“The cohanim brought the ark for the covenant of Adonai in to its place inside the sanctuary of the house, to the Especially Holy Place, under the wings of the k’ruvim.”– 1 Kings 8:6
So Solomon and the whole community of Israel had assembled in front of the ark.
There we’re told a countless number of sheep and oxen were sacrificed.
Then in verse 6 we’re told something interesting.
We’re told the COHANIM (the priests) transported the Ark to inside the sanctuary.
Why is that detail interesting?
Because the Torah tells us that only the clan of Kohath was authorized to carry the Ark.
Here’s the reference:
“But to the descendants of K’hat he gave none,
because their duties involved the holy articles,
which they carried on their own shoulders.”
-Numbers 7:9
The clan of Kohath were common Levites.
They were not priests.
So why the change?
Why were the priests all of a sudden allowed to carry the Ark?
The rabbis have an interesting take on this.
They tell us that it was ONLY during Israel’s desert wanderings that God allowed the clan of Kohath to carry the Ark.
However, once a permanent Temple was built, that honor ended.
Scripture doesn’t plainly say that was the reason, however.
But the rabbis’ perspective makes good sense.
With the Temple now serving as Israel’s permanent place of worship, there was no longer any reason to move the Ark from one location to another.
Its journey was finally over.
It had reached its permanent home in the Holy of Holies, where it was meant to stay from that point on.
This leads to our takeaway.
And it’s similar to what I touched on yesterday about not clinging to the past.
Just because something comes to an end doesn’t mean you’ve failed.
Think about it.
The Kohathites weren’t being replaced because they had done something wrong.
Their assignment was simply finished.
The Ark had reached its permanent home.
Sometimes God gives you a job for a season, not for a lifetime.
And when that season ends, don’t mistake it for rejection, man.
It just means your mission is complete.
Ya feel me?
Done.
CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT
“I glorified you on earth
by finishing the work
you gave me to do.”
-John 17:4
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