We are the Living Ark of God

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By: Rev Richard Puckett

ark (ärk) n. 1. Often Ark Bible In the Old Testament, the chest containing the Ten Commandments written on stone tablets, carried by the Hebrews during their desert wanderings. Also Called Ark of the Covenant. Judaism 2. Often Ark The Holy Ark Bible 3. In the Old Testament, the boat built by Noah for survival during the Flood. Nautical 4. A large, commodious boat. 5. A shelter or refuge.

[ Middle English from Old English arc from Germanic *arca from Latin arca, chest]

Ark of the Covenant, the sacred, gold-covered, wooden chest, identified by the Hebrews with God. Touching it meant death. It was carried into battle, as its presence implied victory, and was once captured by the Philistines. Restored many years later, it was placed in Solomon's temple.

ark of the Covenant

The ark of the covenant was originally a portable wooden chest containing the two stone tablets of the TEN COMMANDMENTS. In ancient Israel's history and cult, it served as a symbol of God's presence and as a military rallying point. It was carried at the head of the column when the Jews fled from Egypt, and before the army in battle. Later, DAVID brought the ark, by then an ornate golden shrine, to Jerusalem, where it eventually resided in the temple's inner sanctuary. Today, a holy ark can be found in every synagogue. It is placed in the wall facing Jerusalem (the eastern wall in Europe and America) and contains the TORAH scrolls

Tabernacle

According to certain passages in the biblical Book of Exodus (chaps. 25-31, 35-40), the tabernacle was a portable sanctuary constructed by Moses where the Israelites worshipped during their wilderness wanderings. The most important part of the rectangular, hide-covered structure was the Holy of Holies, which held the sacred ARK OF THE COVENANT. Another passage in Exodus (33:7-10) describes it simply as a "tent of meeting" set up outside the camp as a place for consulting with Yahweh. Modern scholars attribute the first, more elaborate description to later priestly scribes (P) and view it as a postexilic attempt to project features of the later Temple and the ascending authority of Aaronic priests into Israel's early history. The priestly tradition may, however, preserve accurate elements from early cultic practice, which is presumed to be reflected in the second passage (attributed to the preexilic source E)

tab·er·na·cle tab·er·na·cle (tàb¹er-nàk´el) noun

1. Often Tabernacle a. The portable sanctuary in which the Jews carried the Ark of the Covenant through the desert. b. The Jewish temple.

2. Often Tabernacle. A case or box on a church altar containing the consecrated host and wine of the Eucharist.

3. a. A place of worship. b. The Mormon temple.

4. A niche for a statue or relic.

5. Nautical. A boxlike support in which the heel of a mast is stepped.

[Middle English, from Old French, from Late Latin tabernâculum, from Latin, tent, diminutive of taberna, hut. See TAVERN.]

- tab´er·nac¹u·lar (-nàk¹ye-ler) adjective

ARK OF THE COVENANT

A sacred portable chest which-- along with its two related items, the MERCY SEAT and CHERUBIM-- was the most important sacred object of the Israelites during the wilderness period. It was also known as the ark of the Lord <Josh. 6:11>, the ark of God <1 Sam. 3:3>, and the ark of the Testimony <Ex. 25:22>.

The ark of the covenant was the only article of furniture in the innermost room, or Holy of Holies, of Moses' tabernacle and of Solomon's Temple. From between the two cherubim that were on the ark of the Testimony, God spoke to Moses. Once a year the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies, but only with sacrificial blood that he sprinkled on the mercy seat for the atonement of sin.

The ark of the covenant was also a "coffin," or chest 2 1/2 cubits long, 1 1/2 cubits wide, and 1 1/2 cubits deep (or, in inches, about 45 by 27 by 27). The builder of the ark was a man named Bezaleel <Ex. 37:1>.

The ark was made of acacia wood (shittim wood, KJV) overlaid with gold. It had four rings of gold through which carrying poles were inserted <Ex. 37:1-9>. These poles were never removed from the rings, apparently to show that the ark was a portable sanctuary. Even when the ark was placed in Solomon's Temple, the poles stayed in place, and they could be seen from a certain point outside the inner sanctuary <1 Kin. 8:8>.

The ark had a gold cover known as the "mercy seat" <Ex. 25:17-22> because the Israelites believed the ark was God's throne. The ark had a gold molding or "crown" surrounding the top edge. The mercy seat was a slab of pure gold which fit exactly within the crown of the ark, so the mercy seat could not slide around during transportation.

Of one piece with the mercy seat were two angelic statues called cherubim. They stood at opposite ends of the mercy seat, facing each other with wings outstretched above and their faces bowed toward the mercy seat. They marked the place where the Lord dwelled as well as the place where the Lord communicated with Moses.

Contents. Within the ark were the two stone tablets containing the Ten Commandments <Ex. 25:16, 21>, considered to be the basis of the covenant between God and His people Israel. Thus the ark was often called the ark of the Testimony. The golden pot of MANNA, which God miraculously preserved as a testimony to future generations <Ex. 16:32-34>, was also deposited in the ark. The third item in the ark was AARON'S ROD that budded to prove that Aaron was God's chosen <Num. 17:1-11>.

While the New Testament states that the ark contained these three items <Heb. 9:4>, the ark must have lost two of them through the years. At the dedication of Solomon's Temple, Aaron's rod and the golden pot of manna were gone: "There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets of stone which Moses put there at Horeb" <1 Kin. 8:9>.

Nothing is known of what became of the ark. It disappeared when Nebuchadnezzars armies destroyed Jerusalem in 586 B. C., and was not available when the second and third temples were built. In the many synagogues that arose after the Captivity, a chest or ark containing the Torah (scrolls of the Law) and other sacred books was placed in an area shut off from the rest of the building, just as the original ark was placed in the Holy of Holies of the Temple.

(from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary)

ARK

'aron ^727^, "ark; coffin; chest; box." This word has cognates in Phoenician, Aramaic, Akkadian, and Arabic. It appears about 203 times in biblical Hebrew and in all periods.

During the reign of Joash (or Jehoash), when the temple was repaired, money for the work was deposited in a "chest" with a hole in its lid. The high priest Jehoida prepared this chest and put it at the threshold to the temple <2 Kings 12:9>.

In most occurrences, 'aron refers to the "ark of the covenantgi." This piece of furniture functioned primarily as a container. As such the word is often modified by divine names or attributes. The divine name first modifies 'aron in <1 Sam. 3:3>: "And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep...." 'Aron is first modified by God's covenant name, Yahweh, in <Josh. 4:5>. <Judg. 20:27> is the first appearance of the "ark" as the ark of the covenant of Elohim. <First Samuel 5:11> uses the phrase "the ark of the God ['elohim] of Israel," and <1 Chr. 15:12> employs "the ark of the Lord [Yahweh] God ['elohim] of Israel."

<Exodus 25:10-22> tells us that this ark was made of acacia wood and measured 3 3/4 feet by 2 1/4 feet by 2 1/4 feet. It was gold-plated inside and outside, with a molding of gold. Each of its four feet had a golden ring at its top, through which passed unremovable golden carrying poles. The golden cover or mercy seat (place of propitiatory atonement) had the same dimensions as the top of the ark. Two golden cherubim sat on this cover facing each other, representing the heavenly majesty <Ezek. 1:10> that surrounds the living God.

In addition to containing memorials of divine redemption, the ark represented the presence of God. To be before it was to be in God's presence <Num. 10:35>, although His presence was not limited to the ark (cf. <1 Sam. 4:3-11; 7:2, 6>). The ark ceased to have this sacramental function when Israel began to regard it as a magical box with sacred power (a palladium).

(from Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words)

The tabernacle and its furniture

(Exo 25:1 KJV) And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Exo 25:1: Verses 1-9. God chose the people of Israel to be a peculiar people to himself, above all people, and he himself would be their King. He ordered a royal palace to be set up among them for himself, called a sanctuary, or holy place, or habitation. There he showed his presence among them. And because in the wilderness they dwelt in tents, this royal palace was ordered to be a tabernacle, that it might move with them. The people were to furnish Moses with the materials, by their own free will. The best use we can make of our worldly wealth, is to honour God with it in works of piety and charity. We should ask, not only, What must we do? but, What may we do for God? Whatever they gave, they must give it cheerfully, not grudgingly, for God loves a cheerful giver, 2 Corinthians 9:7. What is laid out in the service of God, we must reckon well bestowed; and whatsoever is done in God's service, must be done by his direction.

(Exo 25:2 KJV) Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering.

I believe God still wants us of a willing heart to bring in offerings to the Lord church. Not so one man will prosper but so that we all do in a partnership with Christ. That we may indeed furnish the place we set aside to be Gods house with the splendor that we would chose to furnish our own house and what is the house of God and what is the offerings we should bring? God Spirit no longer dwells in houses made of hand but our heart. Isa 57:15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. 1 Cor 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

(Exo 25:3 KJV) And this is the offering which ye shall take of them; gold, and silver, and brass,

(Exo 25:4 KJV) And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair,

(Exo 25:5 KJV) And rams' skins dyed red, and badgers' skins, and shittim wood,

(Exo 25:6 KJV) Oil for the light, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense,

(Exo 25:7 KJV) Onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod, and in the breastplate.

(Exo 25:8 KJV) And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.

(Exo 25:9 KJV) According to all that I show thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.

We may suppose that when Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and abode there so long, where the holy angels attended the shechinah, or divine Majesty, he saw and heard very glorious things relating to the upper world, but they were things which it was not lawful nor possible to utter; and therefore, in the records he kept of the transactions there, he says nothing to satisfy the curiosity of those who would intrude into the things which they have not seen, but writes that only which he was to speak to the children of Israel. For the scripture is designed to direct us in our duty, not to fill our heads with speculations, nor to please our fancies.

In these verses God tells Moses his intention in general, that the children of Israel should build him a sanctuary, for he designed to dwell among them (v. 8); and some think that, though there were altars and groves used for religious worship before this, yet there never was any house, or temple, built for sacred uses in any nation before this tabernacle was erected by Moses, and that all the temples which were afterwards so much celebrated among the heathen took rise from this and pattern by it. God had chosen the people of Israel to be a peculiar people to himself (above all people), among whom divine revelation, and a religion according to it, should be lodged and established: he himself would be their King. As their King, he had already given them laws for the government of themselves, and their dealings one with another, with some general rules for religious worship, according to the light of reason and the law of nature, in the ten commandments and the following comments upon them. . Note, Whatsoever is done in God's service must be done by his direction, and not otherwise. Yet God did not only show him the model, but gave him also particular directions how to frame the tabernacle according to that model, in all the parts of it, which he goes over distinctly in this and the following chapters. (from Matthew Henry's Commentary)

(Exo 25:10 KJV) And they shall make an ark of shittim wood: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof.

