The Ark of The Covenant
I remember watching “Raiders of The Lost Ark” years ago (1981 to be exact) and it was suspenseful and certainly entertaining as Indian Jones (Harrison Ford) went on a mission to find the lost ark and try to bring it to an American museum. He is competing with the Nazi’s find it and there was great mystery associated with it.
I came across the instructions the Lord gave for building The Ark. The people of Israel are still at Mt. Sinai getting instructions for their new nation as well as instructions for worship and the journey to the land promised to them by God. The tabernacle was portable and all the pieces that furnished the tabernacle were also portable. They were made with great detail. Check this out…
1 Next Bezalel made the Ark of acacia wood—a sacred chest 45 inches long, 27 inches wide, and 27 inches high. 2 He overlaid it inside and outside with pure gold, and he ran a molding of gold all around it. 3 He cast four gold rings and attached them to its four feet, two rings on each side. 4 Then he made poles from acacia wood and overlaid them with gold. 5 He inserted the poles into the rings at the sides of the Ark to carry it.
6 Then he made the Ark’s cover—the place of atonement—from pure gold. It was 45 inches long and 27 inches wide. 7 He made two cherubim from hammered gold and placed them on the two ends of the atonement cover. 8 He molded the cherubim on each end of the atonement cover, making it all of one piece of gold.9 The cherubim faced each other and looked down on the atonement cover. With their wings spread above it, they protected it. (Exodus 37:1-9 NLT)
The Ark was a special piece of the tabernacle. It represented the very Presence of God with His people. The Ark was kept in the “Most Holy Place” in the inner sanctuary of the tabernacle and the priests only went in there on specific occasions. The Ark was carried before the people which meant that the Lord Himself was leading them.
The Lord was very specific as to how all of the furnishings were made and how they were to be used. The Lord expected reverence and respect from His People. I believe the Lord still expects reverence and respect from me and all who come before Him. I’m thankful that Jesus made a way for me to go directly to the Lord without having to go to a specific place or to have a specific person interplead my case before the Lord. Jesus also brought the very Spirit/Presence of God called The Holy Spirit. The Lord no longer dwells in buildings – although He can if He chooses. He chooses instead to dwell inside the hearts of His people who have surrendered their lives to Him.
I’m very thankful for His Presence in me, even when I’m not paying attention to Him. He is faithful to me even when I’m not faithful to Him. He is the epitome of patience and the very definition of LOVE. I’m thankful that the Ark is no longer necessary to remind me of His Presence.
Pressing On!
Dwayne