SUB-JUNIOR
AGE: 8 - 9 YEARS
STANDARD/GRADE: III & IV
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LESSON – 11
THE ARK OF GOD
In this lesson we are going to learn
about one of the important sacred objects associated with the Israelites worship
called the Ark of God. It is also called as the Ark of the Covenant. It is the
same Ark that was carried by the priests when they crossed the Jordan River.
When the Israelites were wandering in the desert, God told Moses to build a
Tabernacle for Him.
A Tabernacle was a special tent that
was made according to the instructions given by God. The Israelites went to
worship God in the Tabernacle and all the sacred objects were kept there. So,
it was also called as the “Tent of Meeting”. One of the sacred objects kept
inside the Tabernacle of God was the Ark of God. The
presence of God manifested in the Ark of God in the olden days, so the
Israelites revered it.
The Ark of God was a wooden box or
chest covered with pure gold both inside and outside. The Ark was made of
acacia or shittah-tree wood. The Ark had a special lid or cover called the
“Mercy Seat or Atonement Cover”. There were two golden
cherubim kept on the cover, kneeling on the top with their outstretched
wings nearly touching. Cherubs are a type of angels.
Inside the Ark of the Covenant, there
was the stone tablets inscribed with the Ten Commandments (I Kings 8:9; II
Chronicles 5:10). A golden jar filled with manna was
kept alongside Ark containing the covenant law (Exodus 16:33,34). Aaron’s rod that
miraculously budded was put in front of the Ark of the Covenant (Numbers 17:4,
10, 11). (Note: To understand more about the contents of the Ark of
God please read the ‘Teacher’s Notes’ given below)
The Ark of God was kept in a special
place called the “Most Holy Place” in the Tabernacle and it was kept behind a
veil.
Four rings of gold were attached to the
four corners of the Ark. Poles made of shittim wood covered with gold were
inserted through these rings and they were used to carry the Ark of God on the
shoulder of the priests. The Ark of God was made by Bezalel, a craftsman filled
with the Spirit of God. It was covered whenever it was carried from place to
place so that it could not be seen. The Ark of the Covenant became the most
sacred object in the Israelites’ worship.
Teacher’s Notes:
What was inside the Ark of God?
When we read Hebrews 9:4, it states
that the Ark of God contained the stone tablets inscribed with the ten
commandments, the golden jar filled with manna and Aaron’s budded rod. But,
according to I Kings 8:9 & II Chronicles 5:10 the Ark of God contained only
the stone tablets inscribed with the Ten commandments. Some try to explain this
by saying that the golden jar filled with manna and Aaron’s budded rod were
removed later from the Ark. But there is no support for such a view in the Holy
Bible. In such a case, what is the reason for this discrepancy?
If we read the Holy Bible carefully, the
golden jar filled with manna was kept alongside Ark containing the covenant law
(Exodus 16:33,34). Aaron’s rod that miraculously budded was put in front of the
Ark of the Covenant (Numbers 17:4, 10, 11).
However, Hebrews 9:4 indicates that the
Ark of God contained “the golden jar that had the manna, Aaron’s rod that
budded, and the tablets of the covenant”. To understand this the Greek
preposition “en” that is used in this verse, Hebrews 9:4 has to be understood.
It has many meanings including: among, within the range of, near, before, in
the presence of, etc. Hence, we have to understand that Hebrew 9:4 means that
the Aaron’s rod, the jar of manna, and the tablets of stone were all in close
proximity to the Ark in the Most Holy Place. (1). The stone tablet was inside
the Ark of God. (2).
Reference:
(1) Lyons, E. (March, 2010), Contents of the Ark of
the Covenant, [On-line], URL: https://apologeticspress.org/contents-of-the-ark-of-the-covenant-2851/
( 2) The Holy of Holies, [On-line], URL: https://templeinstitute.org/illustrated-tour-the-holy-of-holies/
Bible
Portion: Exodus 25:8-22; Hebrews 9:1-5
Memory Verse: For this
reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may
receive the promised eternal inheritance (Hebrews 9:15a)
ASSESSMENT ACTIVITIES
Answer the following questions:
1. Name the special tent where the Israelites went to worship God.
2. The Ark of God was made with which wood?
3. What was the special cover of the Ark of God called as?
4. Where was the Ark of God kept?
5. Who made the Ark of God?
Fill in the Blanks
1. The presence of God manifested in the ……………….. in the olden days, so the Israelites revered it.
2. There
were two golden ……………………. kept on the cover of the Ark of God.
3. Inside
the Ark of God was the ……………….. that miraculously budded.
4. The Ark
of God was kept behind a ………………..
5.
The Ark of
God was carried on the shoulder of the ………………
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