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Study Series

Lesson Seven: The Ark of the Covenant: Part Four- The Ark As A Type Of Christ

 

This lesson is a simple summary of the typology between the Ark of the Covenant and Our Lord Jesus.

 

        The Ark of the Covenant is the most important piece of furniture in the Old Testament. God places such a great importance on it that there are more references to the Ark than to any other piece of furniture. For this reason a closer study of the history of the Ark is warranted and needed. In fact, it will be seen that the history of the Ark is prophetic of the history of the New Testament Ark, the Lord Jesus Christ. As the Ark was first and foremost in Israel's history, so Jesus Christ is preeminent in all things before the Father and in the Church.

 

Col. 1:17-19  - And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. [18] And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. [19] For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell; 

 

        The journeying of the Ark speak of the Lord Jesus Christ in his birth, anointing, life, ministry, death, resurrection, glorification and second coming. It is in fact HIS-STORY! This lesson is but a seed-chart to encourage you to study further into the Ark's history and see the typology of the Lord Jesus Christ:

 

The History Of The Ark of the Covenant

 

The Ark was made according to the pattern by the enablement of the Spirit of God in wisdom. (Ex. 35:31-36:3); Christ Jesus was made (Galatians 4:4) by the wisdom and Spirit of God (Luke 1:35)

 

Exodus 35:31-35  - And he hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship; [32] And to devise curious works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, [33] And in the cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of wood, to make any manner of cunning work. [34] And he hath put in his heart that he may teach, both he, and Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. [35] Them hath he filled with wisdom of heart, to work all manner of work, of the engraver, and of the cunning workman, and of the embroiderer, in blue, and in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even of them that do any work, and of those that devise cunning work. 

 

Galatians 4:4  - But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 

Luke 1:35  - And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. 

 

There were three coverings for the Ark in transit. Jesus was the Fullness of the Godhead bodily. (Col. 2:9)

 

·         The Covering Veil - symbolic of Christ's flesh (Hebrews 10:20)

·         The Covering of Badger's Skin - symbolic of no natural beauty (Isaiah 52:14)

·         The Cloth of Blue - symbolic of the Lord from heaven (1 Corinthians 15:47)

 

Hebrews 10:20  - By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 

Isaiah 52:14  - As many were astonished at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men: 

1 Cor. 15:47  - The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. 

 

The Ark was never exposed to the peoples eyes in the wilderness walk. (Numbers 4:44-45); Jesus as the Son of God was hidden from view in His earthly body, the veil.

 

The Ark of the Testimony was anointed. (Exodus 30:26); Jesus was anointed to be a Testimony (Luke 4:18 and Acts 10:38) The voice of God spoke from off the Ark (Exodus 25:22 and Numbers 7:89); and confirmed the Sonship of Jesus (Mark 9:7 and Matthew 3:17)

 

The Israelites found the Ark of Strength (Psalms 132:6-8); Philip declared that "we have found Him." (John 1:45)

 

Psalm 132:6-8  - Lo, we heard of it at Ephratah: we found it in the fields of the wood. [7] We will go into his tabernacles: we will worship at his footstool. [8] Arise, O Lord, into thy rest; thou, and the ark of thy strength. 

The Philistines wanted to know what they should do to the Ark. (1 Samuel 6:2); The scribes and Pharisees communed one with another what they might do to Jesus (Luke 6:11)

 

The Cloud overshadowed the Ark in the Tabernacle (Exodus 40:34-38); Jesus was overshadowed by THE CLOUD on the Mount of Transfiguration (Mark 9:2-8)

 

In connection with the Ark was a visible manifestation of the Glory of God (Exodus 40:33-38); The visible manifestation of the Glory of God shown through the veil of Christ's flesh (Matthew 17:1-2 and Revelation 1:16) There was rejoicing and shouting before the Ark as it entered the city (2 Sam. 6:12-18); Jesus was heralded by rejoicing and shouting as He entered the city (Matthew 21:8-9)

 

 Those who despised the coming of the Ark were smitten with physical barrenness (2 Sam. 6:20-23 and 1 Chronicles 15:29); those who despised and rejected Christ were left in spiritual barrenness (Luke 19:41-44)

 

2 Samuel 6:20-23  - Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel today, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovers himself! [21] And David said unto Michal, It was before the Lord, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the Lord, over Israel: therefore will I play before the Lord. [22] And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honor. [23] Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death. 

1 Chron. 15:29  - And it came to pass, as the ark of the covenant of the Lord came to the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul looking out at a window saw king David dancing and playing: and she despised him in her heart. 

 Luke 19:41-44  - And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, [42] Saying, If you had known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. [43] For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, [44] And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because you did not know the time of thy visitation. 