Exo 25:10: Verses 10-22. The ark was a chest, overlaid with gold, in which the two tables of the law were to be kept. These tables are called the testimony; God in them testified his will. This law was a testimony to the Israelites, to direct them in their duty, and would be a testimony against them, if they transgressed. This ark was placed in the holy of holies; the blood of the sacrifices was sprinkled, and the incense burned, before it, by the high priest; and above it appeared the visible glory, which was the symbol of the Divine presence. This was a type of Christ in his sinless nature, which saw no corruption, in personal union with his Divine nature, atoning for our sins against it, by his death. The cherubim of gold looked one towards another, and both looked downward toward the ark. It denotes the angels' attendance on the Redeemer, their readiness to do his will, their presence in the assemblies of saints, and their desire to look into the mysteries of the gospel. It was covered with a covering of gold, called the mercy-seat. God is said to dwell, or sit between the cherubim, on the mercy-seat. There he would give his law, and hear supplicants, as a prince on his throne.

2 Cor 3:3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshly tables of the heart. The Chest is the Ark that we are to carry the word of God in is our heart. How great it would be if we could get folks to see that God's word is not somewhere out in the distance on paper that's hard to read and understand but on the tablets of out heart is shown to others to read by the way we live. What are people reading about god in our lives?

(Exo 25:11 KJV) And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, within and without shalt thou overlay it, and shalt make upon it a crown of gold round about.

1 Cor 3:12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
1 Cor 3:13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. Our lives should be built on the foundation of Christ and the blocks we build with should be of Gold. The Gold of the fruits of the Spirit.

(Exo 25:12 KJV) And thou shalt cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in the four corners thereof; and two rings shall be in the one side of it, and two rings in the other side of it.

(Exo 25:13 KJV) And thou shalt make staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold.

(Exo 25:14 KJV) And thou shalt put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark, that the ark may be borne with them.

Isn't it time that we quit being Christians at church but shouldn't we be taking the power of God with us everywhere that we go. If we take the power wherever we go than we can show the manifestations of the Holy Spirit wherever we are at. Healing wasn't something that Jesus did just at the temple but he did it in the streets, in the homes, why do we think that we need to only demonstrate Christ at church?

(Exo 25:15 KJV) The staves shall be in the rings of the ark: they shall not be taken from it.

(Exo 25:16 KJV) And thou shalt put into the ark the testimony which I shall give thee.

tes·ti·mo·ny (tès¹te-mo´nê) noun

plural tes·ti·mo·nies

Abbr. test.

1. a. A declaration by a witness under oath, as that given before a court or deliberative body. b. All such declarations, spoken or written, offered in a legal case or deliberative hearing.

2. Evidence in support of a fact or an assertion; proof.

3. A public declaration regarding a religious experience.

4. a. The stone tablets inscribed with the Law of Moses. b. The ark containing these tablets.

[Middle English, from Old French testimonie, from Latin testimonium, from testis, witness. See TESTIFY.]

Isn't it time that we become a testimony for God? Shouldn't we be the evidence that Christ is alive? Shouldn't we be a public declaration that having Jesus on the inside is a real religious experience? James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

(Exo 25:17 KJV) And thou shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof.

(Exo 25:18 KJV) And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat.

(Exo 25:19 KJV) And make one cherub on the one end, and the other cherub on the other end: even of the mercy seat shall ye make the cherubims on the two ends thereof.

Heb 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
Heb 8:11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
Heb 8:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
Heb 8:13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.

Thank God that Jesus is our mercy seat and we find him on our knees at our church, by our bed, or when ever we call.

Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Rom 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
Rom 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

(Exo 25:20 KJV) And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be.

Luke 13:34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!

(Exo 25:21 KJV) And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee.

(Exo 25:22 KJV) And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.

Jesus wants to take you into the mercy seat, cover you with his wings, and fill you with his Spirit.

The first thing which is here ordered to be made is the ark with its appurtenances, the furniture of the most holy place, and the special token of God's presence, for which the tabernacle was erected to be the receptacle.

I. The ark itself was a chest, or coffer, in which the two tables of the law, written with the finger of God, were to be honorably deposited, and carefully kept. The tables of the law are called the testimony because God did in them testify his will: his giving them that law was in token of his favour to them; and their acceptance of it was in token of their subjection and obedience to him. This law was a testimony to them, to direct them in their duty, and would be a testimony against them if they transgressed. The ark is called the ark of the testimony <Exo 30:6>, and the tabernacle the tabernacle of the testimony <Num. 10:11> or witness, <Acts 7:44>. The gospel of Christ is also called a testimony or witness, <Mt. 24:14>. It is observable,

1. That the tables of the law were carefully preserved in the ark for the purpose, to teach us to make much of the word of God, and to hide it in our hearts, in our innermost thoughts, as the ark was placed in the holy of holies. It intimates likewise the care which divine.

2. That this ark was the chief token of God's presence, which teaches us that the first and great evidence and assurance of God's favour is the putting of his law in the heart. God dwells where that rules, <Heb. 8:10>.

3. That provision was made for the carrying of this ark about with them in all their removals, which intimates to us that, wherever we go, we should take our religion along with us, always bearing about with us the love of the Lord Jesus, and his law.

II. The mercy-seat was the covering of the ark or chest, made of solid gold, exactly to fit the dimensions of the ark, v. 17, 21. This propitiatory covering, as it might well be translated, was a type of Christ, the great propitiation, whose satisfaction fully answers the demands of the law, covers our transgressions, and comes between us and the curse we deserve. Thus he is the end of the law for righteousness.

III. The cherubim of gold were fixed to the mercy-seat, and of a piece with it, and spread their wings over it, v. 18. It is supposed that these cherubim were designed to represent the holy angels, who always attended the shechinah, or divine Majesty, particularly at the giving of the law; not by any effigies of an angel, but some emblem of the angelical nature, probably some one of those four faces spoken of, <Ezek. 1:10>. Whatever the faces were, they looked one towards another, and both downward towards the ark, while their wings were stretched out so as to touch one another. The apostle calls them cherubim of glory shadowing the mercy-seat, <Heb. 9:5>. It denotes their attendance upon the Redeemer, to whom they were ministering spirits, their readiness to do his will, their special presence in the assemblies of saints <Ps. 68:17; 1 Cor. 11:10>, and their desire to look into the mysteries of the gospel which they diligently contemplate, <1 Pet. 1:12>. God is said to dwell, or sit, between the cherubim, on the mercy-seat <Ps. 80:1>, and thence he here promises, for the future, to meet with Moses, and to commune with him, v. 22. There he would give law, and there he would give audience, as a prince on his throne; and thus he manifests himself willing to be reconciled to us, and keep up communion with us, in and by the mediation of Christ. In allusion to this mercy-seat, we are said to come boldly to the throne of grace <Heb. 4:16>; for we are not under the law, which is covered, but under grace, which is displayed; its wings are stretched out, and we are invited to come under the shadow of them, <Ruth 2:12>. (from Matthew Henry's Commentary)

The tabernacle and its furniture

(Exo 25:23 KJV) Thou shalt also make a table of shittim wood: two cubits shall be the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof.

Exo 25:23: Verses 23-30. A table was to be made of wood, overlaid with gold, to stand in the outer tabernacle, to be always furnished with the shew-bread. This table, with the articles on it, and its use, seems to typify the communion which the Lord holds with his redeemed people in his ordinances, the provisions of his house, the feasts they are favoured with. Also the food for their souls, which they always find when they hunger after it; and the delight he takes in their persons and services, as presented before him in Christ.

Mat 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. Rom 12:20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
Rom 12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. 1 Cor 4:11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling place;
1 Cor 4:12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
1 Cor 4:13 Being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.

I see a God that feeds us when we allow him into our temple; a God that has a table spread and feeds us with the pure bread of his Son. I see a God that expects us to feed others as they come to know us they should also be served the food that we feast on, the testimony of Jesus, the bread of life.

(Exo 25:24 KJV) And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, and make thereto a crown of gold round about.

Everyone will notice the sparkle of Gold for it reflects light. Should we not be drawing attention to the table of God by the light we reflect?

(Exo 25:25 KJV) And thou shalt make unto it a border of an hand breadth round about, and thou shalt make a golden crown to the border thereof round about.

(Exo 25:26 KJV) And thou shalt make for it four rings of gold, and put the rings in the four corners that are on the four feet thereof.

(Exo 25:27 KJV) Over against the border shall the rings be for places of the staves to bear the table.

(Exo 25:28 KJV) And thou shalt make the staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold, that the table may be borne with them.

(Exo 25:29 KJV) And thou shalt make the dishes thereof, and spoons thereof, and covers thereof, and bowls thereof, to cover withal: of pure gold shalt thou make them.

(Exo 25:30 KJV) And thou shalt set upon the table show bread before me always.

This table was to be always spread, and furnished with the show-bread (v. 30), or bread of faces, twelve loaves, one for each tribe, set in two rows, six in a row; see the law concerning them, <Lev. 24:5>, etc. As the ark signified God's being present with them, so the twelve loaves signified their being presented to God. This bread was designed to be,

A thankful acknowledgment of God's goodness to them, in giving them their daily bread, manna in the wilderness, where he prepared a table for them, and, in Canaan, the corn of the land. Christ has taught us to pray every day for the bread of the day.

This bread on God's table being made of the same corn with the bread on their own tables, God and Israel did, as it were, eat together, as a pledge of friendship and fellowship; he supped with them, and they with him.

a type of the spiritual provision which is made in the church, by the gospel of Christ, for all that are made priests to our God. In our Father's house there is bread enough and to spare, a loaf for every tribe. All that attend in God's house shall be abundantly satisfied with the goodness of it, <Ps. 36:8>.(from Matthew Henry's Commentary)

The candlestick

(Exo 25:31 KJV) And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same.

Exo 25:31: Verses 31-40. The candlestick represents the light of God's word and Spirit, in and through Christ Jesus, afforded in this dark world to his believing people, to direct their worship and obedience, and to afford them consolations. The word of God is a light shining in a dark place, 2 Peter 1:19, and a dark place indeed the world would be without it. Christ's instruction to his disciples, Matthew 28:20, is like this, Observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.

Let us remember that we are the temples of the Holy Ghost, that we have the law of God in our hearts, that we are to live a life of communion with God, feast on his ordinances, and are the light of the world, if indeed we are followers of Christ. May the Lord help us to try ourselves by this view of religion, and to walk according there to?

