The Ark of the Covenant

"Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the showbread; which is called the sanctuary. And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; 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; And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.”

-- Hebrews 9:1-5

The purpose of the Holy Spirit in this chapter is to demonstrate three things. (1) Christ is preeminent over the Old Testament tabernacle, its furniture, priesthood and sacrifices. Those Old Testament types were all completely and perfectly fulfilled by our Savior. (2) That the Old Testament sacrifices and services of the tabernacle had no redeeming, saving efficacy (Heb. 10:1-4). The Lord Jesus Christ alone is our sin-atoning High Priest and Sacrifice (Heb. 10:5-14). (3) All the Levitical ceremonies, sacrifices, and services of the first covenant have come to their appointed end (Heb. 10:9; Rom. 10:4).

Christ Pictured

The most sacred of all things in the Jewish worship of the Old Testament was the Ark of the Covenant. Hebrews 9:1-5 describes the tabernacle, the ark, and those things which were in the ark: -- the golden pot that had manna, -- Aaron’s rod that budded, -- the tables of the covenant, -- the cherubims of glory, -- and the mercy seat.

We have reason to thank God that no one has ever found that ark! If anyone were to find it, foolish men and women would make an idol of it, make pagan pilgrimages to the “holy land” to see it, and worship it. But in its day, under the ceremonial, typical religious service of the Old Testament, the Ark of the Covenant was one of those “ordinances of divine service” which beautifully typified and pictured the Lord Jesus Christ and our redemption by him.

All the “ordinances of divine service”, all the rites and ceremonies, and the “worldly sanctuary” itself, the tabernacle, were types of Christ. We can never understand the Old Testament Scriptures until we see that everything in the Old Testament Scriptures represents, points to, and pictures Christ, our Substitute (Luke. 24:27; 44-45).

Christ Preeminent

In these opening verse of Hebrews 9 the Holy Spirit uses the tabernacle and the furniture in it to show us the excellence, pre-eminence, and glory of Christ. The tabernacle portrayed Christ in that it was glorious within, though very humble without. The brazen altar was that place where our Lord’s sufferings and death were set forth. The laver spoke of Christ our Fountain, opened for cleansing. The candlestick pictured Christ as the Light of the world. The table of showbread represented Christ as the Bread of Life. The altar of incense portrayed the Lord Jesus Christ as our Intercessor. The veil was typical of Christ the Door, the Way, whereby sinners must come to God. The Ark of the Covenant spoke of Christ as our Reconciliation.

The Ark of the Covenant is a beautiful type of Christ. It was made out of shittim wood, overlaid on the inside and the outside with pure gold, representing both the incorruptible humanity and glorious deity of our Savior. The ark was the symbol of God’s holiness, power, and glory. It was carried about from place to place upon the shoulders of the priests by staves, fitted into rings attached to the ark. Even so, Christ is carried throughout the world upon the shoulders of chosen men, through the preaching of the gospel.