We are in chapter twenty-five of Exodus with our word for today which is a phrase used for the first time in the Bible. אֲרֹ֣ן הָעֵדֻ֑ת ark of the testimony or ark of the covenant. It is used 13 times in the Old Testament. Let’s start in our chapter since it is also the first time it is used in the Bible. Exodus 25:22 There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the אֲרֹ֣ן הָעֵדֻ֑ת ark of the testimony, I will speak with you about all that I will give you in commandment for the people of Israel. Not only is God going to meet Moses there but also speak to him. Once everything is set up God does meet with Moses and speak to him. Numbers 7:89 When Moses entered the tent of meeting to speak with the Lord, he heard the voice speaking to him from between the two cherubim above the atonement cover on the אֲרֹ֣ן הָעֵדֻ֔ת ark of the covenant law. In this way the Lord spoke to him. In another use we see it consecrated along with other items by anointing with oil. Exodus 30:25-29 Then use it to anoint the tent of meeting, the אֲר֥וֹן הָעֵדֻֽת ark of the covenant law … You shall consecrate them so they will be most holy. We then see our phrase used as part of what Moses inspects before the sacrificial worship was started. Exodus 39:32-33, 35 Then they brought the tabernacle to Moses: the tent and all its furnishings … the אֲרֹ֥ן הָעֵדֻ֖ת ark of the covenant law with its poles and the atonement cover. Since the original place where God met with his people in a special way was a tent it was designed to be mobile. Numbers 4:5 When the camp is to move, Aaron and his sons are to go in and take down the shielding curtain and put it over the אֲרֹ֥ן הָעֵדֻֽת ark of the covenant law. We see it being carried and part of God using it to perform a miracle so the people could cross the river. Joshua 4:16-18 Command the priests carrying the אֲר֣וֹן הָעֵד֑וּת ark of the covenant law to come up out of the Jordan.” So Joshua commanded the priests, “Come up out of the Jordan.” And the priests came up out of the river carrying the אֲר֤וֹן בְּרִית־יְהוָה֙ ark of the covenant of the Lord. No sooner had they set their feet on the dry ground than the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and ran at flood stage as before. What I find really interesting is five uses where we see the location of ark of the testimony was separated off as part of the most holy place. Exodus 26:31-34 Make a curtain of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen, with cherubim woven into it by a skilled worker … Hang the curtain from the clasps and place the אֲר֣וֹן הָעֵד֑וּת ark of the covenant law behind the curtain. The curtain will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. Put the atonement cover on the אֲר֣וֹן הָעֵדֻ֑ת ark of the covenant law in the Most Holy Place. Exodus 30:6 Put the altar in front of the curtain that shields the אֲרֹ֣ן הָעֵדֻ֑ת ark of the covenant law—before the atonement cover that is over the tablets of the covenant law—where I will meet with you. Exodus 40:3 Place the אֲר֣וֹן הָעֵד֑וּת ark of the covenant law in it and shield the ark with the curtain. Exodus 40:21 Then he brought the ark into the tabernacle and hung the shielding curtain and shielded the אֲר֣וֹן הָעֵד֑וּת ark of the covenant law, as the Lord commanded him. Because God is holy he is separated from people which the original place of worship points out. The good news is that God has solved the problem of our sin separating us from his presence through Christ work on the cross. I’ll close with this great passage. Hebrews 6:19-20; 7:18-19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf … The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.
