by Marcia Vogl - November 3, 2020

Tuesday Prayer Focus Notes

Moses and the Ark

The Ark was built by Moses at God’s instructions.  It was a box that held the tablets of the 10 Commandments (God’s laws), a jar of mana (God’s provision), and Aaron’s staff (God’s authority).  These three things were mandated to be revered and honored.  The cherubim guarded and the mercy seat.

God wanted his people to know his Presence and not his image so he forbid any idols to represent him.  People accustomed to idols had to learn to trust an unseen God.  That took a kind of faith that keeps walking and believing in the unseen.  When it was time to move through the wilderness, the tent would be dismantled and the ark carried on the shoulders of the Levites (priests).

The Ark and the Promised Land

When Joshua took over the leadership of the Israelites, God instructed him to have the Levites carry the Ark into the Jordan.  The flow of the rived stopped so they could cross over, just as the last generation crossed the Red Sea.  As long as they followed the Ark, they were undefeatable.

The Ark in disrepute

The Ark was then kept in the Gilgal as the center of God’s presence.  During the days of the judges, the people rebelled against God who then sent deliverers. During Eli’s term as priest, his corrupt sons decided to use the Ark as a good luck charm and took it to battle at Shiloh.  They lost the battle and the Ark was captured by the Philistines.

Philistines took it to Ebenezer and put it in the temple of their God Dagan.  The idol Dagon fell before the Ark.  After re-erecting Dagon, the next morning the statue Dagon was on the ground broken in pieces.  The alarmed Philistines moved the Ark to another town.  Each Philistine town was hit with plague and tumors.  Finally the Philistines decided to return the Ark to Israel. They put it on a cart and had a team of cows take it to Israel at the border town of Beth Shemesh.  When the people looked inside, they were instantly killed.  Then then sent it on to Kiriath Jerim where it stayed in the house of Abinadab, forgotten for 50 years.

The Ark and David

            When David came to the throne, he wanted to bring the Ark back to Jerusalem but it had been lost.  When found, it was put on the oxcart to be transported to Jerusalem.  The ox stumbled, and the Ark slipped off the cart.  Uzzai reached to steady it but when he touched it, he was instantly killed.  At that David decided to leave it at the home of Obed Edom until he could figure out how to transport it.  Obed Edom was blessed all the time the Ark was at his house.

David wanted to bring the Ark to Jerusalem to honor God.  This time he followed the instructions on the Ark being carried on the shoulders of the Levites.  He planned for sacrifice to be made every 6 steps, and the Levites were to carry the Ark on their shoulders.

In Jerusalem, it was put in the tent that David had erected for it.  This was David’s tabernacle.  David arranged for musicians, dancers, and priests to worship 24/7 for the presence of the Lord to dwell there. There were no other temple structures or edifices at the time.

The Ark represents the presence of the Lord.  We are his tabernacle.

1. We must remain holy before him.
2. Do not use Him like a lucky charm.
3. Do not store Him in a closet until you need him.
4. Even if you are defeated, his power and presence does not change.
5. His presence is greater than any other god.
6. He will destroy your enemies.
7. He will bless those who honor Him and remain inactive if you “forget about Him.”
8. When you reclaim Him, you must carry the presence on your shoulders (personally), not on an artificial rite or organization.
9. Constant praise and worship must be in His presence.
10. His presence pours out all his blessings.