The divine services of the first covenant: the rites and bloody sacrifices, 1–10; are far inferior to the dignity and perfection of the blood and sacrifice of Christ, 11–28. (84)
“And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the holiest of all” (v. 3). ch. 6:19; 10:20. Ex. 26:31–33; 36:35–38; 40:3, 21, 2Chr. 3:14, Mat. 27:51. The first veil was the “hanging” over the entrance into the tabernacle, shutting off from view what was inside from those who were in the outer court. It is described in Exodus 26:36, 37. The second veil, described in Exodus 26:31–33 and explained in Hebrews 10:20, was a heavy curtain which concealed the contents of the holy of holies from those in the holy place. The Levitical family ministered in the holy place, but none save the holiest of all, and he only one day in the year.
“Which had the golden censer” (v. 4). Lev. 16:12, 1Kg. 7:50, Rev. 8:3 Plainly what is recorded in Leviticus 16:12, 13, “And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the Lord, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring within the veil: And he shall put the incense upon the fire before the Lord, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy-seat that is upon the testimony, that he die not.” The day, the annual “Day of Atonement,” Aaron used the “golden censer” of incense, passing with it within the veil. The Judaic ritual on the Day of Atonement, and the fulfillment of the type by the Lord Jesus. That which was represented by the “golden censer” was the acceptability of Christ’s person to God and the efficacy of His intercession. The beautiful type of Leviticus 16:12, 13 denotes that, in consequence of the satisfaction which Christ made unto God, completed at the cross, His mediatory intercession is a sweet savor unto the Father, and effective unto the salvation of His Church. The fact that the smoke of this perfume covered the ark and the mercy-seat, wherein was the law, and over which the symbol of the Divine presence abode, denoted that Christ has magnified the law, met its every requirement, and is the end of the law for righteousness unto everybody that believeth.
“And the ark of the covenant overlaid roundabout with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant” (v. 4). Ex. 25:10–16; 26:33; 37:1–5; 39:35; 40:3, 21. The ark, with the mercy-seat which formed its lid or cover, was the most glorious and mysterious vessel of the tabernacle. It was the first thing made Ex. 25:10, 11, yea, the whole sanctuary was built for no other end but to be, as it were, a house and habitation for the ark Ex. 26:33. The ark was the outstanding symbol that God Himself was present among His people and that His covenant-blessing was resting upon them.
The ark was an outstanding figure of the incarnate Son of God. The wood of which it was made, typified His sinless humanity. “Shittim” wood never rotted, and the Septuagint translation of the Old Testament renders it “incorruptible wood.” The wood was overlaid, within and without, with gold, prefiguring Christ’s Divine glory, His righteousness. The two materials of which the ark was made symbolized the union of the two natures in the God-man— “God manifest in flesh” 1Tim. 3:16. The ark formed God’s throne in Israel: “Thou that dwellest between the cherubim” Ps. 80:1. Christ is the only One who perfectly enthroned God, honoring His government in all things. Each of the seven names given to the ark in the Old Testament sets forth some excellency in the person of Christ. Everything connected with its most remarkable history, as in Numbers 10:33, 14:44, Joshua 3:5–17, 6:4–20, etc., received its antitypical fulfillment in the God-man. “Wherein was the golden pot that had manna.” Ex. 16:33, 34. We read in 1Kings 8:9, “There was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone.” But there is no conflict between the two passages, for they are not treating of the same point in time. Hebrews 9:4 is speaking of what was in the ark during the days when it was lodged in the tabernacle, whereas 1 Kings 8:9 tells of what comprised its contents after it came to rest in the temple. It is important to note this distinction, for it supplies the key to the spiritual interpretation of our verse: Hebrews 9:4 makes known God’s provisions in Christ for His people while they are journeying through the wilderness. Thus the “manna” was Israel’s food from Egypt to Canaan: type of Christ as the heavenly sustenance for our souls. The preservation of the manna in the golden pot, speaks of Christ in glory at God’s right hand.” Pink Arthur W.