Luke 11:35 Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness. John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
John 3:20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

Can we comprehend what is really being said that God is our light he is our candlestick; he that doesn't shine has no light and therefore has no Christ and is in darkness and shall spend eternity in darkness.

(Exo 25:32 KJV) And six branches shall come out of the sides of it; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side:

John 15:2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
John 15:3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
John 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

(Exo 25:33 KJV) Three bowls made like unto almonds, with a knop and a flower in one branch; and three bowls made like almonds in the other branch, with a knop and a flower: so in the six branches that come out of the candlestick.

(Exo 25:34 KJV) And in the candlestick shall be four bowls made like unto almonds, with their knops and their flowers.

(Exo 25:35 KJV) And there shall be a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, according to the six branches that proceed out of the candlestick.

(Exo 25:36 KJV) Their knops and their branches shall be of the same: all it shall be one beaten work of pure gold.

(Exo 25:37 KJV) And thou shalt make the seven lamps thereof: and they shall light the lamps thereof, that they may give light over against it.

Rev 4:5 And out of the throne proceeded lightning's and thundering and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

(Exo 25:38 KJV) And the tongs thereof, and the snuff dishes thereof, shall be of pure gold.

(Exo 25:39 KJV) Of a talent of pure gold shall he make it, with all these vessels.

(Exo 25:40 KJV) And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was showed thee in the mount.

The next thing ordered to be made for the furnishing of God's palace was a rich stately candlestick, all of pure gold, not hollow, but solid. The particular directions here given concerning it show,

The tabernacle had no windows by which to let in the light of the day, all its light was candlelight, which intimates the comparative darkness of that dispensation, while the Sun or righteousness had not as yet risen, nor had the daystar from on high yet visited his church. Yet God left not himself without witness, nor them without instruction; the commandment was a lamp, and the law a light, and the prophets were branches from that lamp, which gave light in their several ages to the Old-Testament church. The church is still dark, as the tabernacle was, in comparison with what it will be in heaven; but the word of God is the candlestick, a light shining in a dark place <2 Pet. 1:19>, <Phil. 2:15-16>. Ministers are to light the lamps, and snuff them (v. 37), by opening the scriptures. The treasure of this light is now put into earthen vessels, <2 Cor. 4:6-7>. The branches of the candlestick spread every way, to denote the diffusing of the light of the gospel into all parts by the Christian ministry, <Mt. 5:14-15>. There is a diversity of gifts, but the same Spirit gives to each to profit withal.

All God's providence's are exactly according to his counsels, and the copy never varies from the original. Infinite Wisdom never changes its measures; whatever is purposed shall undoubtedly be performed.

All his ordinances must be administered according to his institutions. Christ's instruction to his disciples <Mt. 28:20> is similar to this: Observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.

(from Matthew Henry's Commentary)

The curtains of the tabernacle

(Exo 26:1 KJV) Moreover thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubims of cunning work shalt thou make them.

Exo 26:1: Verses 1-6. God manifested his presence among the Israelites in a tabernacle or tent, because of their condition in the wilderness. God suits the tokens of his favour, and the gifts of his grace, to his people's state and wants. The curtains of the tabernacle were to be very rich. They were to be embroidered with cherubim, signifying that the angels of God pitch their tents round about the church, Psalms 34:7.

(Exo 26:2 KJV) The length of one curtain shall be eight and twenty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: and every one of the curtains shall have one measure.

(Exo 26:3 KJV) The five curtains shall be coupled together one to another; and other five curtains shall be coupled one to another.

(Exo 26:4 KJV) And thou shalt make loops of blue upon the edge of the one curtain from the selvedge in the coupling; and likewise shalt thou make in the uttermost edge of another curtain, in the coupling of the second.

(Exo 26:5 KJV) Fifty loops shalt thou make in the one curtain, and fifty loops shalt thou make in the edge of the curtain that is in the coupling of the second; that the loops may take hold one of another.

(Exo 26:6 KJV) And thou shalt make fifty taches of gold, and couple the curtains together with the taches: and it shall be one tabernacle.

I. The house must be a tabernacle or tent, which was both a mean dwelling and a movable one; and yet the ark of God had not better, till Solomon built the temple 480 years after this, <1 Kin. 6:1>. God manifested his presence among them thus in a tabernacle,

Note, God suits the tokens of his favour, and the gifts of his grace, to his people's wants and necessities, according as they are, accommodating his mercy to their state, prosperous or adverse, settled or unsettled. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee, <Isa. 43:2>.

What hath my beloved to do in my house? <Jer. 11:15>.

This tabernacle was very strait and narrow; but, at the preaching of the gospel, the church is bidden to enlarge the place of her tent, and to stretch forth her curtains, <Isa. 54:2>. (from Matthew Henry's Commentary)

The curtains of goats' hair

(Exo 26:7 KJV) And thou shalt make curtains of goats' hair to be a covering upon the tabernacle: eleven curtains shalt thou make.

Exo 26:7: Verses 7-14. The curtains of meaner materials, being made both longer and broader, covered the others, and were defended by coverings of skins. The whole represents the person and doctrine of Christ, and the church of true Christians, and all heavenly things, which outwardly are mean, but inwardly, and in the sight of God, are glorious and precious.

(Exo 26:8 KJV) The length of one curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: and the eleven curtains shall be all of one measure.

(Exo 26:9 KJV) And thou shalt couple five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves, and shalt double the sixth curtain in the forefront of the tabernacle.

(Exo 26:10 KJV) And thou shalt make fifty loops on the edge of the one curtain that is outmost in the coupling, and fifty loops in the edge of the curtain which coupleth the second.

(Exo 26:11 KJV) And thou shalt make fifty taches of brass, and put the taches into the loops, and couple the tent together, that it may be one.

(Exo 26:12 KJV) And the remnant that remaineth of the curtains of the tent, the half curtain that remaineth, shall hang over the backside of the tabernacle.

(Exo 26:13 KJV) And a cubit on the one side, and a cubit on the other side of that which remaineth in the length of the curtains of the tent, it shall hang over the sides of the tabernacle on this side and on that side, to cover it.

(Exo 26:14 KJV) And thou shalt make a covering for the tent of rams' skins dyed red, and a covering above of badgers' skins.

Moses is here ordered to make a double covering for the tabernacle, that it might not rain in, and that the beauty of those fine curtains might not be damaged. (from Matthew Henry's Commentary)

It seems to me the most important thing to note here is that the out side of the tabernacle is not one of beauty, neither are most of us, But it is what's on the inside that counts.

1 Pet 3:4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

The boards, sockets, and bars

(Exo 26:15 KJV) And thou shalt make boards for the tabernacle of shittim wood standing up.

Exo 26:15: Verses 15-30. The sockets of silver each weighed about 115 pounds; they were placed in rows on the ground. In every pair of these sockets, a strong board of shittim-wood, covered with plates of gold, was fitted by mortises and tenons. Thus walls were formed for the two sides, and for the west end. The wall was further held together by bars, which passed through rings of gold. Over this the curtains were spread. Though movable, it was strong and firm. The materials were very costly. In all this it was a type of the church of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief Cornerstone, Ephesians 2:20,21.

(Exo 26:16 KJV) Ten cubits shall be the length of a board, and a cubit and a half shall be the breadth of one board.

(Exo 26:17 KJV) Two tenons shall there be in one board, set in order one against another: thus shalt thou make for all the boards of the tabernacle.

(Exo 26:18 KJV) And thou shalt make the boards for the tabernacle, twenty boards on the south side southward.

(Exo 26:19 KJV) And thou shalt make forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards; two sockets under one board for his two tenons, and two sockets under another board for his two tenons.

(Exo 26:20 KJV) And for the second side of the tabernacle on the north side there shall be twenty boards:

(Exo 26:21 KJV) And their forty sockets of silver; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.

(Exo 26:22 KJV) And for the sides of the tabernacle westward thou shalt make six boards.

(Exo 26:23 KJV) And two boards shalt thou make for the corners of the tabernacle in the two sides.

(Exo 26:24 KJV) And they shall be coupled together beneath, and they shall be coupled together above the head of it unto one ring: thus shall it be for them both; they shall be for the two corners.

(Exo 26:25 KJV) And they shall be eight boards, and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.

(Exo 26:26 KJV) And thou shalt make bars of shittim wood; five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle,

(Exo 26:27 KJV) And five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the side of the tabernacle, for the two sides westward.

(Exo 26:28 KJV) And the middle bar in the midst of the boards shall reach from end to end.

(Exo 26:29 KJV) And thou shalt overlay the boards with gold, and make their rings of gold for places for the bars: and thou shalt overlay the bars with gold.

(Exo 26:30 KJV) And thou shalt rear up the tabernacle according to the fashion thereof which was showed thee in the mount.

One might wonder why this would be important to us to day seeing that we are not building an ark. God does expect us to build him a pure and holy temple paying attention to details. Often we neglect the things, which seem trivial and yet are so very important.

Luke 11:39 And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness.

Luke 11:40 Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also?

Luke 11:41 But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you.

Luke 11:42 But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

Very particular directions are here given about the boards of the tabernacle, which were to bear up the curtains, as the stakes of a tent which had need to be strong, Curtains without boards would have been shaken by every wind; it is a good thing to have the heart established with grace, which is as the boards to support the curtains of profession, which otherwise will not hold out long. The builders of the gospel church said, Silver and gold have we none; and yet the glory of their building far exceeded that of the tabernacle, <2 Cor. 3:10-11>. How much better is wisdom than gold! (from Matthew Henry's Commentary)

The veil of the holy of holies, and for the entrance

(Exo 26:31 KJV) And thou shalt make a veil of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made:

Exo 26:31: Verses 31-37. A veil, or curtain, separated the holy place from the most holy place. It was hung upon pillars. This veil was for a partition between the holy place and the most holy; which forbade any to look into the holiest of all. The apostle tells what was the meaning of this veil, Hebrews 9:8. That the ceremonial law could not make the comers thereunto perfect, nor would the observance of it bring men to heaven; the way into the holiest of all was not made manifest, while the first tabernacle was standing. Life and immortality lay hidden till they were brought to light by the gospel; which was signified by the rending of this veil at the death of Christ, Matthew 27:51. We have now boldness to enter into the holiest, in all acts of worship, by the blood of Jesus; yet such as obliges us to holy reverence. Another veil was for the outer door of the tabernacle. This veil was all the defense the tabernacle had. God takes care of his church on earth. A curtain shall be, if God please to make it so, as strong a defense to his house, as gates of brass and bars of iron.

Heb 9:11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;
Heb 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

(Exo 26:32 KJV) And thou shalt hang it upon four pillars of shittim wood overlaid with gold: their hooks shall be of gold, upon the four sockets of silver.

