ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

Tokonaki ‘Epeleli 1, 2023

The Covenant Chest  ארון

KO E PUHA ‘O E FUAKAVA

EXODUS 25:10

"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."

‘EKISOTO 25:10

Pea te nau fa‘u ha ‘a‘ake ‘aki ‘a e papa sitimi: ko hono lōloa ko e kiupite ‘e ua mo e haafe, pea ko hono māukupu ko e kiupite ‘e taha mo e haafe, pea ko hono mā‘olunga ko e kiupite ‘e taha mo e haafe. 

 Though both are translated as "ark," Noah had a tevah ("boat") and the tabernacle had an aron ("box"). The word aron can refer to a coffin (Gen. 50:26) or money chest (2 Kings 12:10). But the vast majority of OT references are to the aron of the covenant, so called because the two tables of the law or covenant were deposited inside it (25:16). Thus the "ark of the covenant" is shorthand for "the chest that contained the covenant documents." David also calls the aron "the footstool of our God" (1 Chron. 28:2), over which he was enthroned as the divine King of Israel.

The ark of the covenant disappeared around 587 BC, when the Babylonians conquered Jerusalem and razed the temple. When the Messiah came, the Holy of Holies held no ark. Perhaps that was fitting anyway, for the true ark had landed. He was in Mary's womb, then grew into a man-this one in whom God's law resided. Covered not in gold but flesh and blood, he would not be a footstool but would reign alongside his Father, who would make his "enemies [his] footstool" (Ps. 110:1).

Arise, O Lord Jesus, and go to your resting place beside the Father, for you are the ark of our strength (Ps. 132:8)