants to dwell among us!

B. God’s Presence is Heaven on Earth

i. The Tabernacle was a pattern of a greater reality (vs. 9, Heb. 8:5)

Hebrews 8:5 ESV

They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, “See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.”

1. God’s specs matter: the tab. portrays heavenly realities

2. The precious beauty of the Tabernacle reinforced God’s beauty

ii. The Tabernacle was Holy because God was there

1. The structure was built such that it enthroned the king (vv. 12-15)

2. EXAMPLE: Uzzah & the Ark (2 Sam. 6)

3. The tabernacle would move with the people & wherever it went: HOLY

Transition:

II) The Problem of Sin (vs. 16, 21)

A. God’s Law Stands against the People

i. The Law stood in judgement over the people

1. Inside was a copy of the Covenant – a reminder of God’s requirements

2. Living in the presence of God demanded moral perfection

ii. Sinful people therefore could not approach the presence of God

1. Therefore: without perfect obedience, God’s presence destroys us

2. We love beauty, are in awe of it wherever we see it – yet imperfection spoils it, just as Playing in an orchestra with a recorder

B. God’s Presence is Guarded from Sinful People

i. We were made for and long for the presence of God

1. 7 speeches on tabernacle=the perfection of God’s presence in Eden

2. Signposts of beauty, justice, relationship, point us to these lost realities

3. Quote: “It’s always winter, never Christmas.”

ii. Yet, since Eden, the way back: through the sword of cherubim (vv. 18-20)

1. The cherubim atop the lid of the ark remind us of Eden’s palace guard

2. The only way into the presence of God is through the sword!

SO, HOW CAN WE FIND OUR WAY BACK TO God’s presence?

III) The Promise of Restoration

A. Jesus is the True & Greater Tabernacle

i. The mercy seat “covered” the law with the blood of a sacrifice (vv. 17-21)

1. The lid atop the tabernacle was where the blood would be poured out

2. This would then “cover” the judgment of the Law inside

B. Jesus is the True & Greater Mercy Seat

i. Jesus is introduced a the “true and greater tabernacle” (Jn 1:14)

John 1:14 ESV

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

1. John’s gospel begins with Jesus as the “one who tabernacled” among us

2. Once again God comes to his people to live among them, to reveal God

ii. Jesus is the true and perfect mercy seat where God’s justice is satisfied

1. Jesus fulfills the law perfectly, but goes through the sword ((Rom. 3:25)

Romans 3:25 ESV

whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.

2. At the cross, Jesus goes through the sword of death to open the way for us.

Transition:

Conclusion

The good news of God’s presence, enjoyed by faith