Definition for Ark of the Covenant
Glossary
Ark of the Covenant:
Throughout Scripture, much is written linking the actions of the Holy Spirit to water. I would add: between the Holy Spirit, water, and the salt of DNA. Within creation, I believe the relationship of water to the Holy Spirit is akin to the relationship that the salt of DNA has to the Son of God. Through the instrumentality of structured bio-living water and salt, it seems the Holy Spirit often acts within material creation using physical water. In conjunction with the firstborn of all creation, i.e., Jesus Christ (cf. Heb. 1:6, Col. 1:15, Ps. 89:27), the Holy Spirit acts within and produces effects upon material creation.
The parting of waters (Gen. 1:6-7; Ex. 14:15-22; Josh. 3:5-17 through 4:1-18; 2 Kgs. 2:5-9, 12-15) intimates the need for further study of Jesus’ salt and light discourse (Mt. 5:13-14). I am not saying the salt of DNA and/or its relationship with water and light can or should be construed in any way as being Supernatural. However, the linkage leads us to a discussion of some very intriguing miracles. The miracles involve water, the power of the Holy Spirit, and the salt of DNA of both the staff/rod of God and Elijah’s sheepskin mantle. I am referring to those miracles in which waters were parted.
In Joshua, we’re informed of the journey of the Ark of the Covenant to the Promised land. During the trip, the Ark proceeded before the people of the nation of Israel. Arriving at the Jordan River, the priests bearing the Ark began to cross over into the land to which God had led them. When the feet of the priests rested in the waters of the Jordan, the river ceased to flow, and the waters divided [SML] so that all of the people crossed over to the other side on dry land (Josh. 3:12-17). The Ark must have had some critically important cargo. What could have been so spiritually important? Inside the Ark was:
1) Moses’ staff, which was budding (a miracle attributable to the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit — a power that was giving new life to the salt of DNA of the previously lifeless rod/staff). Perhaps this was a type of the resurrected body of Jesus, who is often represented by wood. Maybe it was a type of the Wood of the Cross, through which man was raised up to new life, a new creation. Flavius Josephus (37-100 AD) was a historian and eyewitness to much of the earliest events in Church history. He described Moses/Aaron’s rod as growing new branches upon which were also growing almonds;[1]2) The two stone tablets, which were written upon by the finger of God, i.e., the Holy Spirit. The stone tablets also represent the unchangeable Truth and Justice of Jesus, the incarnate Son of God[2] (who took upon himself the heaviness of a mortal body). In my opinion, the two stone tablets also represent the Law, which is written in our flesh and our heart, and;3) A gold urn containing some of the manna from heaven (Heb. 9:4). The manna is a type of the salt of DNA of Jesus in the Eucharist, through whom we receive an increase of the purifying gifts of the Holy Spirit.
ENDNOTES:
[1] Josephus, The Complete Works of Flavius Josephus, Kindle Locations 3599-3600.
[2] cf. Hildegard, Scivias, 191, 213, 333, 360.