In previous chapters, we see God delivering His Law to man with instructions to follow after God. In this chapter, God gives Moses instructions for constructing the Tabernacle and its instruments of worship in order that He might dwell with man. Specifically, the Ark of the Covenant would provide the means by which sins could be covered and fellowship with God restored. The articles to be placed inside the Ark were:
1. The 10 Commandments (v16-17)
2. Aaron’s rod (Num. 16-17)
3. Manna (Ex. 16:32-34)
Here is a picture of where God’s Judgment would meet His Mercy & Grace.
Ex. 25:16-22 “And thou shalt put into the ark the testimony which I shall give thee. And thou shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof. And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat. And make one cherub on the one end, and the other cherub on the other end: even of the mercy seat shall ye make the cherubims on the two ends thereof. And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be. And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee. And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.”
LESSON - The three articles within The Ark were symbols of God’s judgment. Above them was a place established by God to provide mercy and grace by the sprinkling of blood from an innocent sacrifice. Here God would receive the prayers from the High Priest in the Holiest Place and forgive their sins. God had not come to merely lead them, but to dwell with them. The Cross was the ultimate fulfillment of all of this, done so that we might fellowship with Him through His word and prayer. Remember this the next time you have a tendency to take your devotions for granted! He desires to “...meet with thee, and ...commune with thee...”
~Mike