Jeremiah 3:16

THIS text speaks concerning the material ark. I should like to append to that another which speaks of the ark spiritually and tells us where its antitype is to be found— "And the temple of God was opened in Hea ven and there was seen in His temple the ark of His testament (or covenant) "Revelation 1119. When inward piety is low, the externals of religion are frequently cried up. Those who know nothing of God are the very people to exclaim concerning themselves and their brethren, "The temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord are these."

they shall say no more--The Jews shall no longer glory in the possession of the ark; it shall not be missed, so great shall be the blessings of the new dispensation. The throne of the Lord, present Himself, shall eclipse and put out of mind the ark of the covenant and the mercy seat between the cherubim, God's former throne.

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase

THIS text speaks concerning the material ark. I should like to append to that another which speaks of the ark spiritually and tells us where its antitype is to be found— "And the temple of God was opened in Hea ven and there was seen in His temple the ark of His testament (or covenant) "Revelation 1119. When inward piety is low, the externals of religion are frequently cried up. Those who know nothing of God are the very people to exclaim concerning themselves and their brethren, "The temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord are these." The Pharisees, who were furthest from God, were the most bitter advocates of ritualism and formalism—they would not even have a man healed on the Sabbath, or allow the hungry to rub a few ears of corn out of the husks! It is not always so, but yet too often, "The nearer the Church the further from God." The more grown, the less Grace. The more phylactery, the less sanctity. The more of ecclesiasticism, the less of true godliness. On the other hand, whenever the Spirit of God is largely poured out, although the ordinances of God are carefully attended to, yet, as external things, they are sure to be put into their proper place and that proper place is a secondary one. The spiritual is put foremost and the ritualistic is placed hindmost when Grace is largely given. It was so with David in the 51st Psalm. When he had made a hearty confession of his sin and cried to God for mercy, he uttered those memorable words, "You desire not sacrifice; else would I give it: You delight not in burnt offerings." He puts aside the symbol because he has a clear view of the substance! That is exactly the case with the people mentioned in my text—they had been sadly sinful, but God, in His mercy, promised to turn to them, to bless them and bring them back into their own land again.

In those days - This and the phrase “the latter days,” had become under the Messianic teaching of the prophets a regular formula for the time of Christ’s coming, when all the nation’s hopes would be fulfilled. The ark was the center of the Mosaic economy, containing within it the two tables’ of the Law as the conditions of the covenant and having over it, upon the mercy-seat, the Shechinah as the visible sign of God’s presence. But “in those days” the symbol must pass away, because God will then dwell in His people by the gift of the Holy Spirit 1Co 3:16, and the terms of the covenant will be written on their hearts Jer 31:33. Neither shall they visit it - Rather, neither shall they miss it; i. e., they will not trouble about it, nor regret its loss. Neither shall that be done anymore - Rather, “neither shall it (the ark) be made anymore;” it shall not be renewed or repaired, because the tabernacle of God will be one “made without hands” Heb 9:11, even the heart of His believing people.