Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image” (Rom 1:22-23).1 Scripture uses great emphasis to condemn an idol as nothing more than material crafted by human hands. Ezekiel goes even further with his scathing rebukes of the refugees in Babylon for their dedication to “dungy idols.” Yet, there is a surprising story in the Old Testament when an idol is anthropomorphized. Shockingly, it is as if the idol of Dagon springs to life when the ark of the Lord is captured and placed within his temple. “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” (1Sa 5:3). Dagon’s first movements were to worship the true and living God. But as the Lord expressed, even the rocks cry out in recognition of their Creator. The following verse amplifies the ironic humor, as the so-called living god became a dead stump! “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” (v4).
If you have been traveling with us down this pathway of surprising biblical stories linked with the tabernacle, then please continue with me to the consideration of the Ark of the Covenant. The stories associated with the brazen altar illustrate to us the mercy of salvation that flows abundantly from Calvary. The eating of the shewbread reminds us of a fellowship that expectantly looks to the future. The mention of the lampstand directs us to dependence upon the Lord for the continuance of faithful testimony. And as we approach the altar of incense at the very veil of the Holiest, we are sobered to remember that priestly service must be carried out with all humility. But what ultimate lessons can we glean from the ark of God?
The Ark of the Covenant in the hands of the Philistines was a low point in the testimony of Israel. The news of its loss was marked by the death of Eli, and the birth of a child named Ichabod because “the glory is departed from Israel: for the ark of God is taken” (4:22). You will recall that a century passed before the ark was returned to its rightful place. The story is a solemn reminder to us that the things of God can be so carelessly lost and, even more, be so costly to regain.
The first stage of the ark’s return was to Bethshemesh, back in the land, just seven months later. “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. 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” (6:13-14). All seemed right in Israel, and yet, desecration and death were just a breath away, as the things of God were handled lightly.
“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. And the men of Bethshemesh said, Who is able to stand before this holy LORD God?” (vv19-20). It is shocking to do the KJV math and realize how many men perished. It causes the attentive Sunday school student to swallow hard at the remembrance of sneaking an early look at birthday gifts! But we understand that what was being judged here was something far more serious than foolish curiosity.
To learn the lesson from this strange story, we must recall the design and contents of the ark. The ark was formed of two parts, a lower box below and the solid gold mercy seat above. Within the box we are told that there was a bowl of manna, Aaron’s rod that budded and the tables of the Law. These items were symbols of Israel’s sin in scorning the Lord’s provision in the wilderness, rebelling against the Lord’s leadership, and failing in faithfulness to the one true God. It has often been beautifully pointed out that the Lord alone looked upon those objects, but He never did so without first looking upon the atoning blood applied to the mercy seat. The writer of Hebrews so properly asks, “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Heb 9:14).
I spoke some time ago with a missionary from Central America. He sadly expressed that he wasn’t aware of any other “Christian” group within the country that was preaching a gospel of safety and certainty. To preach that salvation can be lost is to open the ark and proclaim that the work of Christ is insufficient to propitiate for sin. 50,070 is a large number to perish, but how many millions in our world today are missing out on true salvation, or at least the full enjoyment of salvation, because of the carelessness of men in handling the Word of God?
As we draw to the close of our consideration of tabernacle objects, we recognize that each of these physical objects have been lost to antiquity. Archaeologists may search for them, and Hollywood might imagine their recovery, but we have the truth which these objects illustrate stamped upon our souls and eternity. We close with the exhortation of the writer to the Hebrews: “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching” (10:22-25).
1 Bible quotations in this article are from the KJV.
