THE ARK OF GOD by M. C. W.

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Apr 8, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 14.

THE ARK OF GOD.

By M. C. W.

THE very center of all the Hebrew worship was the ark of God. It is also called the ark of the testimony, the ark of the covenant, and the ark of the testament. It was an oblong chest three feet and nine inches long, two feet and three inches wide and the same in height. The ark was made of acacia wood overlaid with gold within and without. Its cover, called the mercy-seat, was of pure gold, upon each end of which were figures of angels, representing the cherubs who are near the throne of God in Heaven.

But what was there in this little box that should make it of so much interest? First, it contained the Constitution of God's Government for all time and all places,—the decalogue. It reflected forth the highest attributes of his character, absolute wisdom and holiness. The glory of a Government lies in the perfection and justice of its laws, and so this law

shed forth God's glory, manifested in the glorious shekinah. That law covers all human duty. The transgression of its least precept was sin, calling for the punishment of the transgressor. But in connection with this ark also shone forth, not only the glory of God's righteousness and justice, but the glory of his goodness and mercy in the sprinkled blood upon the mercy-seat. Mercy and truth here met together. God's mercy was extended to everyone who by faith laid hold of the virtue of the sprinkled blood. God's law is truth. Ps. 119:142. And when mercy was extended to the penitent sinner, his sins were forgiven, he was brought into harmony with the law. "Mercy and truth met together, righteousness and peace kissed each other." The ark was thus a symbol of God's love.

It was what the ark contained that rendered it such an object of interest and importance. It was what the ark contained that made it the center of all worship, gave it a place in the holy of holies, and vailed it in the glory of the Infinite. Everything connected with it was designed to show, not the holiness of the ark, but the holiness of the law it contained. The ark was holy only because the law was holy. Holiness was inherent in the law; rather, the law was holiness itself; but the holiness of the ark was derived. The holiness of the law was absolute and eternal; the holiness of the ark was relative and temporal. The commands and injunctions of God concerning the ark were to impress upon his people the holiness of his law. Let us examine some of the passages which pertain to this subject, with this in mind, and it cannot fail to give us more impressive ideas of the holiness of God's law.

1. This holiness of God's law is shown in the making of the ark. Men were especially fitted for that purpose. God filled them with the spirit of wisdom and understanding and knowledge that they might build just right. Ex. 31:1-7. Did not this also suggest the fact that the moral law, on account of which all these things were made, could only be kept by divine power? that man was just as dependent on God to build morally as mechanically?

2. Special ones were selected to carry the ark. These were the sons of Kohath, one of the sons of Levi. But they were not to touch it. It was first to be covered by the priests, and then the Kohathites were to bear it on their shoulders. Num. 4:4-15. A neglect to do this in the days of David resulted in the death of Uzzah. For, if they had not put it upon a cart, and drawn it by oxen, the ark would not have shaken. One disregard of a commandment of God led to another, and Uzzah was slain for his presumption. 2 Sam. 6:3-7. When David completed the transfer of the ark, the Levites themselves carried it; they then sought God "after the due order." 1 Chron. 15:1, 2, 12, 13. With more careful reverence and holier joy did the king and priests carry the ark from the house of Obed-edom than they felt when they left it there. They had clearer views of its holiness; they had complied with the requirements, and their joy was correspondingly great. 1 Chron. 13:8.

3. God honored the sacred law by the mighty miracles which he wrought in connection with it. Before that sacred ark, Jordan rolled back its swelling waters (Josh. 3:14-17); the walls of Jericho were leveled at its presence (Josh. 6:11, 20); taken by the Philistines, it twice compelled the inanimate Dagon to prostrate before it, while the people were plagued, in order that they might know the holiness and power of God. 1 Sam. 5. Benumbed as Eli's sensibilities were over the sins of his sons, the news of the capture of the ark caused his death. 1 Sam. 4:17, 18. On its return, the presumptuous men of Beth-shemesh rashly looked into the ark and God smote them with great slaughter. 1 Sam. 6:19. They learned that they could not trifle with the holiness of God, and were compelled to acknowledge it. Verse 20.

4. The next we learn of it, it was taken to Jerusalem, on which occasion Uzzah was slain, in which we have already reverted. Solomon with great rejoicing placed it in the holy of holies in the magnificent temple which was built for God's worship. 2 Chron. 5:1-10. Here it remained till Jerusalem was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar, when, according to one writer, it was removed by Jeremiah.

2 Maccabees 2:4-7 reads as follows: "It was also contained in the same writing, that the prophet, being warned of God, commanded the tabernacle and ark to go with him, as he went forth into the mountain, where Moses climbed up, and saw the heritage of God. And when Jeremiah came thither, he found an hollow cave, wherein he laid the tabernacle, and the ark, and the altar of incense, and so stopped the door. And some of those that followed him came to mark the way, but they could not find it. Which when Jeremiah perceived, he blamed them, saying, As for that place, it shall be unknown until the time that God shall gather his people again together, and receive them unto mercy."

May a sense of the holiness of God's law abide with us; may our heart be made a dwelling-place for its holy principles, inwrought through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that God's blessing may rest upon us, as it did of old upon the household of Obed-edom. M. C. W.