On the sides of the ark there were four rings of gold, two on each side, through which long staves, covered with pure gold, were placed. The ark was carried by means of these staves as the children of Israel moved from place to place on their journey through the wilderness. It reminds us, as we have remarked before, of our pilgrim character, for the ark went ahead of the people each time they moved. We, too, are to follow Christ as we go on in our “wilderness journey” (ch. 17:1) through this world. The staves were never taken out until the ark was brought into Solomon’s temple. Solomon’s temple is a figure of the temple that will be built in Jerusalem in a future day when the Lord Jesus reigns over the earth in peace. Then “traveling days” will be over, and Christ will have His rightful place on earth as well as in heaven.
The Contents of the Ark
Three things were to be put inside the ark: the golden pot full of manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of stone on which the ten commandments were written. The manna typifies Christ as the bread of God who came down from heaven (John 6:32-3332Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. 33For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. (John 6:32‑33)). Aaron’s rod — that dry stick which budded, blossomed, and brought forth almonds — would tell us of Christ who went into death and rose again, the victor over all the power of the enemy. All the fruit of His work is because of His resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:2323But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. (1 Corinthians 15:23)). The tables of the covenant in the ark would remind us of how the Lord Jesus was the only One, who, in the midst of the law-breaking nation, could “magnify the law, and make it honorable” (Isa. 42:2121The Lord is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honorable. (Isaiah 42:21)).
Glories of Christ
How beautifully all these things, placed inside the ark, present to us the glories of Christ. Few dared to look inside the ark, and any who did were smitten dead (1 Samuel 6:19-2019And he smote the men of Beth-shemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the Lord, even he smote of the people fifty thousand and threescore and ten men: and the people lamented, because the Lord had smitten many of the people with a great slaughter. 20And the men of Beth-shemesh said, Who is able to stand before this holy Lord God? and to whom shall he go up from us? (1 Samuel 6:19‑20)). This should be a warning to us, for we are never to try to understand the mystery of the person of Christ. The Lord Jesus was perfect God and perfect man at the same time, and although we cannot understand it, we must believe it, and hold “the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience” (1 Tim. 3:99Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. (1 Timothy 3:9)). If we try to fathom it, we are sure to be smitten, but rather let us wonder, worship and adore as we think of the way God has revealed Himself in the Son. “No man knoweth the Son but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and He to whomsoever the Son will reveal Him” (Matt. 11:2727All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. (Matthew 11:27)).
The Mercy Seat
As we think about this wonderful ark, and how it typifies Christ in all the glory of His Person, the first question that arises in our minds is, “How can we who are sinners be in His presence?” God has not left us without a perfect answer to this important question. On the top of the ark was the mercy seat, and referring to it, God said, “There I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat” (ch. 25:22). Let us then carefully examine the instructions as to this wondrous place of meeting. We are told that the mercy seat was to be equal in size to the ark, for all the claims of divine righteousness must be met before the sinner can be in the presence of God, and therefore the mercy seat must be the full size of the ark, which typified the Person of Christ. Indeed, Christ is both “the Ark” and “the Mercy Seat,” and there can be no approach to God except through Him.
Further Meditation
1. Why were those who tried to look into the ark killed?
2. Where in the New Testament is the teaching of the Mercy Seat presented?
3. Notes on the Tabernacle by J. T. Armet does a wonderful job of presenting simply many of the figures contained in the tabernacle.