261. The Ark Of His Covenant.

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.. - Revelation 11:19.

IT may not be easy to work out the connection of the text; but taken by itself it is eminently instructive.

Much that is of God we fail to see; to us the temple of God in heaven is still in a measure closed.

There is need that it be opened to us by the Holy Spirit.

Jesus has rent the veil, and so laid open, not only the holy place, but the Holy of holies; and yet by reason of our blindness it still needs laying open, so that its treasures may be seen.

There are minds that even now see the secret of the Lord. We all shall do so above; and we may do so in a measure while below.

Among the chief objects which are to be seen in the heavenly temple is the ark of the covenant of God. This means that the covenant is always in the mind of God, and that his most holy and most secret purposes have a reference to that covenant.

It is "covenant;" not testament (see the Revised Version, which is the better translation in this place).

I. THE COVENANT IS ALWAYS NEAR TO GOD. "There was seen in his temple the ark of his covenant."

Whatever happens, the covenant stands secure.

Whether we see it or not, the covenant is in its place, near to God. The covenant of grace is forever the same, for—

1. The God who made it changes not.

2. The Christ who is its Surety and Substance changes not.

3. The love which suggested it changes not.

4. The principles on which it is settled change not.

5. The promises contained in it change not; and, best of all,

6. The force and binding power of the covenant change not. It is, It must be, forever where God at first placed it.

II. THE COVENANT IS SEEN OF SAINTS. "There was seen in his temple." We see in part, and blessed are we when we see the covenant. We see it when—

1. By faith we believe in Jesus as our Covenant-head.

2. By instruction we understand the system and plan of grace.

3. By confidence we depend upon the Lord's faithfulness, and the promises which he has made in the covenant.

4. By prayer we plead the covenant.

5. By experience we come to perceive covenant-love running as a silver thread through all the dispensations of providence.

6. By a wonderful retrospect we look back when we arrive in heaven, and see all the dealings of our faithful covenant God.

III. THE COVENANT CONTAINS MUCH THAT IS WORTH SEEING. The ark of the covenant may serve us as a symbol. In it typically, and in the covenant actually, we see—

1. God dwelling among men: as the ark in the tabernacle, in the center of the camp.

2. God reconciled, and communing with men upon the mercy-seat.

3. The law fulfilled in Christ: the two tables in the ark.

4. The kingdom established and flourishing in him: Aaron's rod.

5. The provision made for the wilderness: for in the ark was laid up the golden pot, which had manna.

6. The universe united in carrying out covenant purposes, as typified by the cherubim on the mercy-seat.

IV. THE COVENANT HAS SOLEMN SURROUNDINGS. "There were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings," etc.

It is attended by—

1. The sanctions of divine power: confirming.

2. The supports of eternal might: accomplishing.

3. The movements of spiritual energy: applying its grace.

4. The terrors of eternal law: overthrowing its adversaries. Study the covenant of grace.

Fly to Jesus, who is the Surety of it.