(Exo 26:33 KJV) And thou shalt hang up the veil under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the veil the ark of the testimony: and the veil shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy.

I see great importance in the fact that there were pillars in which the veil hung. You see even when Jesus came to earth and began the service for his father he was not with out support. God was on one side and the Holy Spirit was on the other side. We to need support in order to do that which is pleasing to God.

(Exo 26:34 KJV) And thou shalt put the mercy seat upon the ark of the testimony in the most holy place.

(Exo 26:35 KJV) And thou shalt set the table without the veil, and the candlestick over against the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south: and thou shalt put the table on the north side.

(Exo 26:36 KJV) And thou shalt make an hanging for the door of the tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework.

John 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

Isn't it great no hanging door but all we must do is accept Christ and enter through the door and we are not only in the inner courts of God, but God is in us.

(Exo 26:37 KJV) And thou shalt make for the hanging five pillars of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold, and their hooks shall be of gold: and thou shalt cast five sockets of brass for them.

Two veils are here ordered to be made,

One for a partition between the holy place and the most holy, which not only forbade any to enter, but forbade them so much as to look into the holiest of all, v. 31, 33. The apostle tells us <Heb. 9:8-9> what was the meaning of this veil; it intimated that the ceremonial law could not make the comers thereunto perfect, nor would the observance of it bring men to heaven; Another veil was for the outer door of the tabernacle, v. 36, 37. Through this first veil the priests went in every day to minister in the holy place, but not the people, <Heb. 9:6>. (from Matthew Henry's Commentary)

The altar of burnt offerings

(Exo 27:1 KJV) And thou shalt make an altar of shittim wood, five cubits long, and five cubits broad; the altar shall be foursquare: and the height thereof shall be three cubits.

Exo 27:1: Verses 1-8. In the court before the tabernacle, where the people attended, was an altar, to which they must bring their sacrifices, and on which their priests must offer them to God. It was of wood overlaid with brass. A grate of brass was let into the hollow of the altar, about the middle of which the fire was kept, and the sacrifice burnt. It was made of network like a sieve, and hung hollow, that the ashes might fall through. This brazen altar was a type of Christ dying to make atonement for our sins. The wood had been consumed by the fire from heaven, if it had not been secured by the brass: nor could the human nature of Christ have borne the wrath of God, if it had not been supported by Divine power.

(Exo 27:2 KJV) And thou shalt make the horns of it upon the four corners thereof: his horns shall be of the same: and thou shalt overlay it with brass.

(Exo 27:3 KJV) And thou shalt make his pans to receive his ashes, and his shovels, and his basins, and his fleshhooks, and his firepans: all the vessels thereof thou shalt make of brass.

(Exo 27:4 KJV) And thou shalt make for it a grate of network of brass; and upon the net shalt thou make four brazen rings in the four corners thereof.

(Exo 27:5 KJV) And thou shalt put it under the compass of the altar beneath, that the net may be even to the midst of the altar.

(Exo 27:6 KJV) And thou shalt make staves for the altar, staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with brass.

(Exo 27:7 KJV) And the staves shall be put into the rings, and the staves shall be upon the two sides of the altar, to bear it.

(Exo 27:8 KJV) Hollow with boards shalt thou make it: as it was showed thee in the mount, so shall they make it.

I see here the great importantance of the altar and the greatest alter of all where our sacrifice was made, the cross. The cross was not made of gold, it was not of the beauty as the rest of the things in the church. It was a place of suffering and yet of great peace.

Luke 23:42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
Luke 23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

Why can't we get people to see the need to lay down their sin at the altar for the price has already been paid. Could it be this is why church is so important because we need to remember the cross, could it be we have made our altar of to much beauty or taken them out all together? I tell you this we need to place some things on the altars to be burned in our homes and in churches. Things like pride, stubbiness, and we need to learn to forgive as God forgives us.

Mat 6:14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
Mat 6:15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

The court of the tabernacle

(Exo 27:9 KJV) And thou shalt make the court of the tabernacle: for the south side southward there shall be hangings for the court of fine twined linen of an hundred cubits long for one side:

Exo 27:9: Verses 9-19. The tabernacle was enclosed in a court, about sixty yards long and thirty broad, formed by curtains hung upon brazen pillars, fixed in brazen sockets. Within this enclosure the priests and Levites offered the sacrifices, and thither the Jewish people were admitted. These distinctions represented the difference between the visible nominal church, and the true spiritual church, which alone has access to God, and communion with him.

(Exo 27:10 KJV) And the twenty pillars thereof and their twenty sockets shall be of brass; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets shall be of silver.

(Exo 27:11 KJV) And likewise for the north side in length there shall be hangings of an hundred cubits long, and his twenty pillars and their twenty sockets of brass; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets of silver.

(Exo 27:12 KJV) And for the breadth of the court on the west side shall be hangings of fifty cubits: their pillars ten, and their sockets ten.

(Exo 27:13 KJV) And the breadth of the court on the east side eastward shall be fifty cubits.

(Exo 27:14 KJV) The hangings of one side of the gate shall be fifteen cubits: their pillars three, and their sockets three.

(Exo 27:15 KJV) And on the other side shall be hangings fifteen cubits: their pillars three, and their sockets three.

(Exo 27:16 KJV) And for the gate of the court shall be an hanging of twenty cubits, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework: and their pillars shall be four, and their sockets four.

(Exo 27:17 KJV) All the pillars round about the court shall be filleted with silver; their hooks shall be of silver, and their sockets of brass.

(Exo 27:18 KJV) The length of the court shall be an hundred cubits, and the breadth fifty every where, and the height five cubits of fine twined linen, and their sockets of brass.

(Exo 27:19 KJV) All the vessels of the tabernacle in all the service thereof, and all the pins thereof, and all the pins of the court, shall be of brass.

Sometimes we get only as far as the courts or the outskirts of where God is. We get close enough to the fire to feel the heat but not close enough to be the fire. We need to draw near and get out of the perimeter and into the Holy of Holies.

The oil for the lamps

(Exo 27:20 KJV) And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always.

Exo 27:20: Verses 20-21. The pure oil signified the gifts and graces of the Spirit, which all believers receive from Christ, the good Olive, and without which our light cannot shine before men. The priests were to light the lamps, and tend them. It is the work of ministers, by preaching and expounding the Scriptures, which are as a lamp, to enlighten the church, God's tabernacle upon earth. Blessed be God, this light is not now confined to the Jewish tabernacle, but is a light to lighten the gentiles, and for salvation unto the ends of the earth.

(Exo 27:21 KJV) In the tabernacle of the congregation without the veil, which is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall order it from evening to morning before the LORD: it shall be a statute for ever unto their generations on the behalf of the children of Israel.

Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Luke 1:76 And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;
Luke 1:77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,
Luke 1:78 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,
Luke 1:79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Luke 11:35 Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.
Luke 11:36 If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light.
John 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
John 1:5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
Acts 26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
Rom 2:19 And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness,
Rom 2:20 An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.
Rom 2:21 Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?
Rom 2:22 Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?
Rom 2:23 Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?
Rom 2:24 For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.

This could be some of the most meaningful scripture in this lesson. Do we often act as if we have the answers and pretend we are right when we walk in darkness. Maybe one of the reasons so many of our ministries fail is because we need to be taught and not teach.

The altar of incense

(Exo 30:1 KJV) And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon: of shittim wood shalt thou make it.

Exo 30:1: Verses 1-10. The altar of incense represented the Son of God in his human nature, and the incense burned thereon typified his pleading for his people. The continual intercession of Christ was represented by the daily burning of incense thereon, morning and evening. Once every year the blood of the atonement was to be applied to it, denoting that the intercession of Christ has all its virtue from his sufferings on earth, and that we need no other sacrifice or intercessor but Christ alone.

(Exo 30:2 KJV) A cubit shall be the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof; foursquare shall it be: and two cubits shall be the height thereof: the horns thereof shall be of the same.

(Exo 30:3 KJV) And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, the top thereof, and the sides thereof round about, and the horns thereof; and thou shalt make unto it a crown of gold round about.

(Exo 30:4 KJV) And two golden rings shalt thou make to it under the crown of it, by the two corners thereof, upon the two sides of it shalt thou make it; and they shall be for places for the staves to bear it withal.

(Exo 30:5 KJV) And thou shalt make the staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold.

(Exo 30:6 KJV) And thou shalt put it before the veil that is by the ark of the testimony, before the mercy seat that is over the testimony, where I will meet with thee.

(Exo 30:7 KJV) And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning: when he dresseth the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it.

(Exo 30:8 KJV) And when Aaron lighteth the lamps at even, he shall burn incense upon it, a perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your generations.

(Exo 30:9 KJV) Ye shall offer no strange incense thereon, nor burnt sacrifice, nor meat offering; neither shall ye pour drink offering thereon.

(Exo 30:10 KJV) And Aaron shall make an atonement upon the horns of it once in a year with the blood of the sin offering of atonements: once in the year shall he make atonement upon it throughout your generations: it is most holy unto the LORD.

Mat 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savior, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
Mark 9:49 For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.
Mark 9:50 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.
Luke 14:34 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?
Luke 14:35 It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Col 4:6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
James 3:12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

I think it is time we realize that the people who see us can tell by our conversation just how much sweet incense we burn before God. For out of our months it's not the bad breath that God turns his head from us for but the bad language that we speak. Even when we go to the altars to pray how often are our prayers empty and with out salt. They are all to often words from the mouth but not words from the heart followed by actions. God likes his people to take action. Just look in these scriptures and see all the actions that were required

The ransom of souls

(Exo 30:11 KJV) And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Exo 30:11: Verses 11-16. The tribute was half a shekel, about fifteen pence of our money. The rich were not to give more, nor the poor less; the souls of the rich and poor are alike precious, and God is no respecter of persons, Acts 10:34; Job 34:19. In other offerings men were to give according to their wordly ability; but this, which was the ransom of the soul, must be alike for all. The souls of all are of equal value, equally in danger, and all equally need a ransom. The money raised was to be used in the service of the tabernacle. Those who have the benefit, must not grudge the necessary charges of God's public worship. Money cannot make atonement for the soul, but it may be used for the honour of Him who has made the atonement, and for the maintenance of the gospel by which the atonement is applied.

(Exo 30:12 KJV) When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel after their number, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto the LORD, when thou numberest them; that there be no plague among them, when thou numberest them.

(Exo 30:13 KJV) This they shall give, every one that passeth among them that are numbered, half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary: (a shekel is twenty gerahs:) an half shekel shall be the offering of the LORD.

(Exo 30:14 KJV) Every one that passeth among them that are numbered, from twenty years old and above, shall give an offering unto the LORD.

