The Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 25:10-22)

10 “They shall make an ark of acacia wood. [Why start with the ark? Because it would symbolize God’s presence, which was the most important aspect of the tabernacle, not the materials or the building itself.] Two cubits and a half shall be its length, a cubit and a half its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height. [A cubit was the distance from the tip of a man’s middle finger to the end of his elbow, about 18 inches. The ark was therefore 45” long, 27” wide, and 27” high, not very large.] 11 You shall overlay it with pure gold, inside and outside shall you overlay it, and you shall make on it a molding of gold around it. [This was the impressive part. It was a “fancy” chest.] 12 You shall cast four rings of gold for it and put them on its four feet [not fully described, they keep the ark off the ground], two rings on the one side of it, and two rings on the other side of it. 13 You shall make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. 14 And you shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry the ark by them. 15 The poles shall remain in the rings of the ark; they shall not be taken from it. [They are removable but were never to be removed. Why? What is a New Testament equivalent to this symbol and the respect it deserves?] 16 And you shall put into the ark the testimony [the tablets of the Ten Words/ Commandments that are a witness to the covenant relationship between God and his people] that I shall give you.

17 “You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold. [The mercy seat is a covering, a slab of pure gold unlike the other gold-leaf surfaces of the ark. The Hebrew word means something like “accomplishment of reconciliation” or “fact of atonement.” It refers to the process of causing people to be true friends, allies, or kinsmen and not to be distant, hostile, or at odds. It is not just a cover but a constant reminder that the covenant meant the true God in his eternal kindness and love had arrange for them to enjoy reconciliation with him as the key component of the covenant.] Two cubits and a half shall be its length, and a cubit and a half its breadth. 18 And you shall make two cherubim [see Genesis 3:24, which describes a powerful, intelligent angelic being] of gold; of hammered work shall you make them, on the two ends of the mercy seat. 19 Make one cherub on the one end, and one cherub on the other end. Of one piece with the mercy seat shall you make the cherubim on its two ends. 20 The cherubim shall spread out their wings above, overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings [as if to provide a symbolic partial enclosure of protection], their faces one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubim be. 21 And you shall put the mercy seat on the top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the testimony that I shall give you. 22 There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the testimony, I will speak with you about all that I will give you in commandment for the people of Israel. [After the tabernacle is set up and the ark properly stocked, the top of the ark is put on and become the place where God would meet with Moses. Although seeing nothing, Moses would understand in faith that he is facing God. As confirmation he would hear God’s voice as the representative of the people.]