Arks Of The Covenant

The ark of the covenant in the Old Testament symbolizes God's presence and his dwelling with His people. In Exodus 25:22, God says, “I will meet with you there above the mercy seat.” It contained the Tablets of the Law (Ten Commandments), a pot of manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded. The Ark was placed in the Holy of Holies within the Tabernacle and later the Temple. Only the high priest could approach it, and only once a year on the Day of Atonement. The golden cover of the Ark, called the mercy seat, was where the blood of sacrifices was sprinkled, symbolizing atonement and God’s forgiveness. The Ark often went before Israel in battle or travel, signifying God’s leadership and protection.

The Ark was lost after the destruction of Solomon's temple by the Babylonians in 587/586 BCE. Some say that the Ark was looted and carried to Babylon with other temple treasures. Others say that Jeremiah hid the Ark in a cave before the destruction. (2 Maccabees 2:4–8). Ethiopian tradition holds that the Ark was brought to Aksum, where the Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion claims to house it today, and others say that it was destroyed by the Babylonians. 

However, not many people know that there are new Arks of Covenant is the New Testament. In the New Testament, Mary is the ark of the new covenant. Isaiah 7:14 says: "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel."  Immanuel means "God with us".  Just like Ark of The Covenant represent God's dwelling with us, Jesus is also God with us, carried by the ark of Mary. 

How do we know this is true? There is a connection between 2 Samuel 6 and Luke 1. that confirms that this is true.

1. David went to the house of Abinadab, which was on a hill, to bring the Ark to Jerusalem. (1 Sam 6:3).  Mary, after her pregnancy with Jesus, went to a town in the hill country of Judea, to visit Elizabeth who was pregnant with John the Baptist. (Luke 1:39)

2. Abinadab was a Levite; Elizabeth and her husband Zechariah, were also Levites. Zechariah was Levite priest. (Luke 1:5). 

3. David was afraid of the LORD that day, after the LORD struck Uzzah (son of Abinadab) when he held on to the Ark when he thought its going to fall from the bull cart. David said: "How can the ark of the LORD ever come to me?" (1 Sam 6:9).  Elizabeth, when she saw Mary, said: "But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?" (Luke 1:43) This symbolize the similarity between the Ark and Mary.

4. David left the Ark in the house of Obed-Edom for 3 months. (1 Sam 6:11). Mary stayed with Elizabeth for 3 months. (Luke 1:56). As the house of Obed-Edom was blessed when the ark was there, Elizabeth family was blessed when Mary visited her, filled with the Holy Spirit (v41) and was favored by God. (v42). 

5. David comes again after 3 months to move the Ark to Jerusalem (City of David). He wore a linen ephod, and was dancing before the Lord with all his might. He was also leaping as he dance. (1 Sam 6:14, 16). In Luke 1:44, John the Baptist, leaped for joy when he knows Mary (and Jesus,) came near to him. David, while not a Levite like John, wore a Levite priests garment, symbolizing John the Baptist. This is not a coincident. 

Conclusion

Mary is not the last and the only ark in the New Testament. Before Jesus left the earth, He said He will give us the Holy Spirit to live with us and will be in us (John 14:16-17). Romans 8:9 says "... the Spirit of God lives in you." Eph 3:16-17 says "...He may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.”   (See also 1 Cor 3:16; Gal 4:6)

In conclusion, the Ark foreshadows Christ as the ultimate meeting place between God and humanity, where mercy and covenant are fulfilled. We are the ark of the new covenant with Jesus Christ, when the Holy Spirit comes into us, because of our belief and faith in Jesus as our Savior. God is truly dwelling in us, as what the Old Testament Ark symbolized. Christ's death and resurrection has made our heart the place of Holy of Holies, the only place where God can dwell. Are our character being transformed to become the ark of Jesus? Are we surrendering ourselves to Him so that we can be devoted to him and serve him, in order to help Him build more arks of the New Covenant?  

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own.” (1 Cor 6:19)

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