I don’t know if you are a fan of the Indiana Jones movies, but one of them was called “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” In the movie, Indiana goes on an expedition looking for the Ark of the Covenant. Obviously, their journey was fictional, even though it made for great theater, if you like those kinds of pictures.
However, the Ark of the Covenant itself was not fictional but very real and extremely important to the nation of Israel. If you are not sure what the Ark of the Covenant is, let me give you a quick answer which I will expound on. The Ark represented the presence of God going with the people of Israel and his covenant to them.
Now let’s see what else we can learn to help us understand – what is the Ark of the Covenant?
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Where Does the Bible Discuss the Ark of the Covenant?
In describing the Ark and the process for building it, God gives his people some very meticulous details. You can read the full description of these in Exodus 25. God made a request that the people of Israel bring an offering for the building of a sanctuary for him.
“The Lord said to Moses, ‘Tell the people of Israel to bring me their sacred offerings. Accept the contributions from all whose hearts are moved to offer them” (Exodus 25:1-2).
“Have the people of Israel build me a holy sanctuary so I can live among them. You must build this Tabernacle and its furnishings exactly according to the pattern I will show you” (Exodus 25:8-9).
In reading these verses we see that God’s desire was to live among his people. He required an offering, from those who were willing, to build a sanctuary for his presence to dwell among the people on earth.
On a side note, does that sound familiar to you? In today’s terms, God still requests an offering, which is your heart, from those who are willing. This means that you have to let him in of your own free will, so he can live in you and among you. Remember Jesus’ words in Revelation 3:20:
“Behold, I’m standing at the door, knocking. If your heart is open to hear my voice and you open the door within, I will come in to you and feast with you, and you will feast with me.”
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Why Is the Ark So Important in the Old Testament?
With God’s desire to be with his people, he had to build a place for his presence to dwell amongst them. Remember in the Old Testament God’s Spirit or presence dwelt among his people. In the New Testament God’s Spirit dwells within his people. What the Ark of the Covenant would become is the place where God’s presence dwelt. Here are some of the dimensions for building the ark. Again, you can read the full details in Exodus 25.
“Have the people make an Ark of acacia wood — a sacred chest 45 inches long, 27 inches wide, and 27 inches high. Overlay it inside and outside with pure gold, and run a molding of gold all around it. Cast four gold rings and attach them to its four feet, two rings on each side. 13Make poles from acacia wood, and overlay them with gold. Insert the poles into the rings at the sides of the Ark to carry it. These carrying poles must stay inside the rings; never remove them. When the Ark is finished, place inside it the stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant, which I will give to you. ‘Then make the Ark’s cover — the place of atonement — from pure gold. It must be 45 inches long and 27 inches wide” (Exodus 25:10-17).
As you can see, very precise details. What is also interesting is what is in the Ark of the Covenant. We see God’s commandments and the place for atonement. Keep in mind the building of the Ark of the Covenant was part of the larger building of the tabernacle. So as important as the Ark was, it was one piece of a larger framework.
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What Was the Ark Used For?
When the tabernacle was completed, the Ark was eventually placed in the Most Holy Place or the Holy of Holies. Exodus 40:1-3 tells us “Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Set up the Tabernacle on the first day of the new year.Place the Ark of the Covenantinside, and install the inner curtain to enclose the Ark within the Most Holy Place.’”
One of the things about the Ark of the Covenant and the presence of God is that it was serious business. You couldn’t just enter the Most Holy Place any way you wanted to. If you did, it meant certain death. Here is God’s warning to Aaron:
“The Lord spoke to Moses after the death of Aaron’s two sons, who died after they entered the Lord’s presence and burned the wrong kind of fire before him. The Lord said to Moses, ‘Warn your brother, Aaron, not to enter the Most Holy Place behind the inner curtain whenever he chooses; if he does, he will die. For the Ark’s cover — the place of atonement — is there, and I myself am present in the cloud above the atonement cover” (Leviticus 16:1-2).
