The Ark of the Covenant

Exodus 25 - 27 contain the instructions given to Moses for the construction of the tabernacle and its furniture.  As these instructions were carried out the Jews probably had no idea what they really represented.  The Hebrew writer informs us they were a type or shadow of heavenly things.
Hebrews 8:5 reads, “Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed thee in the mount.”  Hebrews 9 continued the thought.  We find, “the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God” (verse 6).  This first tabernacle was the holy place of the tabernacle (later the temple) where there was the table of shew bread, the golden lampstand, and the altar of incense. The priests had several duties which were performed there daily.  Luke 1 records Zacharias, father of John the Baptist, taking his turn to burn the incense during the morning hour of prayer.

But the holy of holies, or most holy place was a different matter.  It was separated from the holy place by a large, thick curtain. Inside was the ark of the covenant.  The ark contained the two tables of stone with the ten commandments written on them, a golden pot of manna, and Aaron’s
rod which blossomed in the wilderness to show God’s selection of Aaron and his descendants for the priesthood.  On top of the ark was the mercy seat.  This was where the blood of atonement for sins was sprinkled.  It was also where God dwelled among the people, they considered it His
dwelling place.

Hebrews 9:7,8 notes, “But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while the first tabernacle was yet standing.”  The holy of holies of the tabernacle and temple represented heaven.  The way became manifest when Jesus ascended to heaven following His death, burial, and resurrection.  His entrance was different from the earthly high priests.  They entered with the blood of animals to atone for their own sins as well as for the sins of the people.  Jesus went into God’s presence with the blood shed at Calvary.  He went in once for all time.

The action of the high priest entering once a year into God’s presence in the mercy seat represented the coming of Jesus to the Father in heaven with His own blood shed for the forgiveness of sin.  He has presented it at the true mercy seat in heaven, and Jesus needed to do so only once for all time.  The way into heaven is now manifest, it is through Jesus and the new covenant He established.

—Denny