The “Lost” Ark and the Mercy Seat – Part I
Posted By Joe on June 3, 2009
In 1981, Steven Spielberg's blockbuster, "Raiders of the Lost Ark" hit the silver screen. I was a pre-teen when it came out and I was mesmerized by the movie. I could not tell you how many times I've seen it, but I can recite the majority of the dialog to the movie still to this day. It's a fantastic adventure movie and is probably responsible for the resurgence in finding the "lost" Ark of the Covenant.
After listening to a recent study of the ark, I decided to search the Scriptures myself and learn a bit more about it: it's purpose, significance, and surprisingly, where it might be today and it's place in Biblical prophecy. I'll be breaking this study up into a few posts.
Because of Spielberg's film, most people assume that the ark looks like the one in the movie. No one really knows for sure--except for, possibly, one group of people we'll talk about later--what it looks like, exactly. Most people also assume that the ark consists of the box with a lid. However, if you study the Scripture, you will see that that is not the case. The Bible deals with those two elements separately: the Ark of the Covenant, and the Mercy Seat, which is the top or the lid, if you will.
To begin, let us see how the ark and the Mercy Seat are described in the book of Exodus.
The Ark of the Covenant
"They shall construct an ark of acacia wood two and a half cubits long, and one and a half cubits wide, and one and a half cubits high." --Exodus 25:10.
Acacia trees are commonly found in Israel. It's a fragrant wood. To get at the dimensions, figure a box that is 3.75 feet long, 2.25 feet wide, and 2.25 feet high. Spielberg probably got the dimensions right for the movie. A cubit is generally thought to be about 18 inches.
"You shall overlay it with pure gold, inside and out you shall overlay it, and you shall make a gold molding around it." --Exodus 25:11.
This is something to pay attention to as we proceed. The Ark is made of wood, overlaid with gold. It was not solid gold.
"You shall cast four gold rings for it and fasten them on its four feet, and two rings shall be on one side of it and two rings on the other side of it. You shall make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold." --Exodus 25:12-13.
This was something I had missed before. And probably like most, Spielberg's Ark is the picture I had in my mind. But here God commands Moses to put the rings at the Ark's feet, not in the middle as is commonly depicted. We also see that acacia wood poles, overlaid with gold, are to be made.
"You shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, to carry the ark with them. The poles shall remain in the rings of the ark; they shall not be removed from it." --Exodus 25:14-15.
God specifically says that the ark is to be carried. Later in the Bible we see what happens when the people put the ark on a cart. It nearly topples over and Uzza grabs it only to be struck dead by God. See 1 Chronicles 13:7-10. God also commands that the poles are never to be removed from the ark.
"You shall put into the ark the testimony which I shall give you." -- Exodus 25:16.
The last command of God concerning the ark is that Moses is to place the Ten Commandments into the ark.
The Mercy Seat
"You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold, two and half cubits long and one and a half cubits wide." --Exodus 25:17.
Here we find our first distinction. Whereas the ark was made of wood, overlaid with gold, the mercy seat was to be made of pure gold. The dimensions are 3.75 feet long and 2.25 feet wide.
"You shall make two cherubim of gold, make them of hammered work at the two ends of the mercy seat. Make one cherub at one end and one cherub at the other end; you shall make the cherubim of one piece with the mercy seat at its two ends. The cherubim shall have their wings spread upward, covering the mercy seat with their wings and facing one another; the faces of the cherubim are to be turned toward the mercy seat." --Exodus 25:18-20.
A cherub is different from an angel. It is a sublime and celestial being. The Hebrews described them as a compound being of a man, an ox, a lion, and an eagle. Together they would represent power and wisdom. Whatever they are, their positioning is interesting. They are too look downward toward the mercy seat. It's a position of submission and respect. It's in direct opposition to Satan--also a cherub!--as described in Isaiah:
"But you said in your heart, 'I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, and I will sit on the mount of assembly In the recesses of the north. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.'" --Isaiah 14:13-14.
Can you see the difference? The cherubs on the mercy seat, in humility, are facing downward. Satan, being full of pride, says he will "make myself like the Most High."
"You shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the testimony which I shall give to you." --Exodus 25-21.
Here is where the two elements fit together. But keep in mind they are separate in two, main aspects: the materials they are made out of and their purpose.
"There I will meet with you; and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony, I will speak to you about all that I will give you in commandment for the sons of Israel." --Exodus 25:22.
Here is the critical distinction! God will meet with the people from above the mercy seat.
What is the significance of all this?
As we mentioned, the ark is made of wood. Is wood incorruptible? No. Wood decays over time. What about the mercy seat? That was made of pure gold. Do you see the difference yet?
Let's look at the the purpose of each element. The ark was to hold the law, the testimony. The ark wasn't necessarily made to last forever. Since Jesus came, are we still under the law? No! Through Jesus' redemptive work on the cross, He fulfilled the law for us. The ark, then, no longer was necessary. In fact, it was never intended to last forever. The mercy seat was the place that God would speak to His people. But understand how God can do this: only with the law as the foundation! The mercy seat was placed on top of the ark which held the law!
What's next?
In the next post, we'll reason from the Scriptures by looking at several passages in the Old Testament that may provide some significant clues as to what happened to the ark and the mercy seat.
May He Increase!
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[...] and man is not. Moreover, the only way even the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies--where the ark and the Mercy Seat were kept--is by first going through a ritual purification (Leviticus 16:3-4) and making a sin [...]