The Ark History (2 Samuel 6)
It must be remembered that the ark is about 500 years old at this time. It's history is a bit unusual - it seems to go in and out of the memory of Israel.
•It was made at the time of the exodus, at the direction of God. This was a time at which the Law was being given, and some of that law concerned the ark as well. But in the time of Moses and Joshua, the ordinances seem to have been followed strictly.
•The ark was seen as the visible symbol of God's power. In its presence the Jordan stops flowing at flood stage; at its presence the walls of Jericho fall down flat. Whatever else might be thought, here is power.
•Even the Philistines know this. They capture the ark (because of the evil of the sons of Eli, the priest.) Things immediately start going wrong for the Philistines. They put it in the temple of Dagon; Dagon falls flat on his face before the ark. The Philistines are smitten with a plague - of hemorrhoids. They shift it from city to city, and finally send it back to Israel on a newly made cart, with gold offerings for atonement. When the Israelites get it, some look into it - and are killed. This thing is dangerous.
•It sits. For almost 75 years it is practically ignored by Samuel and Saul. It is not until David remembers the legendary power of the ark that it comes into the history of Israel again.
Rules
God seems to be rather strict about this piece of hardware.
•While in transit, it is to be covered so that no irreverence may be done to it.
•It is to be carried on poles - so that God will ride above the backs of the people, not behind them like a captive in a cart.
•Only certain people - the descendants of Kohath - can carry it. God chooses, not us.
•And - interestingly - when the High Priest went into it, he was to use so much incense (a symbol of prayer) that it clouded over the top of the ark, called the Mercy Seat.
Political Significance
David is an astute politician. He knows that he is ruling over a country of tribes, and the ark does two things for him:
•By having it in his possession, he connects himself with the Moses and Joshua of legend - completing his image in the minds of the people as a man after God's own heart. Here is a symbol of power.
•More than that, it is a symbol of the unity of the twelve tribes. There are twelve tribes, but only one ark. He who possesses it can legitimately claim to be the ruler of all Israel.
Spiritual Significance
Of far more importance to us, however, is its spiritual significance. There are three very important aspects:
•It is the "ark of the Testimony." It, by its very existence, testifies both to the miraculous deliverance of the Jews from the land of Egypt (a type of sin) and their own sinful ways, which God dealt with in the wilderness.
•It is said to carry the "name of the Lord." To a society in which a man's name was much more than a label, it was the one item which at this time could be said to represent God in physical form.
•It is at the mercy seat that God met Moses. This was not unique; Samuel met him there also. This is the one spot on earth where God speaks to the prophets. This is, literally, the voice of God.
1. http://www.becomingcloser.org/david/look_on_the_heart.html
