ARK OF THE COVENANT OF THE LORD

The ark with its mercy seat is a clear picture of the Lord Jesus, Rom. 3.25. There is significance in its every detail but, in particular, the shittim wood overlaid with pure gold signifies that in one glorious person there is combined absolute deity and true manhood. The virgin’s babe was Emmanuel, God with us, Matt. 1.23. The Word was God, yet became flesh, John 1.1,14. He who was ‘in the form of God’ was ‘found in fashion as a man’, Phil. 2. 6-8. ‘In him dwelleth all the fullness of the godhead bodily’, Col. 2. 9. What a mystery! He slept, then calmed the storm. He was hungry, yet withered the fig tree. He was weary at a well side, and yet omniscient. He wept at a graveside, yet displayed omnipotence. He fed a multitude and walked on water, and between times prayed! He is unique in the universe. ‘Behold your God’. ‘Behold the man’.

In the journeys of the people of Israel, the ark was central as the ranks advanced, Num. 2.17. One of the exceptions to this is in today’s narrative. For the crossing of Jordan, the ark led the way, was stationary in the river, then brought up the rear. Two thousand cubits separated it from the people, indicating that a vast gulf separates the Lord Jesus from all others. He is ‘fairer than the children of men’, Ps. 45. 2.

The ark going into Jordan pictures the Saviour’s death. Again, the great distance of two thousand cubits is significant, for His death was a lonely death. His disciples abandoned Him, the sheep being ‘scattered abroad’ as the Shepherd was smitten, Matt. 26. 31, but He was also forsaken by His God, Ps. 22. 1. On the Day of Atonement, there was ‘no man in the tabernacle’ when Aaron made atonement, Lev. 16. 17. That same day, the scapegoat was taken out to the ‘land not inhabited’, v. 22. It all anticipated the loneliness of Calvary.

The ark was carried into a rushing torrent and not a meandering stream, Josh. 3.15. It foreshadows the waves and billows of divine judgement that broke upon Him at the cross, Ps. 42. 7. With gratitude, we remember that because He sank in the deep mire, and was overflowed by the floods, Ps. 69. 2, we have been brought up out of the miry clay, Ps. 40. 2.