The Ark of the Covenant

Sermon 67 in Series

Exodus 25:10-22
[10] “They shall make an ark of acacia wood. Two cubits and a half shall be its length, a cubit and a half its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height. [11] You shall overlay it with pure gold, inside and outside shall you overlay it, and you shall make on it a molding of gold around it. [12] You shall cast four rings of gold for it and put them on its four feet, two rings on the one side of it, and two rings on the other side of it. [13] You shall make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. [14] And you shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry the ark by them. [15] The poles shall remain in the rings of the ark; they shall not be taken from it. [16] And you shall put into the ark the testimony that I shall give you.

[17] “You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold. Two cubits and a half shall be its length, and a cubit and a half its breadth. [18] And you shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered work shall you make them, on the two ends of the mercy seat. [19] Make one cherub on the one end, and one cherub on the other end. Of one piece with the mercy seat shall you make the cherubim on its two ends. [20] The cherubim shall spread out their wings above, overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings, their faces one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubim be. [21] And you shall put the mercy seat on the top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the testimony that I shall give you. [22] There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the testimony, I will speak with you about all that I will give you in commandment for the people of Israel.

DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study Questions
1.   How does the narrative structure of Exodus teach us that we are saved for worship? How does this conflict with our me-centered culture?
2.   How is the ark both glorious and humble? How does it emphasize holiness?
3.   Why did the ark contain the Ten Commandments? What does this say about the relationship between God’s Word and our worship?
4.   What was the function of the mercy seat in Israel’s worship? What do the cherubim communicate?
5.   In what ways does the ark point to the person and work of Christ? How does it invite us to joyful and reverent worship?

References: Romans 11:36; Genesis 50:26; 2 Samuel 6:6-7; Exodus 24:12; Leviticus 16:15-16; Genesis 3:24; Psalm 80:1; 1 Peter 1:12; Romans 3:25; Hebrews 9:11-12; 1 Corinthians 6:19.