I know they made a movie about it, but no one has found the ark of the covenant! It’s still missing! So what became of it and what are the spiritual implications of the ark?
Let’s begin with a biblical description of this artifact. In Exodus 25:10-22, God instructs Moses to construct a wooden box about 3 ¾’ long, 2 ¼’ wide, and 2 ¼’ high. Covered in gold with two cherubim on the lid, it would house the tablets of the 10 commandments, the staff of Aaron the brother of Moses, and a jar of manna (Hebrews 9:4).
The ark manifested the presence of God to the Israelites. It’s where the Lord would meet with Moses.
“There, above the cover between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the covenant law, I will meet with you and give you all my commands for the Israelites.” – Exodus 25:22
But when God’s glorious presence flooded the tabernacle, Moses couldn’t gain access for a while.
“Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. 35Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.” – Exodus 40:34-35
The same thing happened centuries later when God overwhelmed the temple.
“When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the LORD. 11And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled his temple.” – 1 Kings 8:10-11
The ark clarified God’s presence in terms of royalty and majesty.
The book of Psalms uses the images of throne and footstool to communicate this idea.
“The LORD reigns, let the nations tremble; he sits enthroned between the cherubim, let the earth shake. … 5Exalt the LORD our God and worship at his footstool; he is holy.” – Psalm 99:1, 5
“Let us go to his dwelling place, let us worship at his footstool, saying, 8‘Arise, LORD, and come to your resting place, you and the ark of your might.’” – Psalm 132:7-8
But the Jews didn’t stay loyal to their King. Sometimes, they’d remove the ark of the covenant from the temple. Where they put it, I don’t know, but their reason for doing so must have had something to do with their neglect of God’s law and their pursuit of idols. They didn’t want to deal with the presence of God.
After confronting these sins and restoring proper worship, King Josiah reminded the priests to revere the Lord’s presence.
“He said to the Levites, who instructed all Israel and who had been consecrated to the LORD: ‘Put the sacred ark in the temple that Solomon son of David king of Israel built. It is not to be carried about on your shoulders. Now serve the LORD your God and his people Israel.’” – 2 Chronicles 35:2
But Josiah’s remedies were short-lived. The Jews returned to familiar rebellion and idolatry. So God decided to take Himself away from His people.
“Then the glory of the LORD rose from above the cherubim and moved to the threshold of the temple. The cloud filled the temple, and the court was full of the radiance of the glory of the LORD. … 18Then the glory of the LORD departed from over the threshold of the temple and stopped above the cherubim.” – Ezekiel 10:4, 18
“Then the cherubim, with the wheels beside them, spread their wings, and the glory of the God of Israel was above them. 23The glory of the LORD went up from within the city and stopped above the mountain east of it.” – Ezekiel 11:22-23
The prophet Ezekiel, writing about 10-12 years before the destruction of Jerusalem, saw the glory of God rise from the ark, float over the temple, and hover over the city before wafting away.
And then came judgment! Having rejected the presence of a holy God, the Jewish nation fell to the Babylonians. 2 Kings 25:8-17 tells how they tore apart the temple and carted off anything of value.
Did the Babylonians take the ark and melt it down for its gold? Consider this sad observation of Jeremiah:
“How the Lord has covered Daughter Zion with the cloud of his anger! He has hurled down the splendor of Israel from heaven to earth; he has not remembered his footstool in the day of his anger.” – Lamentations 2:1
God let the Babylonians destroy not only the ark of the covenant, but also the temple, even the whole city of Jerusalem.
But God spoke of a second temple.
In Haggai 1, God calls the Jews to build a new house for Him. They hesitate, but relent and do what He asks. When they finish, they’re disappointed with the results. The rebuilt sanctuary lacks the quality of the first one. So the prophet Haggai buoys their spirits with promises of crowds and glory (Haggai 2:2-9).
Yes, greater glory!
“‘The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the LORD Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the LORD Almighty.” – Haggai 2:9
How can God fulfill this word if the ark is gone? According to Jeremiah, the people won’t need it.
“‘In those days, when your numbers have increased greatly in the land,’ declares the LORD, ‘people will no longer say, “The ark of the covenant of the LORD.” It will never enter their minds or be remembered; it will not be missed, nor will another one be made. 17At that time they will call Jerusalem The Throne of the LORD, and all nations will gather in Jerusalem to honor the name of the LORD. No longer will they follow the stubbornness of their evil hearts.’” – Jeremiah 3:16-17
God promises to expand His throne from the ark of the covenant to the city of Jerusalem. Since the Jews rebuilt the temple, that seems challenging but possible.
But Jesus has a different idea.
“Jesus answered them, ‘Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.’ 20They replied, ‘It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?’ 21But the temple he had spoken of was his body. 22After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.” – John 2:19-22
The glory God vows isn’t meant for a building; it’s for His Son. The resurrected Christ embodies the glory of God. He is the One whom the Father has installed as King.
And God invites us to enter His kingdom. Through our allegiance to Jesus, He transforms us Christians into His temples.
“Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? 17If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.” – 1 Corinthians 3:16-17
“As you come to him, the living Stone–rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him– 5you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” – 1 Peter 2:4-5
As there’s no need for an ark of the covenant on earth, so also a temple is unnecessary. We find God’s glory–His royal presence–in Jesus Christ. And through His Spirit, we share the Lord’s splendor and majesty with others.
Where is the ark of the covenant? It’s in Christ, and Christ is within us, His people. That’s the gospel!
(Listening to the discussion in Episode 158 of the Naked Bible Podcast informed and inspired me to write this post.)
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