We must meet God’s demands, because he is the highest authority. The ark of the covenant reveals five attributes of God and each one implies a duty for us.
I. Holiness of God
The ark was constructed of wood but covered by gold, a symbol of God’s holiness. Because God is holy, he demands that we be holy (Lv. 19:2; Mt. 5:48). To be holy is to be committed to thinking, saying and doing everything he commands and turning away from everything he forbids.
II. Faithfulness of God
In Exodus 16, God fed his people with bread from heaven called manna. To help his people remember his constant faithfulness, he commanded, “Take an omer of manna and keep it for the generations to come, so they can see the bread I gave you to eat in the desert when I brought you out of Egypt” (16:32). After the ark was constructed, this jar of manna was kept in the ark. Samuel’s parting words to his people reminded them, as so many prophets did, that the only proper response to God’s faithfulness is to be faithful: “Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you” (1 Sa. 12:24).
III. Sovereignty of God
The cherubim and the space above them illustrated that God reigns in absolute sovereignty above all creation. God is frequently described as being enthroned above the cherubim (2 Kg. 19:15; Ez. 1:5-11, 13, 14; Ps. 99:1; 80:1; Rev. 11:19). Inside the ark was also a testament to God’s sovereignty—Aaron’s staff. The Aaronic priesthood was pointing to Jesus the perfect priest who as the sovereign Son of God humbled himself to redeem us. Is there an implied command for us? Jesus himself said there is, “But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Mt. 20:25-29).
IV. Justice of God
The most important artifacts placed in the ark were the two stone tablets upon which God had etched the law. This mutual, covenantal relationship between God and his people is described generically in Scripture as “just” or “righteous.” The Bible says justice as applied to human relationships has five characteristics which offer infinitely better answers to the concerns spanning the spectrum between care for the individual and care for humanity as a whole. Those five facets are: 1) Voluntary sharing of resources; 2) Dignity and equality for every human being; 3) Corporate responsibility; 4) Individual responsibility; and 5) Advocacy for the marginalized.
V. Mercy of God
The lid on the top of the box was called the “mercy seat.” On top of that lid were the cherubim symbolizing the throne of God. Once a year on the Day of Atonement the high priest would slay a goat and pour the blood all over the mercy seat (Lv. 16). God contaminated the beautiful image he had constructed of himself with the blood of an innocent victim in order to cover the even more repulsive record of those who sinned against his grace. Jesus illustrated what God intended more vividly with the story of the Pharisee and the Publican. While the Pharisee looked at the Publican and tried to justify himself in contrast to that “sinner,” the tax collector did not even look up. He only cried out to the Lord, “have mercy on me a sinner” (Lk 18:13).
Questions for Reflection/Discussion:
- Which of the attributes of God illustrated by the ark resonated most with you? Why?
- What implications does that attribute of God have for who you are?
- How can you respond to that attribute of God with your life?
For Further Study:
For a full explanation of the 5 categories of biblical justice, see Timothy Keller, “A Biblical Critique of Secular Justice and Race Critical Theory,” https://quarterly.gospelinlife.com/a-biblical-critique-ofsecular-justice-and-critical-theory/.