“Behind the second veil there was a tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies, having a golden altar of incense and the Ark of the Covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden jar holding the manna, and Aaron’s rod which budded, and the tables of the Covenant;” Hebrews 9:3-4

Just what is a covenant? Isn’t a covenant much like a contract - an agreement between two parties?

Paul told the Galatians that once a covenant is ratified the conditions of it cannot be altered, -“Brethren, I speak in terms of human relations; even though it is only a man’s covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds conditions to it.” Paul is saying if a covenant between men cannot be altered, then certainly God’s Covenant of Promise cannot, because it is ratified by the blood of Jesus.

Abraham’s Covenant is the Christian Covenant which makes us his descendants and heirs of the promises, -“And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to the promise.” (3:29) And, -“It is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants.” (Ro.9) That is to say, it is those who have entered into this Covenant of promise who are God’s children.

God instructed Moses to build an Ark for the Covenant. An Ark is a container, in this case, a box made of shittim wood and overlaid with pure gold. The top lid, called the Mercy Seat, was fashioned from one piece of gold with two angels with their wings outstretched covering it.

 The Ark of the Covenant was a box built to hold the conditions of the Covenant.

 Since the righteous blood of the Lamb of God has ratified this Covenant, no one can set anything aside or add conditions to it.

Our text reveals what was placed in the Ark of the Covenant -Ten Commandments, the golden jar of manna, and the rod of Aaron which produced fruit. All these were placed under the mercy seat of God.

 When you abide in Covenant with God His mercy rests upon you and you live in a justified state of grace. The Manna represents Jesus, the true bread from heaven, -“I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever.” (Jo.6) The rod of Aaron represents the Holy Spirit which quickens us from death to life and causes us to yield spiritual fruit.

Wood is a symbol of cursed and dead humanity which is why Jesus was crucified on a wooden cross. He became our curse that we may become the blessing of God. As life sprang forth producing fruit in Aaron’s rod, the Holy Spirit gives us life and causes spiritual growth.

Now we come to the very first objects to be placed in the Ark of the Covenant - the two tablets of stone having the Ten Commandments written into them by the finger of God. Notice that our text refers to them as the “tables of the Covenant.”

The things place under the Mercy Seat also reveals the standard we agree to live by when we enter the Covenant. Receiving Jesus as our Savior, being filled with the Holy Spirit and obeying the Ten Commandments are the conditions of the Covenant which no one is allowed to set aside or add to.

You cannot receive most of Jesus, receive just a little bit of the Holy Spirit or keep nine of the Ten Commandments - you must give your all to the one who gave His all to ratify the Covenant that saves your soul.