Exodus 25:10, commentary and pictures

The verse commands the making of a chest of shittim wood, also called acacia or precious wood, two and a half cubits long by a cubit and a half broad and high, overlaid within and without with gold and finished with a crown or border of gold about the top.
It was made as a depository to receive and hold the two tables of stone on which God engraved the Ten Commandments, which were the basis of the covenant between God and Israel, and hence it is called the ark of God's testament or the ark of the covenant.
Because the law it contained represented God and was the foundation of His government, the ark symbolized His presence, formed a link between heaven and earth, and was regarded as Israel's glory and strength.
Its cover, the mercy-seat of one solid piece of gold with a golden cherub at each end looking reverently downward in humility, was overshadowed by the Shekinah manifestation of the divine presence in the cloud of glory between the cherubim, from where God made known His will.
The earthly ark made to God's pattern is a pattern of the true ark in heaven, standing in the second apartment of the heavenly sanctuary with the tables of the law within, overshadowed by God's glory, where Jesus ministers above the mercy-seat and offers intercession for the prayers of the saints.

Ark Construction and Setting

The command is to make the ark as a chest two cubits and a half in length and a cubit and a half in breadth and a cubit and a half in height, formed of shittim wood, also called acacia or precious wood. It was to be overlaid within and without with gold and inlaid with gold, and finished with a crown or border of gold about the top. Its cover, called the mercy-seat, was wrought from one solid piece of gold. Upon that cover stood a golden cherub at each end, the two facing each other and looking reverently downward toward the ark, with one wing of each stretched forth on high while the other was folded over the body in token of reverence and humility.

The ark stood beyond the inner or second veil in the holy of holies or most holy place of the wilderness tabernacle built by Moses as God's earthly dwelling-place. That tabernacle had two apartments called the holy and the most holy place, separated by a rich veil. There, in the innermost apartment, the symbolic service of atonement and intercession centered.

The direction belongs to the detailed specifications and directions for the tabernacle and Israel's service that Christ gave to Moses on the mount. Moses received them during his forty days and nights there after the law was given at Sinai, and they belong with Exodus 24-27. They were given after Moses went up into the mount with his minister Joshua, following the people's covenant promise, the sprinkling of the blood of the covenant, and the seeing of the God of Israel by Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy elders.

After the settlement in Canaan the movable tabernacle was replaced by Solomon's temple, a permanent and larger structure that observed the same proportions and was similarly furnished. In that form the earthly sanctuary continued, except while it lay in ruins in Daniel's time, until its destruction by the Romans in A.D. 70.

Law, Covenant, and Presence

The ark commanded here was made as a chest and depository to receive and hold the two tables of stone on which God Himself engraved the Ten Commandments. It was a sacred chest made to hold that stone record of the ten-commandment law. Because the Ten Commandments were the basis of the covenant made between God and Israel, the chest was therefore called the ark of God's testament, or the ark of the covenant. The stone tablets engraved by God held the Ten Commandments which were God's covenant with Israel and the basis of the covenant between them.

The law within it represented God and was the foundation of God's government. So the ark symbolized God's presence with His people, formed a link between heaven and earth, and was regarded as Israel's glory and strength, with the sign of God's presence resting upon it day and night. Above the mercy-seat as its cover was the Shekinah manifestation of the divine presence in the cloud of glory between the cherubim. From between the cherubim God made known His will, with signs from the cloud conveying approval or rejection to the high priest.

The reverent posture of the cherubim represents the reverence with which the heavenly host regard God's law and their interest in the plan of redemption. They look reverently toward the law, with reverence and humility for God's law in the heavenly sanctuary. The ark thus stood at the center of the symbolic service of atonement and intercession. It is connected with the sanctuary and the great day of atonement, whose features also have counterparts in the heavenly sanctuary.

Heavenly Pattern and Faithful Work

The chest commanded to be made for the earthly sanctuary was made to God's pattern as the pattern of the true ark in heaven, where the law of God is deposited. Its gold cover, the mercy-seat, its angels, its sanctuary setting in the inner apartment, and its connection with the great day of atonement all have their counterparts in the heavenly sanctuary. There living angels stand beside the ark in reverence and humility, looking reverently toward it and toward God's law. Their posture, with one wing overshadowing and raised on high and the other folded over them, expresses reverent interest in the law and in the plan of redemption.

The heavenly original stands in the second apartment of the heavenly sanctuary, entered within the second veil when ministration in the Holy place ended in 1844. It has the appearance of finest or pure gold, covered and sided with gold and finished with a beautiful crown-like border of fine gold work about its top. It contains the tables of stone bearing the Ten Commandments. A lovely cherub stands on each end with wings raised on high, outstretched above and touching each other above, faces turned toward each other and looking downward to the ark. Above is the exceeding bright glory of the throne where God dwells, a brilliant glory overshadowing the mercy-seat and marking the place of God's presence.

Jesus stands before or beside the heavenly ark above the mercy-seat, and between the cherubim intercession is offered. The prayers of the saints come up in faith to Jesus for the Father with sweet fragrance like beautiful colored smoke, rising with incense from a golden censer as Jesus presents them to the Father. Glory coming from the Father to Jesus is shed upon the praying ones and poured upon Jesus in rich abundance of light and glory until the train of glory fills the temple.

The detailed specifications given by Christ to Moses for building the tabernacle, belonging with Exodus 24-27, are to be repeated and taught as an example of diligence and thoroughness in work. Paul repeated them chapter after chapter to his fellow workers while working quickly and skillfully with his hands at tentmaking with Aquila, for his own benefit and theirs. By example and instruction he thus preached the gospel, teaching that supreme honor is to be given to God and that the skill, genius, and wisdom brought into the work of building the tabernacle were given by God to be used for His glory.