How does Exodus 39:35 connect with the New Testament teachings on obedience? Exodus 39:35 in focus “the ark of the Testimony with its poles, the mercy seat, and the veil of the covering;” What the verse pictures • Ark of the Testimony – housed the tablets of the Law; tangible reminder of God’s covenant standards • Poles – kept permanently in place so the ark could move whenever God directed; a built-in readiness to follow • Mercy seat – solid gold cover where blood was sprinkled; the meeting point of law and grace • Veil – signaled separation between a holy God and sinful people New Testament echoes on obedience 1. Law inside the ark → Law written on the heart • Jeremiah 31:33; Hebrews 8:10 – God now inscribes His commands within believers, producing willing obedience rather than mere external compliance (Romans 6:17). • John 14:15, 21 – “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” Love-fueled obedience flows from an internalized law. 2. Permanent poles → Ready mobility under the Spirit • Numbers 4:5-6 shows the poles never removed; the priests moved the ark whenever the cloud lifted. • Romans 8:14; Galatians 5:25 – New-covenant people are “led by the Spirit,” responding promptly to God’s direction. Obedience means availability. 3. Mercy seat → Christ our propitiation • Romans 3:25; 1 John 2:2 – Jesus is the true “mercy seat,” satisfying God’s justice. • Because mercy has covered our failures, obedience is no longer an attempt to earn favor but a grateful response (Titus 2:11-14). 4. Veil of separation → Veil torn for access • Matthew 27:51 – At Christ’s death the temple veil splits; Hebrews 10:19-22 invites believers to draw near. • Access births obedience: near fellowship empowers holy living (1 Peter 1:14-16). 5. Exact craftsmanship → Detailed obedience to Christ’s words • Exodus 39 repeatedly says the craftsmen did “just as the LORD commanded.” • James 1:22; Matthew 28:20 – New Testament disciples likewise heed Christ’s precise instructions, not merely admire them. Practical connections for today • Treasure Scripture as the Israelites treasured the tablets; let God’s Word shape decisions and attitudes daily. • Keep your “poles” in—maintain a posture of readiness to move wherever the Lord leads, whether in service, giving, or witness. • Rest in the mercy seat of Christ; begin every act of obedience from a place of accepted grace, not striving for acceptance. • Approach God confidently, knowing the veil is gone; intimacy fuels the strength to obey. • Aim for careful obedience in the small details of life, echoing the artisans who followed God’s blueprint exactly. Exodus 39:35, with its ark, poles, mercy seat, and veil, becomes a vivid Old-Testament portrait of the New-Testament call: saved by mercy, led by the Spirit, drawn near by a torn veil, we now walk in joyful, detailed obedience to our covenant-keeping God. |
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