The Ark of the Covenant represented the presence of God among Israel and became the mercy seat—the place of His mercy.
Les Feldick teaches from the tabernacle that the Ark was a gold-covered box behind the veil, holding the tables of the Ten Commandments, Aaron's rod, and a sample of manna. The mercy seat above it was pure beaten gold, and the Shekinah glory hovered over it, showing that God's presence and mercy were centered there.
Joshua 3:3 — This verse shows the Ark as the visible sign of God's leadership for Israel, which they were to follow.
Joshua 3:4 — The command to keep distance and not approach the Ark highlights its holy significance as the place of God's presence.
The Bible describes the Ark of the Covenant as a sacred chest placed behind the veil in the Holy of Holies, with a mercy seat of pure gold above it. In Joshua 3:3, the children of Israel were told that when they saw the Ark carried by the Levites, they should leave their place and go after it. In Joshua 3:4, they were commanded to keep a distance of about two thousand cubits and not come near it, 'that ye may know the way by which ye must go.' These verses indicate the Ark was the appointed sign of God's presence and guidance.
Les explains that the Ark of the Covenant was the final piece of furniture in the tabernacle, behind the veil, and it became the mercy seat. It was simply a rectangular box of wood covered with pure gold, and it contained the tables of the Ten Commandments, a sample of manna, and Aaron's rod that budded. The mercy seat above it was pure beaten gold, representing 'the Holy God Himself' rather than Christ in His humanity. Les emphasizes that the Ark signified the very presence and mercy of God; when Israel was ready to cross the Jordan, the Shekinah glory cloud rested above the Ark, and it was that same piece of furniture that led the nation. He also notes that the Ark has been missing since the Babylonian captivity, but there is no indication the Babylonians took it. He prompts his listeners to search the Scriptures to find when the rod and manna disappeared and when the Ark vanished from view.
Les states the Ark contained the tables of the Ten Commandments, a sample of manna, and Aaron's rod that budded. He also points out that later in Israel's history, the only thing in the Ark was the tables of stone, and he himself searches the Scriptures to find when the rod and manna stopped being there.
Israel was commanded to follow the Ark as the sign of God's leadership. They were to keep about 2,000 cubits away and not come near it, for they had not passed that way before. The Ark with the Shekinah glory above it signified God's presence leading them.
Les says the Ark has been gone since the Babylonian captivity and Nebuchadnezzar's invasion, but nothing in the record indicates the Babylonians took it. He leaves his audience with a challenge to search the Scriptures for where it disappeared.
The mercy seat was pure beaten gold, the area of the Holy God Himself. Les points out that when God deals with man in salvation, everything must begin with Himself—man does not find God; He begins with Himself. The mercy seat atop the Ark is where God's mercy is focused.
Les explains that the Hebrew word for ark is also translated 'coffin' in the last verse of Genesis. It simply means a rectangular box. The Ark of the Covenant was a special box overlaid with gold and had a role to play, but it was still just a rectangular box.
The Ark and the Mercy Seat
Les describes the Ark of the Covenant as the piece of furniture behind the veil that became the mercy seat, and he notes it has been missing since Nebuchadnezzar's invasion.
Following the Ark
Les shows that the Ark contained the Ten Commandments, manna, and Aaron's rod, and that it was the sign of God's leadership for Israel.
The Ark as a Box
Les compares the Ark to a coffin/box and asks what is inside, prompting listeners to search Scripture.
Contents and the Mercy Seat
Les lists the Ark's contents, explains the mercy seat was pure beaten gold as the area of Holy God, and states no biblical record says Babylonians took the Ark.
Shekinah Glory Above the Ark
Les explains the Shekinah glory cloud rested above the Ark in the Holy of Holies, and the Ark led Israel while they kept a distance of 2,000 cubits.
The Disappearing Contents
Les points out that later only the tables of stone remained in the Ark, and he wonders when the rod and manna stopped being there and when the Ark disappeared from view.
God Begins with Himself
Les teaches that when God deals with man in salvation, it begins with God Himself, and the Ark/mercy seat was where the high priest sprinkled on the Day of Atonement.
Ark Means Box
Les explains that the Hebrew word for ark simply means a rectangular box, and the Ark of the Covenant was special but still just that.
Joshua 3:3: And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it.
This verse shows the Ark as the sign for Israel to follow, representing God's leadership.
Joshua 3:4: Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore.
The warning to keep distance highlights the Ark's holiness as the place of God's presence.
According to Les Feldick, the Ark represented the very presence and mercy of God among Israel. The mercy seat above it was where God's holiness met Israel.
Les notes that the Ark has been gone since the Babylonian captivity, but he can find nothing in the record showing that Nebuchadnezzar's forces took it.
The tables of the Ten Commandments, a sample of manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, according to Les's teaching. Later, only the tables of stone remained.
Because the Ark was the sign of God's presence and leadership; the Shekinah glory hovered above it, and God commanded them to follow it when crossing the Jordan.
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