In my Bible reading, I've been making my way through I & II Chronicles. Some parts are hard to get through with all the strange names. (Pssst . . . I never really liked learning names and dates in history class either. That's what Chronicles is all about - keeping records of history.)
But, ever so often, something stands out. II Chronicles 5:9 says," And they drew out the staves of the ark, that the ends of the staves were seen from the ark before the oracles; but they were not seen without, and there it is unto this day."
When God gave Moses instructions on how to build the Tabernacle, all the pieces of furniture were carried by long poles. The Ark of the Covenant was not to be touched by anyone. (Uzzah found out the hard way in II Samuel, chapeter 6. )
Whenever the Israelites moved from place to place, they packed up the Tabernacle and everything it contained and carried it to where God told them to stop. Many times, the Ark was carried into battle or to wherever the Israelites thought it would be a good place, but it was not always where God wanted it to be.
King David looked around at his palace in Jerusalem, and he thought it not right that the Ark was still in a tent. He decided to make a temple - a place to worship the Lord. God told David that he was a man of war, and that his son Solomon would build the temple.
God told Solomon to build on Mount Moriah. This spot, out of all the places on the whole earth, is special to God. This is where He tested Abraham and later David. This is where Melchizadek lived. This is where Jesus will reign as King in the millenium.
Solomon built a magnificent building of gold and polished brass and precious stones. When he put the Ark within the new temple, the staves were taken from their rings. They had been left in place before now. Why are they taken out at this time? I don't really know why . . . but I wonder if it was to show that this is where it would stay. That this where God would establish His place to be worshiped on earth. He would never leave.
Emmanuel
(God With Us)
He tells us this over and over in His Word:
"For the Lord thy God is with thee, withersoever thou goest." (Joshua 1:9)
"I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." (Hebrews 13:5)
What a comforting thought!
2 comments:
The Ark of theCovenant and the Temple is a fascinating study. Names in the scriptures all have meaning when translated and many times those names are true to their character. I love to think on Emmanuel, God with us. thanks for sharing.
Thanks, Colleen. I've been thinking about this for a while. I think there may be even more to it.
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