THE TABERNACLE: THE ARK AND MERCY SEAT

Read: Exodus 25:10-22; 37: 1-9.  The Ark of the Coveant was a box or chest, 1 1/2 cubits long, (45″) 1 1/2 (27 in.) wide and 1 1/2 high.  The Mercy Seat, a slab of solid mounted with two gold cherubim, resting on the Ark and thus was its lid.

1. THE MATERIALS OF THE ARK: THE PERSON OF CHRIST

Exodus 25:10-11.  The two materials (wood & gold) formed into one box, speaks of the two natures (human & devine) of that one person.  Christ, IT WAS MADE OF WOOD: CHRIST IS HUMAN.  Acts 2:22 “Jesus of Nazareth, a man.”  I Timothy 2:5 “man.”  IT WAS MADE OF GOLD:  CHRIST IS DIVINE.  Isaiah 9:6 “the mighty God”; Matthew1:23 “God with us.”  John 10:30  “I and my Father are one.”

2. THE POSITION OF THE ARK. THE PREEMINENCE OF CHRIST

Exodus 25:10.  When instructing Moses to build the Tabernacle, God singled out the Ark as being of special importance. 

IT WAS THE FIRST ARTICLE DESCRIBED.  Exodus 25:10.  So Christ, the God-Man, must be first with us.    Colssians 1;16-18.  “in all things He might have the preeminence.” 

IT WAS THE ONLY ARTICLE IN THE HOLY OF THE HOLIES.  Exodus 40:3 “there in the Ark.”  Who but Christ is worthy of being always in God’s presence?  Proverbs 8:30; John 1:18. 

IT WAS THE CENTER OF THE CAMP OF ISRAEL.  God dwelt in the midst of His people;  His presence was on the Ark.  Exodus 25:8; 29:45.  We gather around Christ.  Matthew 18:20 “gather in (unto) My name…in the midst.”

3. THE CONTENTS OF THE ARK: THE PERFECTION OF CHRIST

Exodus 25:16 “put into the ark the testimony (tables of law)” 

IT WAS PRIMARILY THE DESPOITORY OF THE LAW.  No man in Israel could be entrusted with God’s Law, but it could rest in the ark, a type of Christ.  Deuteronomy 10:1-5; Psalm 40:8 “The law is within my heart”; John 8:29 “I do always those things that please Him.” 

IT ALSO CONTAINED THE GOLDEN POT OF MANNA.  Exodus 16:33-34; Hebrews 9:4.  Christ not only please God, but also meets man’s needs, as the manna did.  John 6:35,37. 

IT LATER HAD PLACED IT IN AARON’S ROD.    Numbers 17:1-10.  Divine approval with authority belongs to Christ without reserve.  John 5:36-37.  The proof is that as the dead rod budded, so Christ was raised, Romans 1:4

4. THE PURPOSE OF THE ARK: THE WORK OF CHRIST

IT WAS A MERCY SEAT:  THROUGH CHRIST GOD SHOWS MERCY TO MAN.  Romans 3:25 “Christ Jesus…a propitiation (Greek, “mercy seat”) Ephesians 2:4-7 “rich in mercy…grace..  through Jesus Christ.” 

IT WAS A MEETING PLACE: THROUGH CHRIST MAN COMES TO GOD.  Exodus 25:22 “there will I meet…cummune with thee’ Psalm 80:1.  I Timothy “there is one mediator between God and man.”  John 14:6 “no man cometh unto the Father but by Me.”