Posted by Bel (160.96.97.253) on March 10, 2003 at 12:38:51:
The Israelites used to place lots of reverence on the ark of God. The ark seemed to signify the presence and glory of God to them. When the ark was captured by the Philistines, they cried, for it looked like God and His help had left them along with the ark.
Why would God want His people to build the ark, commanding them to build the tabernacle and ark and have such a emphasis on it. In the NT, God wants the people not to place our faith in some physical thing/ornament (like a physical cross) but to trust in an invisible God, omnipresent. Was it to teach the Israelites about Him, starting from the elementary stage about worshipping the One and only Holy God? And at the same time, it was to manifest to the Gentiles about the awesome of Him as the Israelites move around in the exodus?
Later, God wanted Solomon to build a glorious temple. Something more anchoring? The temple was subsequently destroyed by foreign forces like Assyrians and Babylonians.
Doesn't this show to the Gentiles that even God's temple is not indestructible (even though this destruction was foretold by prophets)?
Even though there was some rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem in Nehemiah's times, the glorious state couldn't be compared to Soloman's times. And how is the condition of the temple now? Even the ark was lost now.
There seems to be a shift in the understanding of God's dwelling among/in His people through the times. Now, we know the worshipping of God is regardless of the physical temple, but more with our own temple where the Holy Spirit dwells in.
Thanks for your insight, Elder Yong.