(Exo 30:15 KJV) The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel, when they give an offering unto the LORD, to make an atonement for your souls.

(Exo 30:16 KJV) And thou shalt take the atonement money of the children of Israel, and shalt appoint it for the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; that it may be a memorial unto the children of Israel before the LORD, to make an atonement for your souls.

Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Rom 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Rom 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
Rom 3:26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
Rom 3:27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
Rom 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
Rom 3:29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:
Rom 3:30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.
Rom 3:31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

Paul really says it better then I can, this is so important for us to learn to see. A friend has paid the price for our sin. We don't deserve it, we didn't plan it, we didn't earn it, and he did it because a ramose for our soul had to be paid. The price was more then we could give so he walked right up to the cross and paid it for us that no price will ever be charged again. This is justification, this is grace, and this is the possibility of life if we except the payment. Seems kind of foolish not too, yet more than the grains of sand will not accept what Jesus already paid.

The brazen laver

(Exo 30:17 KJV) And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Exo 30:17: Verses 17-21. A large vessel of brass, holding water, was to be set near the door of the tabernacle. Aaron and his sons must wash their hands and feet at this laver, every time they went in to minister. This was to teach them purity in all their services, and to dread the pollution of sin. They must not only wash and be made clean, when first made priests, but must wash and be kept clean, whenever they went to minister. It teaches us daily to attend upon God, daily to renew our repentance for sin, and our looking to the blood of Christ for remission; for in many things we daily offend.

(Exo 30:18 KJV) Thou shalt also make a laver of brass, and his foot also of brass, to wash withal: and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein.

(Exo 30:19 KJV) For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat:

(Exo 30:20 KJV) When they go into the tabernacle of the congregation, they shall wash with water, that they die not; or when they come near to the altar to minister, to burn offering made by fire unto the LORD:

(Exo 30:21 KJV) So they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they die not: and it shall be a statute for ever to them, even to him and to his seed throughout their generations.

Luke 7:44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gravest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.
Luke 7:45 Thou gravest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.
Luke 7:46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.
Luke 7:47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.

How much do we Love, would we wash the feet of our fellow labour much less would we shed a tear out of love?

John 13:3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;
John 13:4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.

John 13:5 After that he poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
John 13:6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?
John 13:7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.
John 13:8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
John 13:9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.
John 13:10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.
John 13:11 For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.
John 13:12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?
John 13:13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
John 13:14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.
John 13:15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
John 13:16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
John 13:17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

How happy do you want to be? I am persuaded that most of the time we do not want to be happy that if we did we would obey the Gospel.

The holy anointing oil, The perfume

(Exo 30:22 KJV) Moreover the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Exo 30:22: Verses 22-38. Directions are here given for making the holy anointing oil, and the incense to be used in the service of the tabernacle. To show the excellency of holiness, there was this spiced oil in the tabernacle, which was grateful to the sight and to the smell. Christ's name is as ointment poured forth, Song of Solomon 1:3, and the good name of Christians is like precious ointment, Ecclesiastes 7:1. The incense burned upon the golden altar was prepared of sweet spices. When it was used, it was to be beaten very small; thus it pleased the Lord to bruise the Redeemer, when he offered himself for a sacrifice of a sweet-smelling savour. The like should not be made for any common use. Thus God would keep in the people's minds reverence for his own services, and teach us not to profane or abuse any thing whereby God makes himself known. It is a great affront to God to jest with sacred things, and to make sport with his word and ordinances. It is most dangerous and fatal to use professions of the gospel of Christ to forward wordly interests.

(Exo 30:23 KJV) Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet cinnamon half so much, even two hundred and fifty shekels, and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty shekels,

(Exo 30:24 KJV) And of cassia five hundred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, and of oil olive an hin:

(Exo 30:25 KJV) And thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy anointing oil.

(Exo 30:26 KJV) And thou shalt anoint the tabernacle of the congregation therewith, and the ark of the testimony,

(Exo 30:27 KJV) And the table and all his vessels, and the candlestick and his vessels, and the altar of incense,

(Exo 30:28 KJV) And the altar of burnt offering with all his vessels, and the laver and his foot.

(Exo 30:29 KJV) And thou shalt sanctify them, that they may be most holy: whatsoever toucheth them shall be holy.

(Exo 30:30 KJV) And thou shalt anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office.

(Exo 30:31 KJV) And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, This shall be an holy anointing oil unto me throughout your generations.

(Exo 30:32 KJV) Upon man's flesh shall it not be poured, neither shall ye make any other like it, after the composition of it: it is holy, and it shall be holy unto you.

(Exo 30:33 KJV) Whosoever compoundeth any like it, or whosoever putteth any of it upon a stranger, shall even be cut off from his people.

(Exo 30:34 KJV) And the LORD said unto Moses, Take unto thee sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight:

(Exo 30:35 KJV) And thou shalt make it a perfume, a confection after the art of the apothecary, tempered together, pure and holy:

(Exo 30:36 KJV) And thou shalt beat some of it very small, and put of it before the testimony in the tabernacle of the congregation, where I will meet with thee: it shall be unto you most holy.

(Exo 30:37 KJV) And as for the perfume which thou shalt make, ye shall not make to yourselves according to the composition thereof: it shall be unto thee holy for the LORD.

(Exo 30:38 KJV) Whosoever shall make like unto that, to smell thereto, shall even be cut off from his people.

The best oil is the oil given in love and the tears we shed in mercy and humbleness.

Aaron and his sons set apart for the priest's office, Their garments.

(Exo 28:1 KJV) And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's sons.

Exo 28:1: Verses 1-5. Hitherto the heads of families were the priests, and offered sacrifices; but now this office was confined to the family of Aaron only; and so continued till the gospel dispensation. The holy garments not only distinguished the priests from the people, but were emblems of that holy conduct which should ever be the glory and beauty, the mark of the ministers of religion, without which their persons and ministrations will be had in contempt. They also typified the glory of the Divine majesty, and the beauty of complete holiness, which rendered Jesus Christ the great High Priest. But our adorning under the gospel, is not to be of gold and costly array, but the garments of salvation, the robe of righteousness.

(Exo 28:2 KJV) And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty.

(Exo 28:3 KJV) And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office.

(Exo 28:4 KJV) And these are the garments which they shall make; a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a broidered coat, a mitre, and a girdle: and they shall make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, and his sons, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office.

(Exo 28:5 KJV) And they shall take gold, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen.

We Minster to God as sub priests when we Minster to others in pureness and holiness. God will not tolerate the unfaithful Minster.

The ephod

(Exo 28:6 KJV) And they shall make the ephod of gold, of blue, and of purple, of scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cunning work.

Exo 28:6: Verses 6-14. This richly-wrought ephod was the outmost garment of the high priest; plain linen ephods were worn by the inferior priests. It was a short coat without sleeves, fastened close to the body with a girdle. The shoulder-pieces were buttoned together with precious stones set in gold, one on each shoulder, on which were engraven the names of the children of Israel. Thus Christ, our High Priest, presents his people before the Lord for a memorial. As Christ's coat had no seam, but was woven from the top throughout, so it was with the ephod. The golden bells on this ephod, by their preciousness and pleasant sound, well represent the good profession that the saints make, and the pomegranates the fruit they bring forth.

(Exo 28:7 KJV) It shall have the two shoulder pieces thereof joined at the two edges thereof; and so it shall be joined together.

(Exo 28:8 KJV) And the curious girdle of the ephod, which is upon it, shall be of the same, according to the work thereof; even of gold, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen.

(Exo 28:9 KJV) And thou shalt take two onyx stones, and grave on them the names of the children of Israel:

(Exo 28:10 KJV) Six of their names on one stone, and the other six names of the rest on the other stone, according to their birth.

(Exo 28:11 KJV) With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a signet, shalt thou engrave the two stones with the names of the children of Israel: thou shalt make them to be set in ouches of gold.

(Exo 28:12 KJV) And thou shalt put the two stones upon the shoulders of the ephod for stones of memorial unto the children of Israel: and Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD upon his two shoulders for a memorial.

(Exo 28:13 KJV) And thou shalt make ouches of gold;

(Exo 28:14 KJV) And two chains of pure gold at the ends; of wreathen work shalt thou make them, and fasten the wreathen chains to the ouches.

The breastplate, The Urim and Thummim

(Exo 28:15 KJV) And thou shalt make the breastplate of judgment with cunning work; after the work of the ephod thou shalt make it; of gold, of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine twined linen, shalt thou make it.

Exo 28:15: Verses 15-30. The chief ornament of the high priest, was the breastplate, a rich piece of cloth, curiously worked. The name of each tribe was graven in a precious stone, fixed in the breastplate, to signify how precious, in God's sight, believers are, and how honourable. How small and poor soever the tribe was, it was as a precious stone in the breastplate of the high priest; thus are all the saints dear to Christ, however men esteem them. The high priest had the names of the tribes, both on his shoulders and on his breast, which reminds us of the power and the love with which our Lord Jesus pleads for those that are his. He not only bears them up in his arms with almighty strength, but he carries them in his bosom with tender affection. What comfort is this to us in all our addresses to God! The Urim and Thummim, by which the will of God was made known in doubtful cases, were put in this breastplate. Urim and Thummim signify light and integrity. There are many conjectures what these were; the most probable opinion seems to be, that they were the twelve precious stones in the high priest's breastplate. Now, Christ is our Oracle. By him God, in these last days, makes known himself and his mind to us, Hebrews 1:1,2; John 1:18. He is the true Light, the faithful Witness, the Truth itself, and from him we receive the Spirit of Truth, who leads into all truth.

(Exo 28:16 KJV) Foursquare it shall be being doubled; a span shall be the length thereof, and a span shall be the breadth thereof.

(Exo 28:17 KJV) And thou shalt set in it settings of stones, even four rows of stones: the first row shall be a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this shall be the first row.

(Exo 28:18 KJV) And the second row shall be an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond.

(Exo 28:19 KJV) And the third row a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst.

(Exo 28:20 KJV) And the fourth row a beryl, and an onyx, and a jasper: they shall be set in gold in their enclosings.

(Exo 28:21 KJV) And the stones shall be with the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet; every one with his name shall they be according to the twelve tribes.

(Exo 28:22 KJV) And thou shalt make upon the breastplate chains at the ends of wreathen work of pure gold.

(Exo 28:23 KJV) And thou shalt make upon the breastplate two rings of gold, and shalt put the two rings on the two ends of the breastplate.

(Exo 28:24 KJV) And thou shalt put the two wreathen chains of gold in the two rings which are on the ends of the breastplate.

