The Ark History

It must be remembered that the ark is about 500 years old at this time. It's history is a bit unusual - it seems to go in and out of the memory of Israel. (2 Samuel 6)

•It was made at the time of the exodus, at the direction of God. This was a time at which the Law was being given, and some of that law concerned the ark as well. But in the time of Moses and Joshua, the ordinances seem to have been followed strictly.

•The ark was seen as the visible symbol of God's power. In its presence the Jordan stops flowing at flood stage; at its presence the walls of Jericho fall down flat. Whatever else might be thought, here is power.

•Even the Philistines know this. They capture the ark (because of the evil of the sons of Eli, the priest.) Things immediately start going wrong for the Philistines. They put it in the temple of Dagon; Dagon falls flat on his face before the ark. The Philistines are smitten with a plague - of hemorrhoids. They shift it from city to city, and finally send it back to Israel on a newly made cart, with gold offerings for atonement. When the Israelites get it, some look into it - and are killed. This thing is dangerous.

•It sits. For almost 75 years it is practically ignored by Samuel and Saul. It is not until David remembers the legendary power of the ark that it comes into the history of Israel again.

Rules

God seems to be rather strict about this piece of hardware.

•While in transit, it is to be covered so that no irreverence may be done to it.

•It is to be carried on poles - so that God will ride above the backs of the people, not behind them like a captive in a cart.

•Only certain people - the descendants of Kohath - can carry it. God chooses, not us.

•And - interestingly - when the High Priest went into it, he was to use so much incense (a symbol of prayer) that it clouded over the top of the ark, called the Mercy Seat.

Political Significance

David is an astute politician. He knows that he is ruling over a country of tribes, and the ark does two things for him:

•By having it in his possession, he connects himself with the Moses and Joshua of legend - completing his image in the minds of the people as a man after God's own heart. Here is a symbol of power.

•More than that, it is a symbol of the unity of the twelve tribes. There are twelve tribes, but only one ark. He who possesses it can legitimately claim to be the ruler of all Israel.

Spiritual Significance

Of far more importance to us, however, is its spiritual significance. There are three very important aspects:

•It is the "ark of the Testimony." It, by its very existence, testifies both to the miraculous deliverance of the Jews from the land of Egypt (a type of sin) and their own sinful ways, which God dealt with in the wilderness.

•It is said to carry the "name of the Lord." To a society in which a man's name was much more than a label, it was the one item which at this time could be said to represent God in physical form.

•It is at the mercy seat that God met Moses. This was not unique; Samuel met him there also. This is the one spot on earth where God speaks to the prophets. This is, literally, the voice of God.

Life of David - Look On The Heart

To arrive at the Holy of Holies from the outer court, we would have already passed through three entrances: the gate, the door and the veil. We have now come to the ark which is not a room with an entrance but a holy cabinet. Ah, but there are objects inside the ark which can only be accessed by opening the lid, i.e. the mercy seat.

The objects that we shall encounter in the ark are by far the most revealing typologically. We begin with manna, the water symbol noted earlier. According to Ex 16:14, they came with the morning dew (WATER) and appeared like frost (WATER). They melted (WATER) when the sun waxed hot (Ex 16:21). God told Moses in Ex 16:4, "I will rain bread from heaven for you." The Hebrew word used here for rain (WATER), 'matar' , is the same word used for the rain that caused Noah's Flood (Gen 7:4). The evidence that manna is pointed to by water is incontrovertible.

The other three objects in the ark are: Aaron's rod that budded, the Book of the Law, i.e. the Torah (Deu 31:26) and the 10 Commandments. The latter two are a natural pair since the 10 Commandments are 10 out of the 613 laws of the Torah. Isaiah provides a vital clue to the symbolic identities of the Torah and the two stone tablets. We read in Isa 2:3-4a, "And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people."

This prophecy will clearly be fulfilled during the Millennial Kingdom. It also foreshadows the ultimate fulfillment when Christ shall reign eternally at the start of the 8th Millennium. The 10 Commandments, the official law of a theocracy, is pointed to by the THRONE, symbolizing God's rule. According to Isaiah, all nations of the world shall go to Jerusalem, the house of God, i.e. TEMPLE, to learn of His ways by studying the Book of the Law, the Torah, for during the Millennial Kingdom "the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea." (Isa 11:9, Hab 2:14)

The last object, Aaron's rod that budded, is left with the LIGHT symbol to match. It is not a force-fit as it may first appear since Aaron's rod is almost like the Lampstand -- an obvious LIGHT symbol! Both share these common features: a central shaft with branches, almonds, flowers and buds! (Ex 25:33, Num 17:8)

The symbolic meaning of the almond rod is even more significant. There must be a good reason why Aaron's rod budded almond of all fruits. The almond blossoms in January. It is the first to bloom in the spring while other trees are still sleeping. It is the harbinger of spring -- the wakeful one. The Hebrew for "almond", shaqed, comes from the root, shaqad, meaning to be vigilant or awake, i.e. sleepless, hence to be on the lookout. Is this not required of the priest charged with trimming the Lampstand!?

The parable of the ten virgins (Mat 25) is a perfect illustration of the almond rod a.k.a. Lampstand. The fire goes out if one is not vigilant in trimming the lamp and refilling the oil. To keep the fire burning requires constant zeal (LIGHT). For this reason, to the lukewarm Laodiceans the Lord issued this warning, "be zealous therefore, and repent." (Rev 3:19)

Hence the almond rod signifies watchful, zealous and prompt service of the priesthood, appropriate characteristics of LIGHT. Light is service and works (Mat 5:16). The first vision given to Jeremiah proves the almond-zeal connection.


Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond [shaqed] tree. Then said the LORD unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten [shaqad] my word to perform it. (Jeremiah 1:11-12)

There is a play on words here. The Hebrew for "almond", shaqed, is morphed into its Hebrew root word, shaqad, meaning hasten or watch. The idea is, the God who slumbereth not (Ps 121:3, 4), watches His word to perform it speedily -- the meaning of the almond rod. Does not Scripture say no less than three times "the zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform..." ? (2 Kings 19:31, Isa 9:7, Isa 37:32) Thus Aaron's almond rod points to the LIGHT symbol convincingly.

The Pentecost Age was fulfilled by the Spirit, who was poured out as Living WATER (John 7:38-39).

WATER is the symbol of the Spirit.

He was sent by the Son (John 15:26, 16:7).

The Son provided the Spirit as the Comforter, the Spirit of truth (John 15:26).

The words of Jesus (John 16:13-14) are ILLUMINED by the Spirit. The Spirit is the Seven Lamps of Fire burning before the throne of God (Rev 4:5).

LIGHT is the symbol of the Son.

The Son whose symbol is LIGHT, ministers with the Father's symbol, TEMPLE.

The Spirit whose symbol is WATER, ministers with the Son's symbol, LIGHT.

The Father whose symbol is TEMPLE, ministers with the Spirit's symbol, WATER

Bible students have long known that deep secrets of God are hidden in the Tabernacle of Moses. Concerning its construction, Moses was instructed by God to "make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount." (Heb 8:5) The pattern did not originate from this world and it conceals eternal symbols and truths. The feasts of Israel -- the key to prophecy -- the blueprint of God's redemption -- are integral to the design.

Then the Lord said to me. "You have seen well, for I am READY to perform My Words. (Jeremiah 1:12)

READY, Shaqad (Shahkahd), Watching, waking, hastening, anticipating: to be sleepless, alert, vigilant; on the lookout; to care for watchfully.

This verb occurs 12 times, including PS 127:1: Unless the LORD guards the City, the watchman stays awake in vain."

The Tabernacle of Moses Feasts & Symbols by John Trig

Joyful Heart Renewal Ministries: Lifting Hands to Worship by Dr. Ralph F. Wilson

~Debi Webster~