(11) Bringing up the Ark

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THE Temple was pre-eminently the resting-place of the ark.
When the building was finished, Solomon and the people brought up from Gibeon “the Tabernacle of the congregation (“tent of meeting”) with all its sacred vessels (2 Chron. 5:55And they brought up the ark, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and all the holy vessels that were in the tabernacle, these did the priests and the Levites bring up. (2 Chronicles 5:5)). This is the last historical notice of the spiritually suggestive sanctuary which Moses built in the wilderness. None of its sacred vessels entered Solomon’s Temple. With the ark it was different. It had not been in the Tabernacle since the sad days of Eli. David pitched for the ark a tent in Zion, the Tabernacle being in Gibeon. The ark was brought up from its Zion tent by Solomon and the people with all possible honor. “In it (the Temple) have I put the ark, wherein is the Covenant of Jehovah that He made with the children of Israel” (2 Chron. 6:1111And in it have I put the ark, wherein is the covenant of the Lord, that he made with the children of Israel. (2 Chronicles 6:11)).
There are points of difference between David’s removal of the ark from Kirjath-Jearim to Zion, and Solomon’s removal of it into the Temple. Both were days of national rejoicing, but there was a holy enthusiasm in David that was peculiar to himself, and which was very precious to God. “David danced before Jehovah with all his might: and David was girded with a linen ephod” (2. Sam. 6:14). This was not mere fleshly excitement, but unfeigned delight in God. God was coming nearer to His servant! Michal might despise his manifestations of joy, but God estimated them at their true worth. Wholeheartedness is surely due to such a God as ours!
Thus did David delight to speak to his God. “Lord, save us all from dead decent formality in divine things; give us David’s spirit!”
“There was nothing in the ark save the two tables which Moses put therein at Horeb when Jehovah made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of Egypt” (2 Chron. 5:1010There was nothing in the ark save the two tables which Moses put therein at Horeb, when the Lord made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of Egypt. (2 Chronicles 5:10)). The ark had also contained a golden pot full of manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, as Hebrews 9:44Which 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; (Hebrews 9:4) reminds us; but these spoke of wilderness needs which were now past. The tables of stone remained, for they formed the basis of all the laws of the kingdom. Nehemiah in his confession (ch. 9:13) acknowledged that they were “right judgments, and true laws, good statutes, and commandments.” “The law is holy,” says Paul the Apostle (Rom. 7:1212Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. (Romans 7:12)). What a different world it would have been had the Kings of Israel and all the nations carried out its every injunction!
When the priests came out of the holy place, having drawn the staves out of the ark, the Levitical choir arrayed in white linen, took their stand at the east end of the altar of burnt-offering, and sounded with their cymbals, psalteries, and harps, and with them 120 priests blew their trumpets. The voice of praise ascended to heaven. They “praised Jehovah, saying, For He is good: for His mercy (loving-kindness) endureth forever” (2 Chron. 5:11-1311And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place: (for all the priests that were present were sanctified, and did not then wait by course: 12Also the Levites which were the singers, all of them of Asaph, of Heman, of Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, being arrayed in white linen, having cymbals and psalteries and harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them an hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets:) 13It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the Lord, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the Lord; (2 Chronicles 5:11‑13)). The terms of this divinely-taught ascription of praise, found frequently in the Psalms, are a guarantee of future restoration and blessing for Israel. The people and their kings have deeply failed; but Israel’s God will never fail.
