In the Old Testament, God’s presence was symbolised by the ark of the covenant, that wooden chest, covered in gold, which contained the two stone tablets of the Ten Commandments as well as Aaron’s rod (Numbers 17:1-13) and a pot of manna (Ex 16:4), and which featured so prominently in the history of Israel. The ark of the covenant (which has featured in many different fictional films, my favourite being the Indiana Jones film ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’) may have been a simple chest, but the things it contained and, above all, the things it symbolised – chiefly the presence of God – became extremely important to God’s people. According to the book of Exodus, while Moses was on Mount Sinai for 40 days receiving the Ten Commandments, God showed him the pattern for the tabernacle which would house the ark of the covenant and all the furnishings which would go into the tabernacle and Moses instructed Bezalel and Oholiab to build these things (see Ex 31:1-11). Ex 25:10-22 gives us a detailed description of the ark: it was to be approximately 131 cm x 79 cm x 79 cm (52 x 31 x 31 inches), made of acacia wood, covered entirely with gold, with four gold rings to be attached to its four corners, two on each side so that poles could be inserted through these to carry the ark. A golden lid or ‘atonement cover’ was on top (this is often known as the ‘mercy seat’ because the cloud which represented the presence of God would rest on this cover and from that place He would dispense mercy to man when the blood of the atonement was sprinkled there.) Gold cherubim were put above the lid.
The ark of the covenant was the place where God’s holy presence would dwell; it came to symbolise not only all that God had already done for His people through the things it contained, but the very presence of God Himself. It was situated in the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle and only the high priest could enter that place, and even then only once a year. When the Israelites were in the wilderness and travelling on only when the cloud by day or pillar of fire by night moved, the ark was transported by the Levites who carried it on the poles; because the ark symbolised God’s presence, no one was allowed to touch it. God was so holy, so utterly different from sinful mankind, that no person could touch the ark and live; there was to be reverence, awe and obedience in how the ark was handled.
The ark played an important role as the Israelites crossed the River Jordan to possess the land of Canaan. During the crossing, the river grew dry as soon as the feet of the priests carrying the ark touched its waters and it remained dry until the priests left the river with the ark after the people had passed over (Josh 3:15-17, Josh 4:10, 11, 18). In the Battle of Jericho, the ark was carried around the city once a day for seven days, preceded by the armed men and seven priests sounding seven trumpets of rams’ horns (Josh 6:4-15). On the seventh day, the seven priests sounding the trumpets before the ark went round the city seven times and this time they gave a great shout and the walls of Jericho fell down flat (Josh 6:19-20). Later on, we see Joshua praying and lamenting before the ark (Josh 7:6-9); we see him reading the law to the people at the site where the ark was situated (Josh 8:33). Later, God’s people consulted the ark for guidance (Judges 20:26-28). One of the darkest periods of Israel’s history was when the Philistines captured the ark of the covenant and took it back with them (1 Sam 4-5).
Ps 132 looks back at the rescue of the ark of the covenant (see 2 Sam 6) and remembers God’s faithfulness and help. We do well to look back at history and remember the abiding presence of God, resting on the promise He has given us that He will never leave us or forsake us. (Heb 13:5)