10 “Have them make an ark[b] of acacia wood—two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high.[c] 11 Overlay it with pure gold, both inside and out, and make a gold molding around it. 12 Cast four gold rings for it and fasten them to its four feet, with two rings on one side and two rings on the other. 13 Then make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold.14 Insert the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry it. 15 The poles are to remain in the rings of this ark; they are not to be removed. 16 Then put in the ark the tablets of the covenant law, which I will give you.
17 “Make an atonement cover of pure gold—two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide. 18 And make two cherubim out of hammered gold at the ends of the cover. 19 Make one cherub on one end and the second cherub on the other; make the cherubim of one piece with the cover, at the two ends.20 The cherubim are to have their wings spread upward, overshadowing the cover with them. The cherubim are to face each other, looking toward the cover. 21 Place the cover on top of the ark and put in the ark the tablets of the covenant law that I will give you. 22 There, above the cover between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the covenant law, I will meet with you and give you all my commands for the Israelites. Exodus 25: 10-22 NIV
Most historians seem to agree that the Acacia tree would have been one of the more available types of wood in this region. It is also very dense and loaded with tannins so as to be quite strong and preserved. The Bible attributes no magical properties to it as is suggested by some groups.
Gold is often mentioned in the Bible, sometimes within the refining process as a picture of purification or sanctification. It is brought up in several cautionary statements directed towards where men put their faith.
And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are my people’; and they will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’” Zechariah 13:9
“Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years. “Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts. .. Malachi 3
They cast their silver into the streets, and their gold is like an unclean thing. Their silver and gold are not able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the Lord. They cannot satisfy their hunger or fill their stomachs with it. For it was the stumbling block of their iniquity. Ezekiel 7:19
The ark carries in it the laws of God, and the top is also referred to as the mercy seat. The covenant was conditional upon the keeping of the law, but men not being able to do so is demonstrated in that once a year the priest would enter the Holy of Holies on behalf of their own transgressions and for the people's. The priest would sprinkle blood upon the mercy seat, foreshadowing the cross upon which God would atone for our sins. I will stop here with that part of it, and pick up other aspects with further study later.
The ark carries in it the laws of God, and the top is also referred to as the mercy seat. The covenant was conditional upon the keeping of the law, but men not being able to do so is demonstrated in that once a year the priest would enter the Holy of Holies on behalf of their own transgressions and for the people's. The priest would sprinkle blood upon the mercy seat, foreshadowing the cross upon which God would atone for our sins. I will stop here with that part of it, and pick up other aspects with further study later.
5 And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercy seat; of which we cannot now speak particularly. Hebrews 9:1-5
0 comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.