But what was the meaning of all this exuberance of joy when the ark was thus placed in the Temple? To the outward eye it was but a small gold-covered chest, beside which the brazen altar looked immense. The ark was the symbol of Jehovah’s presence, and He who in Moses’ day accepted the Tabernacle in the wilderness and took up His abode therein was now a second time coming to dwell in the midst of His people. But faith would not confound the symbol with the reality. Solomon showed in his prayer that he had GOD before him that day. In the evil days of Hophni and Phinehas the people sent for the ark “that when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies” (1 Sam. 4:33And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the Lord smitten us to day before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies. (1 Samuel 4:3)). We wonder not that the benighted Philistines so mistook the symbol for the reality that they trembled when they heard the Israelites shout with triumph at the sight of the ark, and said, “God is come into the camp... woe unto us!” But Israel should have known better, and God so resented their superstitious carnality that He let the sacred ark fall into the enemy’s hand (Psa. 78:6161And delivered his strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemy's hand. (Psalm 78:61)). At a later date when the people cared nothing for Jehovah and His commandments, and yet gloried in their possession of sacred externals, He said, “The heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool: where is the house that ye build unto Me? and where is the place of My rest? For all those things have My hand made, and all those things have been, saith Jehovah: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit and trembleth at My word” (Isa. 66:1-21Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? 2For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. (Isaiah 66:1‑2).). Thus the heart of a humble man, right towards God, was a more agreeable dwelling-place for Him than Jerusalem’s costly temple. Our God loves reality. Two or three humble souls who come together because they delight in Him are more to the Lord Jesus today than all the imposing ritual of Christendom. “There am I in the midst of them.” But there must be reality of heart, and sensitiveness of conscience concerning His will, else the simple conventicle is no more acceptable to Him than that against which it protests. Nay, it can be even more offensive in His sight because of its high pretensions. The exercised reader would do well to read carefully Jeremiah 7:1-71The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, 2Stand in the gate of the Lord's house, and proclaim there this word, and say, Hear the word of the Lord, all ye of Judah, that enter in at these gates to worship the Lord. 3Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place. 4Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord, are these. 5For if ye throughly amend your ways and your doings; if ye throughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbor; 6If ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed not innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other gods to your hurt: 7Then will I cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, for ever and ever. (Jeremiah 7:1‑7).
Jehovah answered Israel’s outburst of praise in a remarkable way. “The house was filled with a cloud, even the house of Jehovah, so that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of Jehovah had filled the house of God” (2 Chron. 5:13-1413It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the Lord, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the Lord; 14So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of God. (2 Chronicles 5:13‑14)). The same thing happened to the Tabernacle, so that even Moses could not enter (Ex. 40:3535And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. (Exodus 40:35)). Moses, as mediator, had privileges beyond those of Aaron, but even he could not go into the sanctuary at that supreme moment. Ezekiel gives us the sorrowful history of the departure of the glory when Jehovah felt constrained in righteousness to forsake His house. Chapter 9:3; 10:4, 18; 11:23 describe the stages of its departure, as if God was most reluctant to give up His people. Chapter 10:4 tells us that “the court was filled with the brightness of Jehovah’s glory,” and chapter 11:23 records that the glory-cloud paused on the mountain on the east side of the city (Olivet) before its final removal. Hear the word of Jehovah: “I will go and return to My place, till they acknowledge their offense, and seek My face: in their affliction they will seek Me early” (Hos. 5:1515I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early. (Hosea 5:15)). What it cost the heart of Jehovah thus to deal with the people of His choice is beyond our understanding. “How shall I give thee up?... Mine heart is turned within Me, My repentings are kindled together” (Hos. 11:88How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? how shall I set thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together. (Hosea 11:8)). “The Lord of all the earth” (Josh. 3:1111Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passeth over before you into Jordan. (Joshua 3:11)) became as regards His governmental dealings “the God of heaven” (Dan. 2:3737Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. (Daniel 2:37); Ezra 7:2525And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know them not. (Ezra 7:25)). The glory-cloud returned to the land for one brief moment when our blessed Lord was upon the Mount of Transfiguration, but only three men were favored to behold it (Matt. 17:55While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. (Matthew 17:5)). They testify to us that in Him God found that delight that He has never yet found in Israel. Ezekiel was not only shown the glory departing from the Temple, he was also shown its return in happier days yet to come, when the repentant nation will say to the long-rejected Jesus, “Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord” (Matt. 23:3939For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. (Matthew 23:39)). Here is Ezekiel’s prophetic vision, “the glory of Jehovah came into the house (the Millennial Temple) by the way of the gate whose prospect is toward the East... behold, the glory of Jehovah filled the house” (Ezek. 43:4,5; 44:24And the glory of the Lord came into the house by the way of the gate whose prospect is toward the east. 5So the spirit took me up, and brought me into the inner court; and, behold, the glory of the Lord filled the house. (Ezekiel 43:4‑5)
2Then said the Lord unto me; This gate shall be shut, it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter in by it; because the Lord, the God of Israel, hath entered in by it, therefore it shall be shut. (Ezekiel 44:2)). By the way of the East it went; by the way of the East it will return.
