Jeremiah 3:16
16 When you multiply and increase in the land, in those days—this is the Lord’s declaration—no one will say again, “The ark of the Lord’s covenant.” It will never come to mind, and no one will remember or miss it. Another one will not be made.
The ark of the covenant is gone because Jesus is the fulfillment of its use.
1. The ark means protection
Genesis 6:17-18
17 “Understand that I am bringing a flood—floodwaters on the earth to destroy every creature under heaven with the breath of life in it. Everything on earth will perish. 18 But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark with your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives.
2. The covenant means redemption [deliverance from sin]
Luke 22:19-20
19 And he took bread, gave thanks, broke it, gave it to them, and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 In the same way he also took the cup after supper and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
The ark of the covenant’s cover was called the mercy seat which the priest [Aaron at the time] would go inside the curtain [the room called: the Holy of Holies] and sprinkle some of the bull’s blood for himself and afterward for the people that their sins can be atoned [have their sins forgiven].
God’s presence was above the mercy seat when Moses would come to speak to the LORD [Numbers 7:89].
So far you can see that the priest would have to bring blood to make atonement for himself and the people’s sins when entering the Holy of Holies. The room that he was entering was so holy because God would meet them there when He would speak to them.
That is why sin cannot exist in heaven next to a holy God. To approach, the Living God was so serious that you would have to take the necessary steps that God prescribed so that you can live and not die in His presence [Leviticus 16:13]. Even the angels [Seraphim], the ones with six wings who cover themselves from head to foot with four of their wings since they are always in God’s presence.
Isaiah 6:1-3
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, and the hem of his robe filled the temple. 2 Seraphim were standing above him; they each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. 3 And one called to another:
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Armies;
his glory fills the whole earth.
The items contained inside the ark of the covenant were the following:
- The two stone tablets of the Ten Commandments
- Aaron’s staff
- Manna [bread from heaven]
Let’s bring everything together and see what God was showing us through the ark of the covenant.
- God’s presence
- The atonement of sins through sacrificial blood
- God is our shepherd who leads us [the staff]
- God is our provider [manna] and our salvation
Translated to:
- Jesus is God [John 1:1] Jesus is called Emmanuel, God is with us [Matthew 1:22-23]
- Jesus is called the Word of God [Revelation 19:13]
- Jesus is our shepherd [John 10:11]
- Jesus is the savior of mankind [the bread of life, John 6:32-33]
The ark of the covenant and everything inside of it represented who God is and what He was going to do. God Himself was going to come in the person of Jesus Christ to save us.
The ark of the covenant foreshadowed this:
When a person puts their faith in Jesus Christ they will be protected from God’s judgment that was based on their sins. Christ rescued us by paying our debt [sins] in full on the cross. Jesus promised that those who put their faith in Him, will not see death [hell] but will have eternal life [to be with Jesus in heaven] after we take off this earthly body.
Jesus is our ark of the covenant. Noah, Moses, and the people of Israel were all saved by the ark. Salvation is found in no one else but in Jesus Christ [Acts 4:12]. God was the Savior of the Old Testament and is the Savior of the New Testament. There has always been one Savior, God who came in the person of Jesus.
Spiritual Minefield 