Observations About The Ark Of The Covenant

Next Bezalel made the Ark of acacia wood—a sacred chest 45 inches long, 27 inches wide, and 27 inches high. [Exodus 37.1]

The Ark of the Covenant was quite an elaborate chest.  By its very name, its purpose is known.  Apparently, its primary purpose was to house the recorded terms of the Covenant.  Nothing in Jewish history is of more importance than the Covenant, therefore, the assignment of the Ark was of utmost priority.

The Ark also served as the primary meeting place with God.  Something about the cover, which was noted as a separate piece, was significant for God's presence.

I looked online at pictures of replicas of the Ark of the Covenant.  Most, in my humble opinion, although elaborate, were inconsistent with the Bible's description of the gold-overlaid wooden chest in some way or another.  While one picture I saw had no carrying rings at all, others varied in their orientation of the rings for the poles they housed to run the length or width of the Ark.  About half the pictures I saw did not represent the poles as overlaid with gold as the Bible says.  Few of the drawings or pictures of replicas depicted the Ark in the dimensions consistent with the Bible (NLT says it was 45 inches long, 27 wide, and 27 high - most were a bit smaller).  Still others inconsistently replicated the cover as slightly longer and wider than the chest itself.  The variance in cherubim was perhaps the most notable - most depicted the two creatures' wings touching, but some did not.

I suppose, as long as a replicator follows the basic design parameters set forth in the Bible, the rest of the details are up for speculation - kind of like pictures of Jesus.

Although the Ark's disappearance concurrent with the Babylonian Captivity is unfortunate, it remains a mystery.  Wouldn't it be cool if the Ark reappeared?

Father, I have no idea what significance the Ark of the Covenant has to me today.  I believe, with the Advent of the New Covenant in Christ, the Ark (as well as the Temple) depreciated to the role of 'novelty.'  Help me to ponder what is known of this chest today and if there is something I should learn from it, please help me to understand it!