“Thick Darkness”
When the cloud filled the Temple, Solomon made a statement which demands some attention. “Jehovah hath said that He would dwell in the thick darkness” (2. Chron. 6:1). The words recall Exodus 20:2121And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was. (Exodus 20:21): “Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.” These passages suggest to us most vividly the contrast between knowing God as Lawgiver, and as “the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Such language as Solomon used is impossible for saints today. However intimate may have been the communion of Moses and Solomon with the God of Israel, they did not know Him as the humblest believer is entitled to know Him now. God was not yet fully revealed, for the Only-begotten Son who is in the bosom of the Father had not come forth from heaven to declare Him (John 1:1818No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. (John 1:18)). All that God is has come out in the person and sacrifice of the Lord Jesus. Accordingly, God is said to be “in the light,” and Christians are in the light with Him (1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)). “God is light” is another thing. Light is His nature. “In the light,” and “in darkness” are terms which set forth His relations with men dispensationally. Peter tells us that God “hath called us out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:99But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: (1 Peter 2:9)). We are therefore “sons of light, and sons of the day” (1 Thess. 5:55Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. (1 Thessalonians 5:5)). “Ye were once darkness (says Paul), but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light” (Eph. 5:88For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (Ephesians 5:8)). This is practical consistency with the exceeding grace of God. 1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7) (so frequently misunderstood) is not intended to teach us how we should walk, but where. The “how” is found in the following chapter. “He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked” (1 John 2:66He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. (1 John 2:6)).
Solomon next publicly “blessed the whole congregation of Israel: and all the congregation of Israel stood” (2 Chron. 6:33And the king turned his face, and blessed the whole congregation of Israel: and all the congregation of Israel stood. (2 Chronicles 6:3)). Only three kings ever publicly blessed the people of God (so far as the records speak), and they were all outstanding types of Christ-Melchizedek (Gen. 14:1919And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: (Genesis 14:19)); David (a Sam. 6:18); and Solomon. Then Solomon blessed Jehovah on the people’s behalf. “Blessed be Jehovah, God of Israel, who hath with His hands fulfilled that which He spake to my father David” (2 Chron. 6:4-114And he said, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who hath with his hands fulfilled that which he spake with his mouth to my father David, saying, 5Since the day that I brought forth my people out of the land of Egypt I chose no city among all the tribes of Israel to build an house in, that my name might be there; neither chose I any man to be a ruler over my people Israel: 6But I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there; and have chosen David to be over my people Israel. 7Now it was in the heart of David my father to build an house for the name of the Lord God of Israel. 8But the Lord said to David my father, Forasmuch as it was in thine heart to build an house for my name, thou didst well in that it was in thine heart: 9Notwithstanding thou shalt not build the house; but thy son which shall come forth out of thy loins, he shall build the house for my name. 10The Lord therefore hath performed his word that he hath spoken: for I am risen up in the room of David my father, and am set on the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised, and have built the house for the name of the Lord God of Israel. 11And in it have I put the ark, wherein is the covenant of the Lord, that he made with the children of Israel. (2 Chronicles 6:4‑11)). In all the doings of the great day of the consecration of the Temple, the High Priest is never mentioned. Everything was under the direction of the king. This brings home to us the great change that took place in Jehovah’s dealings with Israel when the priestly house broke down in the days of Eli. God said concerning the priest for days to come, “He shall walk before Mine anointed forever” (1 Sam. 2:3636And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left in thine house shall come and crouch to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread, and shall say, Put me, I pray thee, into one of the priests' offices, that I may eat a piece of bread. (1 Samuel 2:36)). The priest became secondary to the king. God’s King ultimately is Christ. All blessing depends upon Him, and all authority is vested in Him.