(Exo 28:25 KJV) And the other two ends of the two wreathen chains thou shalt fasten in the two ouches, and put them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod before it.

(Exo 28:26 KJV) And thou shalt make two rings of gold, and thou shalt put them upon the two ends of the breastplate in the border thereof, which is in the side of the ephod inward.

(Exo 28:27 KJV) And two other rings of gold thou shalt make, and shalt put them on the two sides of the ephod underneath, toward the forepart thereof, over against the other coupling thereof, above the curious girdle of the ephod.

(Exo 28:28 KJV) And they shall bind the breastplate by the rings thereof unto the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, that it may be above the curious girdle of the ephod, and that the breastplate be not loosed from the ephod.

(Exo 28:29 KJV) And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the holy place, for a memorial before the LORD continually.

(Exo 28:30 KJV) And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be upon Aaron's heart, when he goeth in before the LORD: and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the LORD continually.

The robe of the ephod, The plate of the mitre

(Exo 28:31 KJV) And thou shalt make the robe of the ephod all of blue.

Exo 28:31: Verses 31-39. The robe of the ephod was under the ephod, and reached down to the knees, without sleeves. Aaron must minister in the garments appointed. We must serve the Lord with holy fear, as those who know they deserve to die. A golden plate was fixed on Aaron's forehead, engraven with "Holiness to the Lord." Aaron was hereby reminded that God is holy, and that his priests must be holy, devoted to the Lord. This must appear in their forehead, in open profession of their relation to God. It must be engraven like the engravings of a signet; deep and durable; not painted so as to be washed off, but firm and lasting; such must our holiness to the Lord be. Christ is our High Priest; through him sins are forgiven to us, and not laid to our charge. Our persons, our doings, are pleasing to God upon the account of Christ, and not otherwise.

(Exo 28:32 KJV) And there shall be an hole in the top of it, in the midst thereof: it shall have a binding of woven work round about the hole of it, as it were the hole of an habergeon, that it be not rent.

(Exo 28:33 KJV) And beneath upon the hem of it thou shalt make pomegranates of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, round about the hem thereof; and bells of gold between them round about:

(Exo 28:34 KJV) A golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, upon the hem of the robe round about.

(Exo 28:35 KJV) And it shall be upon Aaron to minister: and his sound shall be heard when he goeth in unto the holy place before the LORD, and when he cometh out, that he die not.

(Exo 28:36 KJV) And thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it, like the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD.

(Exo 28:37 KJV) And thou shalt put it on a blue lace, that it may be upon the mitre; upon the forefront of the mitre it shall be.

(Exo 28:38 KJV) And it shall be upon Aaron's forehead, that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts; and it shall be always upon his forehead, that they may be accepted before the LORD.

(Exo 28:39 KJV) And thou shalt embroider the coat of fine linen, and thou shalt make the mitre of fine linen, and thou shalt make the girdle of needlework.

God's people are to dress the right way. He looks on our hearts while others see the outward witness. I believe he wants us to put on the holy garments as follows that we may have victory.

Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Eph 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Eph 6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
Eph 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Eph 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Eph 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Lev 16:2 And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the veil before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.

I feel that we should take note of the fact that to come into the holy place was to die. The reason we can now let the Holy Spirit into us and indeed become a Holy place and come into the presence of the Great God is because through Christ we have passed from death into life.

John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

Num 7:89 And when Moses was gone into the tabernacle of the congregation to speak with him, then he heard the voice of one speaking unto him from off the mercy seat that was upon the ark of testimony, from between the two cherubims: and he spake unto him.

We need to stay at the altar until we hear from God. Often we leave before he speaks and we miss the blessing.

Num 10:33 And they departed from the mount of the LORD three days' journey: and the ark of the covenant of the LORD went before them in the three days' journey, to search out a resting place for them.

The presence of the Lord goes with us wherever we go if we will let him. He is more than just what you have in the good church service he is our lamp for our feet at all time.

Ps 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Num 10:35 And it came to pass, when the ark set forward, that Moses said, Rise up, LORD, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee.

Num 10:36 And when it rested, he said, Return, O LORD, unto the many thousands of Israel.

Deu 10:1 At that time the LORD said unto me, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first, and come up unto me into the mount, and make thee an ark of wood.

Deu 10:2 And I will write on the tables the words that were in the first tables which thou brakest, and thou shalt put them in the ark.

Deu 10:3 And I made an ark of shittim wood, and hewed two tables of stone like unto the first, and went up into the mount, having the two tables in mine hand.

Deu 10:4 And he wrote on the tables, according to the first writing, the ten commandments, which the LORD spake unto you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly: and the LORD gave them unto me.

Deu 10:5 And I turned myself and came down from the mount, and put the tables in the ark which I had made; and there they be, as the LORD commanded me.

(Deu 10:8 KJV) At that time the LORD separated the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to minister unto him, and to bless in his name, unto this day.

Notice that God called a special group of people to take care of the ark, to be his ministers. {caretakers} He still calls only special groups to take care of his minstey.

(Deu 31:9 KJV) And Moses wrote this law, and delivered it unto the priests the sons of Levi, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and unto all the elders of Israel.

(Deu 31:25 KJV) That Moses commanded the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, saying,

(Deu 31:26 KJV) Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee.

Here is where the books or scrolls were also placed in the ark. Also it is neat to see that the word of God is a witness not only against them but us too.

(Josh 3:17 KJV) And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan.

God has a way of not only rolling back the waters that would drown us but to place us on dry ground in the midst of the waters. Here is a sermon in it self, if we let God do the work in us and we are willing to obey him see what he'll do?

(Josh 4:5 KJV) And Joshua said unto them, Pass over before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of Jordan, and take you up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder, according unto the number of the tribes of the children of Israel:

(Josh 4:6 KJV) That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones?

(Josh 4:7 KJV) Then ye shall answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it passed over Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever.

(Josh 4:8 KJV) And the children of Israel did so as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the midst of Jordan, as the LORD spake unto Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, and carried them over with them unto the place where they lodged, and laid them down there.

(Josh 4:9 KJV) And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests which bare the ark of the covenant stood: and they are there unto this day.

It is a good thing to place items in our life to help us remember what God has done for us. Maybe God has forgiven us for stealing, or changed us from being a drunk, we should strive to show the world the change, The rocks we set up are the changes in our attitudes, how we talk, the places we go and the friends we keep. I've learned that as I grow in the Lord I tend to set up more rocks. Often I'm forced to carry those stones for a while before I can go get new ones. Example of this that is like for many years I carried guilt around in my heart for something I had said to someone, which had hurt him. Even through God had forgiven me I had not forgiven my self thus I carried the stone on my shoulder until I had reached the place to forgive or accept the forgiveness. God has brought us all through many trials, temptations and learning spots in our lives, yet if we are not careful we forget the lesson we have learned. When I was in school I learned how to do various tasks with fractions. The other day one of the children needed help in multiplying some fractions, I found that I had forgotten how to do this once simple math. Someone once visited a man that had a picture on his mantle of a ragged and broken man set right in the center. The visitor asked why do you have such an ugly picture right in the middle of all the nice things on your mantle. His reply was, "I never want to forget where I once was and where I am now least I would slip back and be that man again." God changes us, but if we look back we loose.

Luke 9:62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
Deu 11:16 Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them;

Deu 11:17 And then the LORD'S wrath be kindled against you, and he shut up the heaven, that there be no rain, and that the land yield not her fruit; and lest ye perish quickly from off the good land which the LORD giveth you.
Luke 21:8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.
1 Cor 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
1 Cor 6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
1 Cor 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
1 Cor 15:33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
1 Cor 15:34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.
Gal 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
Gal 6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

We often deceive ourselves in to thinking that our way is the right way but our ways are not Gods ways.

Dan 5:25 And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.
Dan 5:26 This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it.

Dan 5:27 TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.
Dan 5:28 PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.
Ezek 18:25 Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal?
Ezek 18:26 When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die.
Ezek 18:27 Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive.
Ezek 18:28 Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
Judg 18:5 And they said unto him, Ask counsel, we pray thee, of God, that we may know whether our way which we go shall be prosperous.
Judg 18:6 And the priest said unto them, Go in peace: before the LORD is your way wherein ye go.
1 Sam 12:23 Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:
1 Sam 12:24 Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart; for consider how great things he hath done for you.
1 Sam 12:25 But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king.
2 Sam 22:31 As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.
2 Sam 22:32 For who is God, save the LORD? and who is a rock, save our God?
2 Sam 22:33 God is my strength and power: And he maketh my way perfect.
2 Sam 22:34 He maketh my feet like hinds' feet: and setteth me upon my high places.
Job 28:23 God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof.
Job 28:24 For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven;
Job 28:25 To make the weight for the winds; and he weigheth the waters by measure.
Job 28:26 When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder:
Job 28:27 Then did he see it, and declare it; he prepared it, yea, and searched it out.
Job 28:28 And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.
Psa 77:13 Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?

God expects us to learn his ways and what better place then in his sanctuary's, this may be the local church or it may be your pray closet, Bu you must learn to meat God and let him dwell in you the real ark of the covenant. You are the chest to carry the Sprit in so all may see Jesus.

Jonah 3:8 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands.
Jonah 3:9 Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?

Jonah 3:10 And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.
Isa 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

The people pass through Jordan

(Josh 4:10 KJV) For the priests which bare the ark stood in the midst of Jordan, until every thing was finished that the LORD commanded Joshua to speak unto the people, according to all that Moses commanded Joshua: and the people hasted and passed over.

Josh 4:10: Verses 10-19. The priests with the ark did not stir till ordered to move. Let none be weary of waiting, while they have the tokens of God's presence with them, even the ark of the covenant, though it be in the depths of adversity. Notice is taken of the honour put upon Joshua. Those are feared in the best manner, and to the best purpose, who make it appear that God is with them, and that they set him before them.

(Josh 4:11 KJV) And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over, that the ark of the LORD passed over, and the priests, in the presence of the people.

God doesn't wait to help us after we pass through the storm, he helps us to the storm, during the storm, and through the storm. Till Victory.

(Josh 4:12 KJV) And the children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh, passed over armed before the children of Israel, as Moses spake unto them:

(Josh 4:13 KJV) About forty thousand prepared for war passed over before the LORD unto battle, to the plains of Jericho.

(Josh 4:14 KJV) On that day the LORD magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life.

When a man walks in the way of God, it is God, which does the building up. We often want to be great preachers, great pastors, not just for our benefit but for Gods (so we say), But if our desire is really for God, then why do we worry so over the suit we wear, the sound system, the church building, and such like. The greatest men in the service of God is the least men ion the sight of men.

