CROWNED | 1 Kings Chapter 8
- Jun 17
- 8 min read
Week 1 / Day 8
INTRODUCTION
At the close of 1 Kings 7, we read that the Temple building is officially complete, but as you will read in 1 Kings 8 today, the Temple preparation is not yet complete, as the real “big moment” has arrived and the Ark is about to be brought into the Temple!
Now, when you read the word “ark,” you may immediately think of the giant boat built by Noah, but the ark we will be reading about today, which is most commonly called the Ark of the Covenant, is something entirely different. Let’s take a quick look at the similarities and differences between the two:
First, the original Hebrew word used to describe Noah’s ark is Tevah, which translates to “box” or “chest” and appears only twice in the entire Hebrew Bible - once for Noah’s ark (Genesis 6-9) and once for the basket used to save baby Moses on the Nile (Exodus 2). On the other hand, the original Hebrew word for the Ark of the Covenant is the word Aron, which translates to “chest” or “coffin” and is generally used when referring to storage. So though these two items were both designed to hold and/or carry items and both Hebrew words have translated the same in the English language (Ark), they are two very different things with two very different purposes.
So what exactly was the Ark of the Covenant?
When it comes to structure, the Ark of the Covenant was a wooden chest with a pure gold covering that, upon its creation, housed:
The two stone tablets of the Ten Commandments, which were given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai. (Exodus 20:2-17 and Deuteronomy 5:6-21)
A jar (or pot) of manna - the miraculous bread-like food that sustained the Israelites during their wilderness wanderings. (Exodus 16)
Aaron’s (Moses’s brother) rod or staff, which miraculously sprouted buds, blossoms, and almonds, confirming Aaron’s appointment as high priest. (Numbers 17)
But when it comes to purpose, the Ark of the Covenant was, in the simplest of terms, the dwelling place of God! It wasn’t just a box to hold historical items. It held much deeper purpose and power than that! It was revered and considered incredibly holy, so much so that touching it or even approaching it without divine authorization would result in death. (2 Samuel 6:1-8 and Leviticus 16:2)
READ
Now, if you haven’t done so already, go ahead and read 1 Kings 8, and then come back here so we can dive into our Reflection time together.
REFLECT
Now that the Temple is built, the Israelites are buzzing with excitement, and I am sure celebration plans are in full swing; however, before the Temple is complete, there is one final thing that must take place - the Ark of the Covenant must be placed in the Temple (more specifically, inside the Holies of Holies), which Solomon wastes no time in doing. In verse four, we read:
“And they brought up the ark of the Lord, the tent of meeting, and all the holy vessels that were in the tent; the priests and the Levites brought them up.” 1 Kings 8:4 (ESV)
Remember, the Ark of the Covenant isn’t just an ornamental object. It is sacred. It is holy. And it was paramount that it be treated as such - a warning made clear in Leviticus when God “warned Moses not to allow Aaron to approach the Ark of the Covenant except on the day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:2). On that day, the incense would cover the cherubim so that the high priest would not die (Leviticus 16:13). As part of the ritual of the Day of Atonement, the high priest would sprinkle blood from the sacrifice of a bull and a goat on the mercy seat, the cover of the ark of the covenant (Leviticus 16:14-15).*’
If we had more time, there is SO MUCH MORE we could unpack about the Ark of the Covenant and all of the symbolism and meaning tied to each and every aspect of it, not to mention the marathon of a journey it took between the time it was created and Exodus to the moment it was placed in the Temple by Solomon here in 1 Kings. A journey that began in the Tabernacle in Exodus 40, then carried across the Jordan in Joshua 3, carried into battle in Joshua 6, and captured by the Philistines in 1 Samuel 7, before being brought back to Jerusalem by David in 2 Samuel 6, which is where it remained until it was placed in Solomon’s Temple here in 1 Kings 8.
But for the sake of time, today, we are going to focus on one aspect of the Ark that is brought to our attention in today’s passage, specifically. First, we see the Ark making a “change of venue”, if you will, as it is moved from the tent David had placed it into Solomon’s temple. And second, apart from a change of venue, there were also a few changes made to the Ark itself that took place between the Ark's inception in the book of Exodus, which we discussed in the introduction to today’s discussion, and its present condition here in 1 Kings chapter 8, which we read about in verse 9. Did you catch what that change was? Let’s re-read an expert from both accounts quickly and see if you can pinpoint the difference.
