1708. The Ark of the Covenant

The Ark of the Covenant

Exo_25:10-23

Christ in the Presence of God for Us (Heb_9:24).

Christ in the Presence of God–The God-man (Exo_25:10-11).

The Tables of the Law (Exo_25:16).

The Pot of Manna (Exo_16:33).

Aaron's Rod (Heb_9:4).

The Mercy Seat (Exo_25:21-22).

The Cherubim (Exo_25:20).

This is the final study upon the Tabernacle and its furnishings. We have a very interesting thing to notice by way of introduction. When God gave the order for the building of the Tabernacle, and for its furnishings, He began with the Ark.

He said, "Let them make Me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the Tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it" (Exo_25:8-9).

Immediately, the order for the making of the Ark follows. God always begins His work from Christ and works outward. Everything is centered in the Son of God, and everything radiates from the center.

God works, in salvation from within, outward. Before He tells us how to live, He gives us a new life.

Man puts Christ last, in everything. Man's idea of salvation is to begin with himself; to lift himself up, above himself. He wishes to do everything he can in his own strength, before he appeals to the strength of the Living God.

Human religion has very little to do with the "Holy of Holies," where God is.

Human religion consists in cleaning the outside of cups and of platters; its chief effort is given to garnishing sepulchers.

Men of the world seem to have no greater ambition than to appear righteous unto men. Their religion consists in a series of outward observances; they delight in building tombs for the prophets; they make broad their phylacteries; they enlarge the borders of their garments; they seek the upper rooms, at the feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogue; they accept the greetings of men; they make long prayers, pay tithes, create proselytes.

In all of this, human religionists never pass within the Tabernacle. They scarcely enter the outer court.

God begins from the Holy of Holies, where Christ is, and plans out the whole story of redemption.

God begins in the human heart, where sin is, and works out the marvelous riches of His grace.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR