Bible Study The ark of the covenant

[tim-from-pa]

I think this is an interesting bible study topic. I'd like to hear what other posters think of the ark. God gave Moses very specific instructions how to build it. What does the bible say fit into it? And was there more than one? (as some Jewish commentators claim). Needless to say, it became the supernatural focal point and played a role in Israel's religious life, their battles, demise of the enemies, and yes, even Indy movies.

 

[tim-from-pa]

It's been Monday since I posted this, now it's Saturday and no one has anything to say about the ark?

Maybe this is truly a case of Jeremiah 3:16 taking effect!

 

[John the Baptist]

It's been Monday since I posted this, now it's Saturday and no one has anything to say about the ark?

Maybe this is truly a case of Jeremiah 3:16 taking effect!

****

John here:
Replies mean very little perhaps? :wink: Go see if any one has read the question. (the 'hits' from wk. to wk.) But, so far it is you who have suggested its importance?

And surely Psalm 77:13 in the K.J.'s Inspiration agrees. Yet, it is the Great Original Ark that is in heavens Throne Rome itself, and what 'is' inside the Ark, that also bears Eternal Covenant importance. Hebrews 13:20 & Revelation 11:19.

And surely the Mercy Seat that is also Eternally EMPHASIZED & seen there! Romans 4:17's last part of the verse!

 

[Gabbylittleangel]

It's been Monday since I posted this, now it's Saturday and no one has anything to say about the ark?

Maybe this is truly a case of Jeremiah 3:16 taking effect!

Tim,
I have much more to learn on the subject than to teach. Some of the stuff I have in my notes~~~

2 Sam 6:1-11 In moving the ark of God, They put it on a new cart. Uzzah touches the ark and dies.

2Sa 6:6-7 And when they came to Nachon's threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth [his hand] to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook [it]. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for [his] error; and there he died by the ark of God.
Reason being~~
Numbers 4:20 God gives clear instructions about how to handle the ark. “Don’t touch it or you will dieâ€Â

The Philistines carried the ark on a cart. Israel followed their instructions - then followed the example of the Philistines, not God’s law.
David knew better.
How many times do you follow the examples of the Philistines rather than what we know to be God’s law? David was both mad, and afraid of God. There is a lot to learn about obedience in the study of how to move the ark.

My opinions:
I believe that the artistic representations of the ark that we have today are a bit different than what the ark actually looked like. I believe that the mercy seat was formed by the wings of the two cherubim. Much in the same way that two adults might grip hands and have a toddler sit on one set of gripped hands and lean back on the other ~ I believe that is how the wings of the cherubim appeared.I believe that the ark opened in the same manner that a modern day match box opens.

The fact that the ark disappears from Scripture...

2Ch 35:3 And said unto the Levites that taught all Israel, which were holy unto the LORD, Put the holy ark in the house which Solomon the son of David king of Israel did build; [it shall] not [be] a burden upon [your] shoulders: serve now the LORD your God, and his people Israel,

then reappears in heaven in Revelation,

Rev 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.

I tend to believe that this is where the ark is located today.

When did the ark move from earth to heaven?
In my opinion~ When Jesus died on the cross.

Mat 27:50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
Mat 27:51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

The teaching that I have gleaned on the subject does not even scratch the surface. Perhaps it will inspire a bit of conversation among the believers. Jer 3:16 should be a result of vs. 15~~
Jer 3:15 And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.

 

[tim-from-pa]

Gabby:

OK, you caught my attention. I like your viewpoint (and notes)! Actually what you say is scriptural. You understood why Uzzah died. Seems a lot of people think this is unfair on God's part, even though Uzzah was just trying to be helpful. It goes to show that sincerity, no matter how noble, does not replace truth, and what God expects of us.

I think this story of Uzzah should be taught more today, considering that people want to do what's best for God, but on their terms instead of God's.

At least that's one importance of the ark.

As for the ark being in heaven, I had one student that believed that also. Good point. I want to emphasize, that unless one takes the historicist point of Revelation, we must consider that is yet future, so the ark may be in heaven at the time that story in revelation takes place, but maybe not yet today.

 

[cyberjosh]

Perhaps it was just idle talk, but I once heard that Aaron's staff was longer than the length dimention of the ark. Some people suggested that perhaps it was inserted diagonally, others have suggested more miraculous measures such as shrinking the length of the rod (hey if a rod can turn into a snake...), or even more amazing to entertain: that the dimentions inside the ark were infact beyond its exterior physical dimentions. In following with this last suggestion it additionally suggested that because of such extra-dimentional features that time did not flow inside the ark, thus why the manna did not decay into dust or rot.

Sounds quite bizzare, but perhaps Aaron just inserted the rod diagonal afterall, or perhaps the rod wasn't really as long that person purported. Any ideas/comments?

 

[Gabbylittleangel]

The fact that it bloomed, and yielded almonds might have made it just a bit larger.


Num 17:5 And it shall come to pass, [that] the man's rod, whom I shall choose, shall blossom: and I will make to cease from me the murmurings of the children of Israel, whereby they murmur against you.
Num 17:6 And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, and every one of their princes gave him a rod apiece, for each prince one, according to their fathers' houses, [even] twelve rods: and the rod of Aaron [was] among their rods.
Num 17:7 And Moses laid up the rods before the LORD in the tabernacle of witness.
Num 17:8 And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds.


I was trying to find where Moses put the rod into the ark. The only reference I could find was this:

Hbr 9:4 Which had the golden censer, and 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;

 

[John the Baptist]

A lot of talk here. I like the ladies use of scripture. ---John

 

[tim-from-pa]

Perhaps it was just idle talk, but I once heard that Aaron's staff was longer than the length dimention of the ark. Some people suggested that perhaps it was inserted diagonally, others have suggested more miraculous measures such as shrinking the length of the rod (hey if a rod can turn into a snake...), or even more amazing to entertain: that the dimentions inside the ark were infact beyond its exterior physical dimentions. In following with this last suggestion it additionally suggested that because of such extra-dimentional features that time did not flow inside the ark, thus why the manna did not decay into dust or rot.

Sounds quite bizzare, but perhaps Aaron just inserted the rod diagonal afterall, or perhaps the rod wasn't really as long that person purported. Any ideas/comments?

You brought up a great point! (And I did not even nudge that one on). This is the reasoning I use to show that the ark of the covenant was not based on the 18 inch cubit (which was the common cubit) but a much longer cubit of about 25 inches. In that case, the ark would be the size of a small coffin and diagonally the inside length would have been about six feet.

This cubit, coined the "sacred cubit" by Sr Isaac Newton measures the length of 1/10,000,000 polar radius of the earth just as the meter is 1/10,000,000 of a quadrant. The inch is based on that measure, as are measures in the Great Pyramid. As a matter of fact, using this measure, the empty "coffer" inside the Great Pyramid would then equal the cubic volume of the ark of the covenant.

This is why the ratio of the inch to a centimeter is about 8/PI. (And many people thought that the foot was based on king so-and-so's real foot) :-D