 

The Ark of God was carried out of Jerusalem and across the Brook Kidron with the rejected King David (2 Sam 15:23-24); Jesus fulfills this remarkably when He crossed the Kidron with His disciples in rejection's darkest hour.

 

John 18:1  - When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples. 

 

When the Ark was taken, Israel fled (1 Samuel 4:10); When Christ was taken the disciples fled (Matthew 26:31,56)

 

The Philistines wanted to know what they should do with the Ark (1 Samuel 5:8); Pilate wanted to know what he should do with Jesus (Matthew 27:22) The Ark was placed on a new cart (1 Samuel 6:7-13); Jesus was nailed to a cross (Matthew 7:32)

 

The Ark experienced a journey of three days and three nights (Numbers 10:33-36). In this time the tabernacle was taken down and the glory departed as they went to find rest. But the glory returned when it was once again set up; Jesus experienced a journey of three days and three nights. His body (the tabernacle) was taken down and the Glory departed as He died to give us rest (Matthew 11:30). In the resurrection the Glory returns and He is set up at the right hand of God.

 

Numbers 10:33-36  - And they departed from the mount of the Lord three days' journey: and the ark of the covenant of the Lord went before them in the three days' journey, to search out a resting place for them. [34] And the cloud of the Lord was upon them by day, when they went out of the camp. [35] And it came to pass, when the ark set forward, that Moses said, Rise up, Lord, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee. [36] And when it rested, he said, Return, O Lord, unto the many thousands of Israel. 

 

The Ark led the way into the Jordan, the river of judgment, 2000 cubits ahead of the others, and then held back the waters for the others to go across (Joshua 3:3-15); Jesus entered into and conquered the waters of death 2000 years before the experience of the Church at this end of the age, and he restrained its power until our crossing.

 

Hebrews 12:1-2  - Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, [2] Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 

Romans 6:3-4  - Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? [4] Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 

Col. 3:1-4  - If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. [2] Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. [3] For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. [4] When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. 

 

The Ark was sprinkled in connection with atonement (Lev. 16:14); By Jesus Christ, we now receive the atonement (Romans 5:11)

 

The Ark was positioned "in the midst" of the camp as they marched and at rest (Numbers 2:17 and 10:14-28); Christ is also positioned "in the midst" of His Church (Matthew 18:20; John 19:18 and Revelation 1:13)

 

Presuming to fight without the Ark meant sure defeat (Numbers 14:44-45); attempting to stand against Satan without Christ means sure defeat

 

When the Ark was lost there was no victory or Glory (1 Samuel 4:3-22); When Christ is outside the camp there is no Glory or victory

 

Israel shouted when the Ark came into the Camp (1 Samuel 4:5-6), but it caused a trembling in the Camp of the enemy (v.8-9); When Christ comes to His Church there is great joy and rejoicing, but to the world outside its causes fear and trembling.

        

The Ark meant judgment in the Camp of the enemy; but it was great blessings to the people of God (1 Samuel 5 cp. 2 Samuel 6:11); Christ and the things of God have a two-fold effect:

 

2 Cor. 2:15-16  - For we are unto God a sweet savor of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: [16] To the one we are the savor of death unto death; and to the other the savor of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? 

 

The Ark was the place for enquiring after the Lord concerning His will (Joshua 20:18-28); Christ, our Ark, is the only Mediator and High Priest

 

1 Tim. 2:5  - For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 

Hebrews 7:26-27  - For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; [27] Who needs not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. 

There was to be a continual ministry before the Ark with musical instruments (1 Chronicles 16:4, 37, 42); We are to minister before the Lord in a like manner. (Col. 3:16 and Eph. 5:19)

 

No god can stand before the Ark of the Living God (1 Samuel 5:1-4); Every knee must bow to the Lordship of CHRIST (Phil. 2:1-10; John 18:6)

 

Seven priests and seven trumpets preceded the Ark when Jericho collapsed. At the seventh time, on the seventh day, at the sound of the seventh trumpet there was a shout and all things collapsed. The Kingdom was possessed (Joshua 6 and Hebrews 11:30); At the end of the Book we see seven angels with seven trumpets before the Ark (Rev. 11:18-19). There is a great shout that ushers in the end of the age and possession of the Kingdom (Rev. 11:15 and 1 Thes. 4:16)

 

Rev. 11:18-19  - And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that you should give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and should destroy them which destroy the earth. [19] And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail. 

The Ark is placed "in the midst" of two companies, one on Mt. Ebal and the other on Mt. Gerizim. One company receives blessing, and the other receives cursing (Joshua 8:30-35 and Deut. 37:28). A day is coming when Christ will be "in the midst" of two companies, those on the right or the sheep and those on the left or the goats. One group receives blessing, and the other receives cursing (Matthew 25:32-46).