1697. The Ark–christ Our Guest–The Place of Fellowship
The Ark–christ Our Guest–The Place of Fellowship
"The Ark of the Covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; and over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat" (Heb_9:4-5).
The message concerning the Ark is given in Exo_25:10-22.
The Ark was the only piece of furniture in the Holy of Holies. We propose to give a special message on the Ark, and therefore just now we will emphasize but two or three things, based upon this fact: the Ark was the place where God met with His people, He dwelt between the cherubims.
1. God tabernacles in His Church. We "are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone; in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit" (Eph_2:20-22).
God doth not now dwell in temples made with hands. The Tabernacle has long since been destroyed, and the Ark is not there. God however does dwell in His Church.
The Church is the Ark of God.
Solomon built God a house, but Solomon's house is gone.
"Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands;" He dwells in the midst of His people.
Just here a warning word is necessary. After the glory of God had filled the Temple upon its dedication, and God was known among His people then Israel sinned. The story of her abomination and follies is told in Ezekiel 8. Then, we read in Ezekiel 10, how "The cherubims stood on the right side of the House, * * and the cloud filled the inner court. Then the glory of the Lord went up from the cherub, and stood over the threshold of the House; and the House was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the Lord's glory" (Eze_10:3-4).
Eze_10:18 tells us how "the glory of the Lord departed from off the threshold of the House, and stood over the cherubims. And the cherubims lifted up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight."
In chapter 11, Eze_11:22 and Eze_11:23, is the sad sequel: "Then did the cherubims lift up their wings, and the wheels beside them; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above. And the glory of the Lord went up from the midst of the city, and stood upon the mountain which is on the east side of the city."
There is a Jewish legend that the glory of the Lord rested over the mount for a period of six months before it finally disappeared.
Our message is plain. The Lord God is not dwelling between the cherubims today, but He is dwelling in His Church.
If God spared not His Temple of old, but the Spirit departed, think you that He will spare His Church if it is disobedient?
2. God tabernacles in the believer. What is true of the Church, as a whole, is true of the individual believer.
"What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?" (1Co_6:19).
"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" (1Co_3:16).
"If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His" (Rom_8:9).
These verses plainly teach where God is dwelling, but is there a warning here for us? There is.
Jesus Christ will never leave us, but if we grieve Him, He will hide His face. He will abide with us in manifested presence and power, only as we abide in Him.
If our body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, we must not sin against our body. Paul wrote: "For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's" (1Co_6:20).
Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR