By Apostle Andre Pelser
In the Old
Testament the Ark of the Covenant was probably the most precious piece of
equipment in the entire Tent Tabernacle. Moses had to make everything according
to divine specifications that were shown to him in the Mountain of the Lord.
ARK
Research
˒aron (727), “ark;
coffin; chest; box.” This word has cognates in Phoenician, Aramaic, Akkadian,
and Arabic. It appears about 203 times in biblical Hebrew and in all periods.
In Gen. 50:26, this word represents a coffin or sarcophagus
(as the same word does in Phoenician): “So Joseph died, being a hundred and ten
years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.” This
coffin was probably quite elaborate and similar to those found in ancient
Egyptian tombs.
During the reign of Joash (or Jehoash), when the temple was
repaired, money for the work was deposited in a “chest” with a hole in its lid.
The high priest Jehoida prepared this chest and put it at the threshold to the
temple (2 Kings 12:9).
In most occurrences, ˒aron
refers to the “ark of the covenant.” This piece of furniture functioned
primarily as a container. As such the word is often modified by divine names or
attributes. The divine name first modifies ˒aron
in 1 Sam. 3:3: “And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the Lord,
where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep.…” ˒Aron is first modified by God’s covenant name, Yahweh, in Josh. 4:5. Judg. 20:27 is the first
appearance of the “ark” as the ark of the covenant of Elohim. First Samuel 5:11 uses the phrase “the ark of
the God [˒elohim] of Israel,”
and 1 Chron. 15:12 employs “the ark of the Lord [Yahweh] God [˒elohim] of Israel.”
Sometimes divine attributes replace the divine name: “Arise,
O Lord, into thy rest; thou, and the ark of thy strength” (Ps. 132:8). Another
group of modifiers focuses on divine redemption (cf. Heb. 8:5). Thus ˒aron is often described as the “ark of the covenant”
(Josh. 3:6) or “the ark of the covenant of the Lord” (Num. 10:33). As such, the
ark contained the memorials of God’s great redemptive acts—the tablets upon
which were inscribed the Ten Commandments, an omer or two quarts of manna, and
Aaron’s rod. By Solomon’s day, only the stone tablets remained in the ark (1
Kings 8:9). This chest was also called “the ark of the testimony” (Exod.
25:22), which indicates that the two tablets were evidence of divine
redemption.
Exodus 25:10-22 tells us that this ark was made of acacia
wood and measured 3 3/4 feet by 2 1/4 feet by 2 1/4 feet. It was gold-plated
inside and outside, with a molding of gold. Each of its four feet had a golden
ring at its top, through which passed unremovable golden carrying poles. The
golden cover or mercy seat (place of propitiatory atonement) had the same
dimensions as the top of the ark. Two golden cherubim sat on this cover facing
each other, representing the heavenly majesty (Ezek. 1:10) that surrounds the
living God.
In addition to containing memorials of divine redemption, the
ark represented the presence of God. To be before it was to be in God’s
presence (Num. 10:35), although His presence was not limited to the ark (cf. 1
Sam. 4:3-11; 7:2, 6). The ark ceased to have this sacramental function when
Israel began to regard it as a magical box with sacred power (a palladium).
God promised to meet Moses at the ark (Exod. 25:22). Thus,
the ark functioned as a place where divine revelation was received (Lev. 1:1;
16:2; Num. 7:89). The ark served as an instrument through which God guided and
defended Israel during the wilderness wandering (Num. 10:11). Finally, it was
upon this ark that the highest of Israel’s sacraments, the blood of atonement,
was presented and received (Lev. 16:2ff.).
The Ark went
before them
The Ark of
the Covenant of the Lord went before them to search out a resting place for
them. Moses would not go anywhere without the presence of the Lord represented
by the Ark.
When they
presumed to go up to fight without the Ark of the Covenant, they lost. Only
when they see the ark of the Lord they had to go out and follow it.
Only One
Tribe could serve before the Ark
The tribe of
Levi was separated to bear the Ark of the Covenant and to stand before the Lord
to minister to Him and to bless His name
What was in
the ark?
The book of
the Law was placed beside the Ark of the Covenant as a witness
Miracles
took place because of the Ark
When the
priests reached the edge of the river Jordan they stood in the water with the
ark and the waters dried up so that the people could cross over on dry land.
What was in
the ark?
Aaron’s rod
was in the Ark. Moses lifted his rod and the Red Sea parted.
They
conquered because of the Ark
When Joshua
faced Jericho, a great walled city, he commanded the priests to blow the
trumpets and the Ark of the Covenant to follow the priests and then the nation
had to march around Jericho for six days. On the seventh day they had to march
around it seven times and then the walls fell in and they went in and conquered
Jericho.
What was in
the ark?
Aaron’s rod
that budded when there was a dispute about the divinely chosen spiritual
leadership in the camp of Israel, was in the ark.
Divine
Provision because of the Ark
What was in
the Ark? There was an omer or two of Manna in a pot in the ark as well. This speaks
of divine sustenance during difficult times.
When the ark
was not with them the Philistines defeated Israel.
When the ark
was with Obed-Edom he prospered in every way in everything he did.
The elders
knew this and said, let us fetch the Ark of the Covenant from Shiloh and bring
it here so that it may go before us. When they brought the ark the people
shouted and praised God with such a great shout that the earth shook. Why? They
shouted because the Ark of the Covenant was in its rightful place again.
David danced
before the Ark of the Covenant in a sport-like manner.
The Shekinah
Presence was with the Ark
Solomon
dreamt that God wanted to bless Him and make him a wise, rich and famous king
in the earth. He stood before the Ark of the Covenant and made great
sacrifices. The Shekinah presence of the Lord appeared and overwhelmed all who
were standing there that they were not able to minister.
Solomon
prepared a special place for the ark of the covenant in the inner sanctuary of
the new temple which he had built and ordered the priests to fetch the ark from
the city of David, Zion, to set it in its proper place in the holy of holies in
the temple between the golden cherubim.
Prophetic
Vision regarding the Ark
Jeremiah
prophesied about a time where the ark would no longer be a physical structure
that can be touched or visited: Jeremiah 3:16
And
it shall come to pass, when ye be multiplied and increased in the land, in
those days, saith the LORD, they shall say no more, The ark of the covenant of
the LORD: neither shall it come to mindd: neither shall they remember it; neither shall
they visit it; neither shall that be done any more. [1]
Notice 3:16
– what verse of scripture immediately comes to mind? John 3:16: For God so
loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him
should not perish but have everlasting life.
In the New
Covenant things have shifted. Jeremiah prophesied that it would happen.
Apostolic
perspective regarding the Ark
If the Ark
of the Covenant was still only in one place it would mean that only one nation,
one king can be successful because of the presence of the Almighty. But in the
New Covenant based upon better promises there is a whole new modus operandi:
The Lord has created a new holy nation, a kingdom of priests, a peculiar
people, called the Church of the Firstborn, or Mt Zion and the Presence of the
Lord now dwells where the church accurately operates according to the new
design shown to Paul the apostle. The church is the new Ark of the Covenant.
The church is the dwelling place of God. We are the inner sanctuary where the
ark has found its resting place!
When Michal
despised David in her heart for dancing before the Ark of the Covenant she
remained childless and fruitless for the rest of her life.
We need to
know how to cherish the ark of the presence of God they way Israel cherished
the physical ark. We do not need to build another physical one, because the
real one, of which Moses made a replica, still exists – in heaven!
The original
Ark still exists!
Revelation
11:19
And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was
seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and
voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.
[2]
The Good
News regarding the Ark
The Ark of
the Lord’s Presence is the church because each believer has now become a temple
of the Spirit of God
I
Corinthians 6:19
Our body is
now the temple of the Holy Spirit and when we gather together in His Name the
ark of the presence of God is there! When we meet collectively the Presence of
God increases and we have all the privileges that the tribe of Levi and the
High Priest had to commune with the holy and most high God on a personal level
without being wiped out or destroyed. If anyone dared to enter the presence
without God’s approval they would fall down dead!
Therefore we
hold the presence of the Lord in High Regard: we revere His Presence in our
midst and we hold it in high esteem that our fleshly bodies have become the
habitat of our Lord.
The Ark of
His presence brings refreshing, power, sustenance, provision and prosperity as
well as peace, joy and right standing with God.
We no longer
look for a wooden box with a stone tablet, a rod and some bread in it. There is
not only one location where the ark is being kept. We do not have to go to
Jerusalem to see it or to experience the presence of the Lord, because we have
already come to Mt. Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem called the Church of the First
Born, to an innumerable company of angels, to the elders in heaven and to the
Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant based upon better promises.
We can dance
before His presence because the Ark of His Presence is with us. We do not have
to transport it in. We do not have to go and fetch it. It is here with us.
The Ark is
here! So let us shout until the earth shakes – because the same Ark that opened
the Red Sea and the River Jordan, the same Ark that caused the walls of Jericho
to collapse, the same Ark that brought great victories over the enemies of
God’s people is here with us! The same Ark where forgiveness of all the sins of
the people was obtained is here with us – it is the Ark of the Presence of the
Lord Jesus Christ in the Church, in us, as believers!
He will
sustain us, He will uphold us, He will support us and He will prosper us and
give us victory after victory and His presence will continually Refresh us as
we gather in His Name and bring glory to Him.
When Roger
Teale prophesied over me as a young man he said the people will say wherever I
go, ‘you are a refreshing’. I did not comprehend it at that time but now I know
it is the Ark of the Presence of the Lord that brings that refreshing wherever
I go.
When Nola
and I returned from Australia after holding 56 concert campaigns throughout
that land, I asked the Lord what our rewards would be. He told me that His
Presence would go with us wherever we go and that His Presence would be
manifested wherever we go. He also gave me a promise that our children would
have peace and that they would be blessed of the Lord so that they could be a
blessing to others and that they would be taught of the Lord.
Now others
who have entered into our labors already share in the same blessings given to
us. We have entered into the blessings of the Ark of the Presence of the Lord.
So let us
rejoice and be glad for the Ark has found its resting place – in us!
When we
realize that the Ark of His Presence is with us when we worship the Almighty
God, we can ask whatever we will and He will do it for us. Then he makes His
face to shine upon us and gives us peace and prosperity. He guides us and leads
us throughout our lives. Because of His presence – Immanuel – he strengthens
the weak, heals the sick, provides for the needy, and forgives our sins. He is
the All Sufficient One, El Shaddai.
We get to
know Him by all His redemptive names. He penetrates our limited, broken human
existence and reveals Himself to us as Elohim, the Lord our strength and might.
Elohim refers to the origin of everything that sustains everything. He sustains
our lives. He is our righteousness, our holiness, our wisdom and our provider.
He is our Shepherd and our Judge. He is our Heavenly Father and our Soon Coming
King.
We no longer
look for a magic box to gain magical powers to rule the world and to draw
riches to us: we are the temple of the Holy Spirit and when we meet together
the Ark of His Presence is revealed and all things become possible to those who
believe.
That is why
we lay down our lives for one another. That is why we sanctify ourselves for
the benefit of us all. That is why we overcome things that hinder the presence
of God in our lives.
God is Spirit and those who worship Him must
worship Him in Spirit and Truth. That is why we dance – before the Ark of His
Presence – like David danced before the Ark when it came to Jerusalem. We are
already linked with the heavenly Jerusalem, the Church of the Firstborn, where
Jew and Gentile are one creature: Christian believers in a church.
What a
refreshing it brings! What redemption! What a great salvation we have because
of the Ark of His Presence! Hallelujah!
d come to mind: Heb. come upon the heart
[1]The
Holy Bible : King James Version. 1995 (electronic ed. of the 1769 edition
of the 1611 Authorized Version.) (Je 3:16). Bellingham WA: Logos Research
Systems, Inc.
[2]The
Holy Bible : King James Version. 1995 (electronic ed. of the 1769 edition
of the 1611 Authorized Version.) (Re 11:19). Bellingham WA: Logos Research
Systems, Inc.