Mat 23:11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
Mat 23:12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

Mark 9:34 But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.
Mark 9:35 And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.
Mark 9:36 And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them,
Mark 9:37 Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.
Mark 9:38 And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.
Mark 9:39 But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.
Mark 9:40 For he that is not against us is on our part.

I wonder how often in our zeal to do the right thing we stand in the way of doing Gods things. If greatness was measured in words there would be many great men in heaven for the preacher of today have a lot words and not much power.

(Josh 4:15 KJV) And the LORD spake unto Joshua, saying,

(Josh 4:16 KJV) Command the priests that bear the ark of the testimony, that they come up out of Jordan.

(Josh 4:17 KJV) Joshua therefore commanded the priests, saying, Come ye up out of Jordan.

Are we willing to come when we are called?

Luke 5:10 And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.
Luke 5:11 And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.

(Josh 4:18 KJV) And it came to pass, when the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD were come up out of the midst of Jordan, and the soles of the priests' feet were lifted up unto the dry land, that the waters of Jordan returned unto their place, and flowed over all his banks, as they did before.

When we are obedient God brings us trough ever dangerous situation with victory.

(Josh 6:4 KJV) And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams' horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets.

(Josh 6:5 KJV) And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him.

The city is compassed

(Josh 6:6 KJV) And Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said unto them, Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD.

Josh 6:6: Verses 6-16. Wherever the ark went, the people attended it. God's ministers, by the trumpet of the everlasting gospel, which proclaims liberty and victory, must encourage the followers of Christ in their spiritual warfare. As promised deliverance's must be expected in God's way, so they must be expected in his time. At last the people were to shout: they did so, and the walls fell. This was a shout of faith; they believed the walls of Jericho would fall. It was a shout of prayer; they cry to Heaven for help, and help came.

(Josh 6:7 KJV) And he said unto the people, Pass on, and compass the city, and let him that is armed pass on before the ark of the LORD.

(Josh 6:8 KJV) And it came to pass, when Joshua had spoken unto the people, that the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns passed on before the LORD, and blew with the trumpets: and the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed them.

(Josh 6:9 KJV) And the armed men went before the priests that blew with the trumpets, and the rereward came after the ark, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets.

(Josh 6:10 KJV) And Joshua had commanded the people, saying, Ye shall not shout, nor make any noise with your voice, neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout; then shall ye shout.

(Josh 6:11 KJV) So the ark of the LORD compassed the city, going about it once: and they came into the camp, and lodged in the camp.

(Josh 6:12 KJV) And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the LORD.

(Josh 6:13 KJV) And seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD went on continually, and blew with the trumpets: and the armed men went before them; but the rereward came after the ark of the LORD, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets.

Her we again see the victory when we allow the presence of God to work in us and we also see that we do not work alone. Often is easy for us to take the role of trying to fight against sin by our selves. We need to seek out other men of God to help us in our labor and to join with us. I have seen many pastors get jealous and not allow God to move in a powerful way in their churches over other men of God. It is so silly if God wants you to be the Pastor you will be, we lose sight of the important job at hand which is to save the lost.

Mat 18:11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.
Mat 18:12 How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?

Mat 18:13 And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.
Mat 18:14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.
Luke 19:9 And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.
Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

(1 Sam 3:3 KJV) And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;

This may be looking at this a little out of context but I believe that the lamp has gone out of many of our churches and that the priests have indeed gone to sleep. What do you think.

(1 Sam 4:3 KJV) And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the LORD smitten us to day before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies.

(1 Sam 4:4 KJV) So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from thence the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth between the cherubims: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

(1 Sam 4:5 KJV) And when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again.

When we get in trouble we want God to bail us out, yet sometimes we are in trouble because of sin. Israel was in trouble because of sin, they sent for the presence of God but they had not repented. Sometimes we will go where the revival is, we will go where the shout is, we will go where the miracles is, but all we get is the shout and a false confidence because we feel the joy of being in his presence and not the joy of living in or having him in us. People often hear Christians talk about the love of God and their faith but rarely see that faith or the love shown to others.

(1 Sam 4:6 KJV) And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, What meaneth the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? And they understood that the ark of the LORD was come into the camp.

I have gone to church and saw what must be a great move of God. People are shouting, people are being prayed for and declaring their victory yet there are ungodly sitting comfortably in the benches, even so some of those which profess great blessing leave only to curse or light up, or try to make passes at some man or woman, or get a little of the worlds wine before they even get home. We may on first glance scare the world but on closer examination they see the victory is theirs. We can only have victory when we walk in the Lord.

(1 Sam 4:7 KJV) And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, God is come into the camp. And they said, Woe unto us! for there hath not been such a thing heretofore.

But God was not with the people he may have been in the camp but he was not in the hearts.

(1 Sam 4:8 KJV) Woe unto us! who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty Gods? these are the Gods that smote the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness.

(1 Sam 4:9 KJV) Be strong, and quit yourselves like men, O ye Philistines, that ye be not servants unto the Hebrews, as they have been to you: quit yourselves like men, and fight.

The ark taken

(1 Sam 4:10 KJV) And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man into his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen.

1 Sam 4:10: Verses 10-11. The taking of the ark was a great judgment upon Israel, and a certain token of God's displeasure. Let none think to shelter themselves from the wrath of God, under the cloak of outward profession.

(1 Sam 4:11 KJV) And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.

How often we let the blessing of God be stolen from us by our own iniquities.

Isa 59:2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
Isa 59:3 For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness.

Isa 59:4 None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.

Dagon is broken before the ark.

(1 Sam 5:1 KJV) And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it from Ebenezer unto Ashdod.

1 Sam 5:1: Verses 1-5. See the ark's triumph over Dagon. Thus the kingdom of Satan will certainly fall before the kingdom of Christ, error before truth, profaneness before godliness, and corruption before grace in the hearts of the faithful. When the interests of religion seem to be ready to sink, even then we may be confident that the day of their triumph will come. When Christ, the true Ark of the covenant, really enters the heart of fallen man, which is indeed Satan's temple, all idols will fall, every endeavour to set them up again will be vain, sin will be forsaken, and unrighteous gain restored; the Lord will claim and possess the throne. But pride, self-love, and worldly lusts, though dethroned and crucified, still remain within us, like the stump of Dagon. Let us watch and pray that they may not prevail. Let us seek to have them more entirely destroyed.

(1 Sam 5:2 KJV) When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon.

(1 Sam 5:3 KJV) And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the LORD. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again.

(1 Sam 5:4 KJV) And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold; only the stump of Dagon was left to him.

(1 Sam 5:5 KJV) Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that come into Dagon's house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod unto this day.

The Philistine smitten

(1 Sam 5:6 KJV) But the hand of the LORD was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with emerods, even Ashdod and the coasts thereof.

1 Sam 5:6: Verses 6-12. The hand of the Lord was heavy upon the Philistines; he not only convinced them of their folly, but severely chastised their insolence. Yet they would not renounce Dagon; and instead of seeking God's mercy, they desired to get clear of his ark. Carnal hearts, when they smart under the judgments of God, would rather, if it were possible, put him far from them, than enter into covenant or communion with him, and seek him for their friend. But their devices to escape the Divine judgments only increase them. Those that fight against God will soon have enough of it.

(1 Sam 5:7 KJV) And when the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, The ark of the God of Israel shall not abide with us: for his hand is sore upon us, and upon Dagon our god.

(1 Sam 5:8 KJV) They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the Philistines unto them, and said, What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel? And they answered, Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried about unto Gath. And they carried the ark of the God of Israel about thither.

(1 Sam 5:9 KJV) And it was so, that, after they had carried it about, the hand of the LORD was against the city with a very great destruction: and he smote the men of the city, both small and great, and they had emerods in their secret parts.

(1 Sam 5:10 KJV) Therefore they sent the ark of God to Ekron. And it came to pass, as the ark of God came to Ekron, that the Ekronites cried out, saying, They have brought about the ark of the God of Israel to us, to slay us and our people.

(1 Sam 5:11 KJV) So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go again to his own place, that it slay us not, and our people: for there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there.

There are many thought in these passages but the one I want to dwell on is that God will not dwell in an unclean temple, his Sprit when allowed to work will ether cause a sinner to repent or flee, if they stay in the presence it will cause them to be destroyed. I believe many of Gods people children have gone out into the worst depths of sin because they could not stand the presence to Gods Sprit. Many home's due to the lack of compromise by the believer has broken. Yet this is exactly what God said would happen. If a church really begins to move in the Sprit, then the sinner will be saved or flee, he may get bitter and try to destroy the work, but where God is the sinner will not be comfortable.

The Philistines consult how to send back the ark

(1 Sam 6:1 KJV) And the ark of the LORD was in the country of the Philistines seven months.

1 Sam 6:1: Verses 1-9. Seven months the Philistines were punished with the presence of the ark; so long it was a plague to them, because they would not send it home sooner. Sinners lengthen out their own miseries by refusing to part with their sins. The Israelites made no effort to recover the ark. Alas! where shall we find concern for religion prevail above all other matters? In times of public calamity we fear for ourselves, for our families, and for our country; but who cares for the ark of God? We are favoured with the gospel, but it is treated with neglect or contempt. We need not wonder if it should be taken from us; to many persons this, though the heavies of calamities, would occasion no grief. There are multitudes whom any profession would please as well as that of Christianity. But there are those who value the house, the word, and the ministry of God above their richest possessions, who dread the loss of these blessings more than death. How willing bad men are to shift off their convictions, and when they are in trouble, to believe it is a chance that happens; and that the rod has no voice which they should hear or heed!

(1 Sam 6:2 KJV) And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners, saying, What shall we do to the ark of the LORD? tell us wherewith we shall send it to his place.

The world only knows one place to o for help the world, yet the truth was right in front of them yet they could not see it. We too become blind, God does not want us to be like the world but like him. If we are not willing to change then his Sprit can not dwell in us. When he come to live in our house we must change to let him in.

(1 Sam 6:3 KJV) And they said, If ye send away the ark of the God of Israel, send it not empty; but in any wise return him a trespass offering: then ye shall be healed, and it shall be known to you why his hand is not removed from you.

(1 Sam 6:4 KJV) Then said they, What shall be the trespass offering which we shall return to him? They answered, Five golden emerods, and five golden mice, according to the number of the lords of the Philistines: for one plague was on you all, and on your lords.

(1 Sam 6:5 KJV) Wherefore ye shall make images of your emerods, and images of your mice that mar the land; and ye shall give glory unto the God of Israel: peradventure he will lighten his hand from off you, and from off your gods, and from off your land.

(1 Sam 6:6 KJV) Wherefore then do ye harden your hearts, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? when he had wrought wonderfully among them, did they not let the people go, and they departed?

