The Lid.

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Read Time:5 Minute, 38 Second

By William Van Zyl (published 9 June 2024)

A goldsmith prepares the gold to be melted in the fiery furnace.

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The extravagant plans of a unique chest lie on the goldsmith’s bench. He works tirelessly—smoke billows from his tented outdoor workshop. He melts gold in a large crucible over a blazing fire. The intense heat causes sweat to bead on his brow, showcasing his physical endurance. With a swift motion, he wipes away the sweat while maintaining his focus. His well-worn leather apron hangs heavily around his neck, bearing burn scars and traces of extensive labour, symbolising his years of steadfast dedication to his craft.

The goldsmith pumps the bellows, coaxing the flames to a fierce glow. The fire flares up in response to his command. The tools of his trade—chisels, hammers, and tongs—lie organised on a table behind him. As the gold melts into a molten pool, the goldsmith’s keen and focused eyes monitor the process with almost reverent attention. His mind is fully absorbed in the task at hand.

Once the gold reaches the perfect consistency, he skims off all the impurities from the top layer. He then carefully pours the molten gold into a large flat pan; the liquid metal shimmers with an almost otherworldly brilliance. He sets the heavy pan aside, allowing the gold to cool and solidify into a gleaming sheet. As he waits, the goldsmith’s thoughts wander to create the lid for the Ark of the Covenant. He checks the instructions and the measurements.

After cooling, he lifts the solidified gold sheet and places it on the wooden box, which still lacks a lid. Following meticulous instructions, he hammers the remaining gold sheets into a thin, flexible veneer. The Ark is now fully adorned with a breathtaking layer of gold.

The goldsmith hammers the thin layer of gold into a large sheet of gold to cover the sacred ‘chest.’ 

Beside him stands the golden box crafted from acacia wood, its surface smooth and covered with gleaming gold—a container worthy of its divine purpose. The lid is nearly ready now. He carefully attaches two golden cherubs, each hammered to perfection, onto the lid, ensuring every detail is in place.

As he works, the goldsmith pauses to admire his reflection in the polished gold. His face, lined with years of labour and wisdom, stares back at him from the precious surface of the lid. He thinks about the bronze laver at the front of the tabernacle—like a mirror—where one can see their reflection when looking into its water. The Ark of the Covenant is the final artefact to be added to the last room, the Holy of Holies. After making a sin sacrifice, he regularly washes his hands at the laver. He honours Yahweh with offerings, bringing a goat or a young bull to the brazen altar. The priest dips his finger into the blood of the sacrificed animal, spreading it over the horns of the altar before pouring the rest of the blood at the altar’s base.

The goldsmith’s devotion to his craft is not merely a skill but a sacred duty, a sign of his reverence for the divine. God hand-picked Moses to create the Ark. As he constructs and assembles it, he continuously purifies himself, ensuring that he is fully sanctified.

Two cherubs facing one another were affixed on the ark’s solid gold lid. 

This is no ordinary lid. The cherubs kneel facing each other, their wings outstretched and nearly touching, creating a space between them—the Mercy Seat. It serves as a covering and a sacred space, the revered lid of the Ark of the Covenant. This chest holds the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments, Aaron’s rod, and a pot of manna—all symbols of God’s covenant with His people.

Between the cherubs, the Mercy Seat, a place of divine connection, awaits its holy purpose. Once a year, the High Priest performs a solemn act—meeting Jehovah there as he atones for the sins of the Jewish people. He sprinkles the blood of a sacrificial lamb on this spot, a ritual of atonement for the Israelites’ sins. This act underscores the lid’s significance, marking it as a place of divine forgiveness and mercy. Just as the lamb’s blood covers the Mercy Seat, so does God’s forgiveness of sins, allowing His people to approach Him without fear.

The goldsmith steps back, his work complete. The lid shines with an ethereal glow, the gold reflecting the fire’s flickering light and the task’s solemnity. At that moment, the goldsmith feels a profound connection to the divine, his hands having shaped a vessel for God’s presence.

The Ark of the Covenant, now adorned with its solid golden lid, is ready to take its place in the Tabernacle of Moses. The High Priest—the only fit for this task—places the stone tablets, Aaron’s budding rod, and the pot of manna into the Ark. Once inside, touching these sacred items would result in instant death. The Ark is carried using two parallel poles pushed through golden rings attached to its sides. Only the priests are allowed to carry it, ensuring no one physically touches the Ark. It remains sacred and holy, a testament to the power and holiness of God.

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When God looks at born-again Christians, what does He see?

When God looks at those who have experienced a spiritual rebirth, what does He see? Remember, we are His temple—the Tabernacle—where His Holy Spirit dwells. Does He see our inability to obey His laws, our rebellion against His leadership, or our doubt in His provision? The answer is no. He does not see us as weak sinners. Instead, He sees the golden lid—the Mercy Seat. He sees His reflection in it, for we are made in His image. He sees us as the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, Yeshua, the perfect Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

Isn’t that just wonderful! 

He made Christ who knew no sin to [judicially] be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we would become the righteousness of God [that is, we would be made acceptable to Him and placed in a right relationship with Him by His gracious lovingkindness]. 2 Corinthians 5:21

Copyright © 2024 by William Van Zyl

The Lid.

All rights reserved. This eBook/article or any portion

thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner

without the publisher’s permission, except for using brief quotations in a book review.

Published by Five House Publishing (New Zealand)

First Publishing, June 2024

More eBooks and articles are available at https://fivehousepublishing.com/

More about the author at http://williamvanzyl.com/

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