God's Presence

Now in our daily reading (Exodus37-38) we see the further construction of the Tabernacle.

Exodus 37:1 “1 Now Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood…”

We saw the instructions for this in Exodus25.

This was the most important item to be placed in the Tabernacle, & it was the only piece w/in the second compartment of the Tabernacle, known as the Holy of Holies or the Most Holy Place.

In the Holy of Holies is where God’s “shekinah” (the dwelling of the Divine presence of God) rested

The ark was a rectangle shaped chest, 2’3” wide, 3’9” long & 2’3” high & made of acacia wood w/04 legs & than overlaid on both the inside & outside w/gold.

It also had 04 rings that were to be used by 02 gold covered poles, which is how the ark was to be carried.

The ark had many names besides the “ark of the covenant”. It was also called “the ark of God” (1Samuel03.03), “the ark of the Lord” (Joshua03.15), “the ark of the Lord GOD” (1Kings02.26), “the ark of the testimony” (Exodus25.22) because the tablets of the 10 Commandments were in it, “the holy ark” (2Chronicles35.03), & the ark of Your [God’s] strength (Psalms132.08).

The ark represented the power & authority of God in Israel.

The Mercy Seat-This was the cover of the ark. This mercy seat was 2’3” wide, 3’9” long w/02 cherubim facing each other on the lid, which was to be made from a solid piece of gold.

These cherubim were to represent the angels in the presence of God (2Kings19.15; Psalms80.01; Psalms99.01-02; Isaiah37.16)

The ark is a picture of Jesus.

-It was made of wood, which speaks of his humanity.

-But it was completely overlaid w/gold, which speaks of His deity.

- Inside of it, Moses put the 02 stone tablets that were the 10 Commandments. According to Hebrews09.04-05 the ark also contained a jar of manna & Aaron’s rod that budded. These objects tell us that the Law of God was in Jesus’ heart & He perfectly obeyed & fulfilled it (Psalms40.06-08; Hebrews10.05-09).

-He is the Bread of Life who gives eternal life to all who receive Him (John06.32)

-He lives so that we can have a fruitful life in Him (Hebrews07.16)

Once a year, on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), the high priest was allowed into the Holy of Holies, & he sprinkled the blood of the sacrifices on the mercy seat (Leviticus16). This made atonement or a covering for Israel’s sins for another year (Leviticus16.29-34). Jesus of course fulfilled this for all the sins of the world by dying on the cross for everyone as the ultimate sacrifice (Hebrews09.11-10.14).

Many times in the Bible we see the image of finding safety “under His wings.” Most of the time it refers to the wings of the cherubim in the Holy of Holies (Ruth02.12; Psalms17.08; Psalms36.07-08; Psalms61.04; Psalms91.01, 04).

We, God’s people now have access into God’s presence through the blood of Jesus (Hebrews10.19-25), for He is our mercy seat, our appeasement (Romans03.25; 1John02.02), because of His blood shed for us, the throne of God is now a throne of grace.

You cannot enter into the presence of God w/o obtaining mercy from Him!