(1 Sam 6:7 KJV) Now therefore make a new cart, and take two milch kine, on which there hath come no yoke, and tie the kine to the cart, and bring their calves home from them:

(1 Sam 6:8 KJV) And take the ark of the LORD, and lay it upon the cart; and put the jewels of gold, which ye return him for a trespass offering, in a coffer by the side thereof; and send it away, that it may go.

(1 Sam 6:9 KJV) And see, if it goeth up by the way of his own coast to Bethshemesh, then he hath done us this great evil: but if not, then we shall know that it is not his hand that smote us: it was a chance that happened to us.

They bring it to Bethshemesh

(1 Sam 6:10 KJV) And the men did so; and took two milch kine, and tied them to the cart, and shut up their calves at home:

1 Sam 6:10: Verses 10-18. These two kine knew their owner, their great Owner, whom Hophin and Phinehas knew not. God's providence takes notice even of brute creatures, and serves its own purposes by them. When the reapers saw the ark, they rejoiced; their joy for that was greater than the joy of harvest. The return of the ark, and the revival of holy ordinances, after days of restraint and trouble, are matters of great joy.

(1 Sam 6:11 KJV) And they laid the ark of the LORD upon the cart, and the coffer with the mice of gold and the images of their emerods.

(1 Sam 6:12 KJV) And the kine took the straight way to the way of Bethshemesh, and went along the highway, lowing as they went, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left; and the lords of the Philistines went after them unto the border of Bethshemesh.

(1 Sam 6:13 KJV) And they of Bethshemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley: and they lifted up their eyes, and saw the ark, and rejoiced to see it.

(1 Sam 6:14 KJV) And the cart came into the field of Joshua, a Bethshemite, and stood there, where there was a great stone: and they clave the wood of the cart, and offered the kine a burnt offering unto the LORD.

(1 Sam 6:15 KJV) And the Levites took down the ark of the LORD, and the coffer that was with it, wherein the jewels of gold were, and put them on the great stone: and the men of Bethshemesh offered burnt offerings and sacrificed sacrifices the same day unto the LORD.

(1 Sam 6:16 KJV) And when the five lords of the Philistines had seen it, they returned to Ekron the same day.

(1 Sam 6:17 KJV) And these are the golden emerods which the Philistines returned for a trespass offering unto the LORD; for Ashdod one, for Gaza one, for Askelon one, for Gath one, for Ekron one;

(1 Sam 6:18 KJV) And the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both of fenced cities, and of country villages, even unto the great stone of Abel, whereon they set down the ark of the LORD: which stone remaineth unto this day in the field of Joshua, the Bethshemite.

The people smitten for looking into the ark

(1 Sam 6:19 KJV) And he smote the men of Bethshemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the LORD, even he smote of the people fifty thousand and threescore and ten men: and the people lamented, because the LORD had smitten many of the people with a great slaughter.

1 Sam 6:19: Verses 19-21. It is a great affront to God, for vain men to pry into, and meddle with the secret things which belong not to them, Deuteronomy 29:29; Colossians 2:18. Man was ruined by desiring forbidden knowledge. God will not suffer his ark to be profaned. Be not deceived, God is not mocked. Those that will not fear his goodness, and reverently use the tokens of his grace, shall be made to feel his justice. The number smitten is expressed in an unusual manner in the original, and it is probable that it means 1170. They desire to be rid of the ark. Foolish men run from one extreme to the other. They should rather have asked, How may we have peace with God, and recover his favor? Micah 6:6,7. Thus, when the word of God works with terror on sinners' consciences, they, instead of taking the blame and shame to themselves, quarrel with the word, and put that from them. Many stifle their convictions, and put salvation away from them.

(1 Sam 6:20 KJV) And the men of Bethshemesh said, Who is able to stand before this holy LORD God? and to whom shall he go up from us?

Only those that have been washed in the Blood, We cannot stand before God on that finale day unless we have our sin purged.

(1 Sam 6:21 KJV) And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kirjathjearim, saying, The Philistines have brought again the ark of the LORD; come ye down, and fetch it up to you.

Uzzah smitten for touching the ark, Obed-edom blessed

(2 Sam 6:6 KJV) And when they came to Nachon's threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it.

2 Sam 6:6: Verses 6-11. Uzzah was struck dead for touching the ark. God saw presumption and irreverence in Uzzah's heart. Familiarity, even with that which is most awful, is apt to breed contempt. If it were so great a crime for one to lay hold on the ark of the covenant who had no right to do so, what is it for those to lay claim to the privileges of the covenant that come not up to the terms of it? Obed-edom opened his doors without fear, knowing the ark was a savour of death unto death to those only who treated it wrong. The same hand that punished Uzzah's proud presumption, rewarded Obed-edom's humble boldness. Let none think the worse of the gospel for the judgments on those that reject it, but consider the blessings it brings to all who receive it. Let masters of families be encouraged to keep up religion in their families. It is good to live in a family that entertains the ark, for all about it will fare the better.

(2 Sam 6:7 KJV) And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.

Some would have you believe there is no price to pay for error, yet we see clearly that even the unintentional error brought death because God knows what is in the heart. We must prepare the heart for the presence of God. Mat 3:8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: Luke 3:8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

(2 Sam 6:8 KJV) And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzzah: and he called the name of the place Perezuzzah to this day.

(2 Sam 6:9 KJV) And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and said, How shall the ark of the LORD come to me?

I can assure you there is a time to be afraid of the Lord. We should look at what God is doing in the lives of the unfaithful, look at what he's done to the world and seek to please him.

(2 Sam 6:10 KJV) So David would not remove the ark of the LORD unto him into the city of David: but David carried it aside into the house of Obededom the Gittite.

(2 Sam 6:11 KJV) And the ark of the LORD continued in the house of Obededom the Gittite three months: and the LORD blessed Obededom, and all his household.

David brings the ark to Zion

(2 Sam 6:12 KJV) And it was told king David, saying, The LORD hath blessed the house of Obededom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obededom into the city of David with gladness.

When we give God the credit and let those around us see what God is doing in our lives, They will want it too. Could it be that we could even lead them to Jesus.

2 Sam 6:12: Verses 12-19. It became evident, that happy was the man who had the ark near him. Christ is indeed a Stone of stumbling, and a Rock of offence, to those that are disobedient; but to those that believe, he is a Cornerstone, elect, precious, 1 Peter 2:6-8. Let us be religious. Is the ark a blessing to others' houses? We may have it, and the blessing of it, without fetching it away from our neighbors. David, at first setting out, offered sacrifices to God. We are likely to speed in our enterprises, when we begin with God, and give diligence to seek peace with him. And we are so unworthy, and our services are so defiled, that all our joy in God must be connected with repentance and faith in the Redeemer's atoning blood. David attended with high expressions of joy. We ought to serve God with our whole body and soul, and with every endowment and power we possess. On this occasion David laid aside his royal robes, and put on a plain linen dress. David prayed with and for the people, and as a prophet, solemnly blessed them in the name of the Lord.

(2 Sam 6:13 KJV) And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings.

(2 Sam 6:14 KJV) And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.

(2 Sam 6:15 KJV) So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.

(2 Sam 6:16 KJV) And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul's daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.

How the sinners hate to see us rejoice in the Lord, was David doing wrong? No, he was doing what God wants us all to do give him Praise. If we must shout about something lets shout about Gods grace.

(2 Sam 6:17 KJV) And they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.

The dedication of the temple.

(1 Ki 8:1 KJV) Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, unto king Solomon in Jerusalem, that they might bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which is Zion.

1 Ki 8:1: Verses 1-11. The bringing in the ark, is the end which must crown the work: this was done with great solemnity. The ark was fixed in the place appointed for its rest in the inner part of the house, whence they expected God to speak to them, even in the most holy place. The staves of the ark were drawn out, so as to direct the high priest to the mercy-seat over the ark, when he went in, once a year, to sprinkle the blood there; so that they continued of use, though there was no longer occasion to carry it by them. The glory of God appearing in a cloud may signify, 1. The darkness of that dispensation, in comparison with the light of the gospel, by which, with open face, we behold, as in a glass, the glory of the Lord. 2. The darkness of our present state, in comparison with the sight of God, which will be the happiness of heaven, where the Divine glory is unveiled.

(1 Ki 8:2 KJV) And all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto king Solomon at the feast in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month.

(1 Ki 8:3 KJV) And all the elders of Israel came, and the priests took up the ark.

(1 Ki 8:4 KJV) And they brought up the ark of the LORD, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and all the holy vessels that were in the tabernacle, even those did the priests and the Levites bring up.

(1 Ki 8:5 KJV) And king Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel, that were assembled unto him, were with him before the ark, sacrificing sheep and oxen, that could not be told nor numbered for multitude.

(1 Ki 8:6 KJV) And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD unto his place, into the oracle of the house, to the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubims.

(1 Ki 8:7 KJV) For the cherubims spread forth their two wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubims covered the ark and the staves thereof above.

(1 Ki 8:8 KJV) And they drew out the staves, that the ends of the staves were seen out in the holy place before the oracle, and they were not seen without: and there they are unto this day.

(1 Ki 8:9 KJV) There was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone, which Moses put there at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt.

A temple is finally built, the Ark is put in place, the staves are drawn out so the ark would not be moved again yet look what has been lost. You see all that is left in the ark are the stones, the manna is gone, the scrolls are gone, the rod is gone. What have we lost in our lives, in our churches, more times then not we don't even have the Sprit, or the stones of law just building with people called churches. We must find that which is lost. That is easy to do.

2 Chr 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
2 Chr 7:15 Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.
2 Chr 7:16 For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.

(Jer 3:16 KJV) And it shall come to pass, when ye be multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, saith the LORD, they shall say no more, The ark of the covenant of the LORD: neither shall it come to mind: neither shall they remember it; neither shall they visit it; neither shall that be done any more.

No longer do we put our trust for the presence of God in a box made with human hands but we put our trust in a God that dwells in us. That we can feel his power, experience his Truth, demonstrate his rightness.

(Rev 11:19 KJV) And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

And here we end and yet we just begin, Heaven where the throne of God is and where we will dwell. Notice that with the testaments ( ark ) there was what? Lightnings, and voices. What was there on the day of Pentecost? It was the filling of the arks of God covenant. It is what we should be expressing in our live, we should hear God as he wants to speak to us, we should experience God as he dwells in us and we should be like God for his son take up residence in us. So indeed let us be holy as he is holy. Lev 20:7 Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God. Lev 20:8 And ye shall keep my statutes, and do them: I am the LORD which sanctify you. 1 Pet 1:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 1 Pet 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.