By finding the ark, we find a truth about God. He has always made Himself available. Tracking through God’s Word we find revelation. As we seek God with all our hearts, we find truth. The word ark is sprinkled all the way into the New Testament, and into us.  We discover that Behind the Curtain, in the Weighty Presence of the glory of God, the Holy Spirit teaches us, convicts and comforts us.

Since we have been rescued from the strict law, it is time that we make our personal exodus from the religion of man which is; rituals or religious acts; focusing on living a moral and decent life on our own strength; and fellowshipping exclusively with other believers. A true Biblical focus for believers is to enter into the Presence of God so that we may know Him and enjoy hearing His voice while happily receiving His blessings, and orders to speak and act on His behalf.

In the beginning, in the Old Testament God told Moses to build a tabernacle that would host His holy Presence.  Moses pitched a precise tent for the purpose of God dwelling with His people.  Historically Israel hosted God’s holy Presence, His manifested glory for 1,000 years inside the Holy of Holies, inside the temple in Jerusalem.  In the first temple court, continual miracles occurred. Animal sacrifices were placed on the alter and the meat never spoiled. (We sacrifice the selfish desires of our flesh, and our offering never spoils. We too experience continual miracles as we obey the Holy Spirit to go and speak)

In the second court of the temple referred to as the Holy Place, the priests celebrate God’s provision. A place where they burned incense, lit the menorah, laid out the showbread which never become stale. (Today the Holy Place is in heart and mind of believers. As we keep our minds focused on God;, the fire of God’s love burns hot as we sacrifice our time to meditate on God’s Word. The Bread of Life never grows stale)

A large thick curtain or veil hung between the Holy Place and the third court of the Temple called the Holy of Holies. The golden Ark of the Covenant was placed behind the curtain.  It is where God’s glory dwelt. (God’s glory dwells within our soul, the secret place of the Most High God) The Hebrew word for dwell is Shakan.  We dwell in the Holy Presence of God’s Shekinah glory. The ark was designed according to God’s specific instruction. (God also gives us specific instructions to abide in Him) The Ark was the container constructed to host the visible Shekinah of God.  We have been built by God to host the Holy Spirit and to bring God glory on earth as it is in heaven.

“But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark—you and your sons and your wife and your sons’ wives with you.” Genesis  6:18 Noah’s ark was built by specific instructions out of Cypress wood. “The Lord then said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and your whole family, because I have found you righteous in this generation.” Genesis 7:1 Then God spoke to Moses and commanded another ark to be built. “Have them make an ark of acacia wood.” Exodus 25:10 After careful instruction the resting place of the ark or container for the law was placed. “Then he brought the ark into the tabernacle and hung the shielding curtain and shielded the Ark of the Covenant law, as the Lord commanded him.”Exodus 40:21

God spoke to Moses again; “On the staff of Levi write Aaron’s name, for there must be one staff for the head of each ancestral tribe.  Place them in the tent of meeting in front of the Ark of the Covenant law, where I meet with you. The staff belonging to the man I choose will sprout, and I will rid myself of this constant grumbling against you by the Israelites.” Numbers 17:10 In the Presence of the Shekinah glory of God, many miracles, signs and wonders still occur today.

Behind the Curtain, a summary book of the New Testament on Amazon

The word ark is in the NIV Bible 217 times.  Noah built the first ark, Moses built the second ark. Moses also wrote down the law according to God’s instructions. “So Moses wrote down this law and gave it to the Levitical priests, who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and to all the elders of Israel.” Deuteronomy 31:9

Joshua succeeded Moses and God parted the Jordan river so that the ark would enter the promised land. The promised land of all the earth, the final resting place of God’s glory is the heart of man.  “See, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go into the Jordan ahead of you.” Joshua 3:11 The ark of the covenant of the Lord will go into us as life giving water, the Holy Spirit will quench our thirst for truth.

Joshua died and the Lord anointed Judges. “In those days the ark of the covenant of God was there” Judges 20:27  Wherever the ark is, God’s Shekinah glory is. Wherever we are God is, because His Spirit is in us.  We enable others to experience this heaven on earth as they encounter His Presence in us. Revelation is from God and we hear His voice when we are stilled by His Presence. His ark on earth is in us. It is the place where the weight of God’s Presence is felt, it is the place where blessings are released, it is a place where a person senses God’s power and glory. After the time of Judges the world gets its first king. The ark was brought to the Temple of God. “Then King Solomon summoned into his presence at Jerusalem the elders of Israel, all the heads of the tribes and the chiefs of the Israelite families, to bring up the ark of the Lord’s covenant from Zion, the City of David.” 1 Kings 8:1 By reading the Old Testament summary we realize the significance of the Holy of Holies. We are to obey God and reverence His Word and His Presence.

“The Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah, and he struck him down because he had put his hand on the ark. So he died there before God.” – 1 Chronicles 13:10 God kept His promise to believers in this century by sending the Holy Spirit. “Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.”

During the time of the Old Testament law, only priests had direct access to God, the ark.  “Then David said, “No one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, because the Lord chose them to carry the ark of the Lord and to minister before him forever.” 1 Chronicles 15:2.  Behind the Curtain, in the Shekinah Presence of God, the priests were clothed with salvation. Today we are clothed with salvation, and the righteousness of Christ Jesus.

Jesus said; “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”  Acts 1:8 Today we are the Lord’s Ambassadors, His representatives, His priests. Let us invite the Holy Spirit to rise up in us, and clothed in our salvation, let us rejoice in the goodness of the Lord.  “Now arise, Lord God, and come to your resting place, you and the ark of your might. May your priests, Lord God, be clothed with salvation, may your faithful people rejoice in your goodness.” 2 Chronicles 6:41

The ark was never mentioned again in the Old Testament until the book of Matthew 24:38. “In those days, when your numbers have increased greatly in the land,” declares the Lord, “people will no longer say, ‘The ark of the covenant of the Lord.’ It will never enter their minds or be remembered; it will not be missed, nor will another one be made.” Jeremiah 3:16 God kept His promise and another ark was never made. Instead, God made His Way known to average people like you and me. “For God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

We have direct access to the Holy of Holies because the curtain was torn that we may enter into the glory of God.  As Christians we died to our wants in order that we are available to God for what He wants to accomplish on earth through us.

“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 Corinthians 6:19

“Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and within His temple was seen the ark of His covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a severe hailstorm.” Revelation 11:19