As I mentioned, only the high priest - in this case Aaron and his descendants - were allowed to even enter the Most Holy Place. The high priest, beginning with Aaron and his sons, eventually flowing down to the Levites, would enter once per year on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, and offer the sacrifice for the sins of the people.
There was also a long list of requirements necessary before Aaron, and eventually the high priests after him, could enter the Most Holy Place. These are detailed in Leviticus 16. So aside from it being the place where God’s presence dwelt, it was also the place of annual sacrifice for the atonement of the people.
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Presence of God or Good Luck Charm?
The reason the Ark was so important to the Israelites was because it represented God’s presence being with them. They knew that as long as God was with them, then God’s provision and God’s protection would also be with them as well. Sadly, eventually the nation of Israel began to see the Ark not as representative of God’s presence but as a good luck charm.
In 1 Samuel 4 after being defeated by the Philistines they decided to bring out the Ark because that would ensure certain victory. It didn’t and they were soundly defeated losing 30,000 soldiers and facing the embarrassment of the Philistines capturing the Ark.
The Israelites completely missed what the Ark of the Covenant was supposed to be and sometimes we do the same to God. We treat God as the good luck charm to get us out of trouble regardless of how we have been living. The idea of living however you want, disregarding everything God asks you to do, living a life of total disobedience and then just saying a prayer when you are in trouble and everything will work out is not how it works. God is not obligated to help those who choose to live in willful disobedience. The person that God looks to help is the one who has completely put their trust in him.
“For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him” (2 Chronicles 16:9).
The Ark was not a good luck charm back then and God is not one now.
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Why Did People Die if They Touched the Ark?
There is the story of transporting the Ark in 1 Chronicles 13. Long story short the Philistines had captured the Ark, as we mentioned earlier, but when they had it they experienced God’s judgment so they sent it back to the Israelites. In his zeal, David sought to move the Ark to Jerusalem, however he did not move it according to the instructions God had previously given.
Even though the nation of Israel had great celebration and rejoicing over moving the Ark, they neglected to follow God’s instructions. This is a reminder that zeal alone is not enough and to make sure you are following what God tells you to do.
They decided to transport the Ark on a cart pulled by oxen and when one of the oxen stumbled Uzzah reach out to steady the Ark and he died when touching it. The reason Uzzah died is because David did not follow the instructions God had given for the way to transport the Ark. Only the Levites were allowed to transport the Ark. Later however David learned his lesson.
“David now built several buildings for himself in the City of David. He also prepared a place for the Ark of God and set up a special tent for it. Then he commanded, ‘No one except the Levites may carry the Ark of God. The Lord has chosen them to carry the Ark of the Lord and to serve him forever’” (1 Chronicles 15:1-2).
This is a simple reminder of how important it is to do things God’s way. If you do then he will honor your obedience.
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What Happened to the Ark of the Covenant?
I started this article talking about Indiana Jones. That is important not just in talking about what the Ark of the Covenant is, but where it is today.
The truth is no one really knows. There are lots of thoughts and ideas but nothing concrete. There is an interesting article about what happened to the Ark on Compelling Truth.
We know that after the Babylonians conquered Jerusalem they took over the temple, but we don’t know what became of the Ark. I guess that’s why the story of trying to find it makes for a good movie.
As you can see the Ark was vital to Israel in the Old Testament. It played an important role in their everyday lives. If you look at the history of the kings in Israel however, it’s safe to say that over time the importance and value of the Ark shifted depending on who was king. What the Ark of the Covenant meant to some kings it did not have the same level of sacredness to other kings.
When you fast forward to today there is good news. Regardless of what happened to the Ark, you have access to God’s presence. There is no longer a curtain between you and the Most Holy Place. Because of the atonement for our sins made by Jesus Christ, you now can come into the presence of God. This is a special privilege reserved not just for the Levites but for all who carry Christ in their hearts as Savior and Lord. This gives you access.
I encourage you today to take advantage of what Christ has done for you and spend time in that Most Holy Place. After all God wants you there because his desire has not changed. He wants to dwell among his people, and that my friend means you.
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