Hebrews 9:4 says,
“In that room (the Most Holy Place or the Holies of Holies) were a gold incense altar and a wooden chest called the Ark of the Covenant, which was covered with gold on all sides. Inside the Ark were a gold jar containing manna, Aaron’s staff that sprouted leaves, and the stone tablets of the covenant.” (NLT - Addition & Emphasis Added)
I Kings 8:9a tells us,
“Nothing was in the Ark except the two stone tablets that Moses had placed in it at Mount Sinai…” (NLT)
Did you spot the difference? In Hebrews 9, we are told that the Ark contained THREE items, but in 1 Kings 8, it contains only 1, the stone tablets. Why? The answer to that question is widely debated with theories ranging from the items being lost or stolen at some point during its long journey from the Tabernacle to the Temple to others who believe the items were simply removed and placed within the Temple proper, their new and permanent home, no longer needing to be carried from place to place within the Ark. But though we are not certain what exactly happened to the two missing items what we do know is that though the items INSIDE the Ark may have changed, the power and presence it carried did not! And when it is all said and done, the “main idea of the Ark of the Covenant was God’s presence with His people.*”
And it is this sovereignty and faithfulness of the Lord that we see reflected in Solomon’s prayer of blessing, thankfulness, and dedication in verses 23-24:
“O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and showing steadfast love to your servants who walk before you with all their heart; you have kept with your servant David my father what you declared to him. You spoke with your mouth, and with your hand have fulfilled it this day.” (ESV)
But Solomon’s prayer doesn’t stop there. He doesn’t stop at simply giving thanks for all the Lord had done in the past, He also cries out to the Lord for all he desires to be accomplished in and through the temple in the future, asking the Lord for:
Justice when someone is accused of doing wrong (verses 31-32).
Mercy and forgiveness in response to prayers for repentance (verses 33-34).
Deliverance in seasons of drought, famine, plague, and disaster (verses 35-40).
The prayers of the foreigners to be heard and answered (verses 41-43).
God’s presence to go before them in battle (verses 44-45).
The return of those taken captive, granting them compassion in the sight of their captors. (verses 46 - 51)
“Ultimately, Solomon’s prayer aims to show that the ultimate goal of the Temple and God’s relationship with Israel is…that all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God; there is no other.**”
Today, we don’t have Tabernacles or Temples or Arks filled with Israelite memorabilia, but we have something far greater - the Holy Spirit. And just as the purpose and mission of the ark remained the same no matter where it was being housed or what it was housing, the same is true for us today. The purpose and mission of the church (that’s you and that’s me) is still “that all the peoples of earth may know that the Lord is God; there is no other.”
And it is from that heart and mission that we as a church regularly pray three key and strategic prayers:
For more salvations. That more people will come to not only know about Jesus but will make the life-changing decision to receive Him as Lord and Savior, being intentional to follow His leading and His voice every single day of their lives!
For an increased amount of God’s presence. That the Lord’s presence would rest on our little corner of Southwest Parkway, drawing people in as they pass by - people we wouldn’t normally cross paths with but who need an encounter with Jesus! And that we would take that presence out into the community with us, serving as “Temples” for the Lord in our homes, at our jobs, in our schools, and even in the most mundane of spaces like the grocery store.
Those we didn’t plant and didn’t water would come here to Heritage Church in Wichita Falls, of all places, ready to be on mission for the Lord in reaching the lost, lonely, hurting, and in need in our area.
And as we continue to pray, He continues to answer faithfully! Just as He did for David and Solomon, and just as He will do for the generations to come.
RESPOND
The Ark was valuable not because of what it contained, but because it carried God’s presence. What things in your life have subtly become more important and/or more valuable to you than God’s presence? Or, to revisit what Pastor Tim preached on Sunday - What, other than the Lord, have you crowned in your life? Be that success, knowledge, family, religious ritual/activity, or something else entirely.
Solomon celebrated God’s faithfulness to David and recognized that every promise fulfilled was ultimately God’s doing. Where are you tempted to take credit for what God has accomplished in your life instead of viewing it as evidence of His faithfulness?
The missing manna and Aaron’s staff remind us that symbols and experiences can come and go, but God’s presence remains. And just as the Temple was filled with God’s presence, we are filled with the Holy Spirit today. How would your daily routines, conversations, and decisions look different if you were continually (and intentionally) aware that God’s presence goes with you wherever you go?
Solomon didn’t just offer up prayers of thanksgiving - he prayed bold prayers of desire and faith when he prayed for justice, mercy, forgiveness, restoration, and salvation. We, here at Heritage, do the same when we pray our three key foundational prayers: for more salvation, for an increased amount of God’s presence, and for more workers ready to get to work in fulfilling God’s mission! What are some bold and intentional prayers you can begin praying over yourself, your family, your neighborhood, and all those within your sphere of influence?
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