THE ARK

The Ark of the Covenant was about the size of grandma’s cedar chest … “forty-five inches long, twenty-seven inches wide, and twenty-seven inches high” (Exodus 25:10).

It is called the “Ark of the Covenant” (Joshua 3:6), the “Ark of the Testimony” (Exodus 25:22), the “Ark of the Lord” (Joshua 3:13), the “Ark of God” 1 Samual 3:3), the “Ark of Israel’s God” (1 Samuel 5:8), and even the “ark of the covenant of the Lord of Armies, who is enthroned between the cherubim”  (1 Samuel 4:4).

It was the powerful symbol of God’s presence. When God led the Children of Israel across the Jordan River and into the Promised Land, they were led by Priests carrying the Ark (Joshua 3). When the ominous walls of Jericho towered before them, God led His people to follow the Priests carrying the Ark (Joshua 6). “Whenever the ark set out, Moses would say: Arise, Lord! Let your enemies be scattered, and those who hate you flee from your presence” (Numbers 10:35).

In the Tabernacle, the Ark was set in the Holy of Holies with it’s Mercy Seat as a covering. Atop the Mercy Seat were two solid gold Cherubim, facing one another, with their wings spread, touching at the tips. It was here, between the Cherubim, that God’s Holiness dwelt.

It was there that God promised to meet Moses. “I will meet with you there above the mercy seat, between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the testimony; I will speak with you from there about all that I command you regarding the Israelites” (Exodus 25:22).

“Lord of Armies, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you are God—you alone—of all the kingdoms of the earth” (Isaiah 37:16).

“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).