The Ark of the Covenant

 

 

 

 

Exodus 25:10-22

 

September 29, 2024

 

The Ark of the Covenant

“They shall make an ark of acacia wood. Two cubits and a half shall be its length, a cubit and a half its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height.  You shall overlay it with pure gold; inside and outside shall you overlay it, and you shall make on it a molding of gold around it.  You shall cast four rings of gold for it and put them on its four feet, two rings on the one side of it, and two rings on the other side of it.  You shall make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold.  And you shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry the ark by them.  The poles shall remain in the rings of the ark; they shall not be taken from it.  And you shall put into the ark the testimony that I shall give you.

One must always remember that God’s ways are higher than ours, and when we believe our plan is better, we are in for some painful surprises. Many people have a better plan, but God has given us the account of King David, who came up with a quicker way to move the Ark, and it cost the life of the man who stopped it from coming off the cart that was being pulled by an animal, not carried by the poles.

When we, as Followers of Jesus Christ, try to put anything, politics, religion, power, or wealth, into our lives and not Jesus, we are in trouble, for Jesus said, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33

 

“You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold. Two cubits and a half shall be its length, and a cubit and a half its breadth.  And you shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered work shall you make them, on the two ends of the mercy seat.  Make one cherub on the one end, and one cherub on the other end. Of one piece with the mercy seat shall you make the cherubim on its two ends.  The cherubim shall spread out their wings above, overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings, their faces one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubim be.  And you shall put the mercy seat on the top of the ark, and in the ark, you shall put the testimony that I shall give you.  There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the testimony, I will speak with you about all that I will give you in commandment for the people of Israel.

 

The first time my pastor called us all messes, my first thought was I’m not sure that was true, so I began to search my heart and the Scriptures, and guess what, he was 100% correct.  Yes, we have been washed clean by the blood of our Lord, but we all fall short of God’s glory.  Aren’t you thankful that God gave us a mercy seat, in that He knew before one of us was created that we would need mercy, that we deserved judgment, but His grace was given so that we would be able to respond to His offer of forgiveness and love.

 

Each of us has tried to carry our ark another way; we have all at some time tried to put something in the Ark that God did not design nor desire for our lives.  Many are putting jobs, children, money, sports, and pleasure before God.  That is a long way from “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.” 

 

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice