David had just become king of Israel when he chose thirty thousand men to go with him to Bazalah of Judah in order to bring the ark of the Lord to Jerusalem. They placed the ark on a cart and headed for Jerusalem. On the way to the city of David, the oxen pulling the cart stumbled and the Lord’s anger came upon Uzzah. He died on the spot for trying to touch the ark (this act was considered irreverent to God). The bible says: “David feared the Lord that day and said, “How can the ark of the Lord ever come to me?”” You can find this story in 2 Samuel 6:1-23.

Today I ask the question, how can the ark of the Lord ever come to Congo? In order to help you better understand why it was so important for David to bring the ark of the Lord into the city of David, we need to start by understanding the importance of the ark itself. What is the ark of the Lord or the Ark of the Covenant? What was it made of and what is its significance?

It has always been God’s desire to live with His people. That is why God told Moses “have them (the Israelites) make a sanctuary for me, I will dwell among them. Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you.”             (Exodus 25:8-9) The Lord continues by saying “have them make a chest of acacia wood…Overlay it with gold both inside and out, and make a molding around it…then put in the ark the testimony I will give you…And make two cherubim out of hammered gold at the ends of the cover…The cherubim are to have their wings spread upward, overshadowing the cover with them. (Exodus 25:17-22)

Understand that the ark is not something made up by men but God Himself gave Moses the pattern to follow. It is the very first item of the sanctuary that the Lord starts with, showing its importance. Every element used to build the ark and every measurement has vital significance.

The ark gives the idea of preservation. Every time the ark is spoken of in the bible, the idea of conservation is involved. For instance Noah’s ark preserved Noah and his family from the deluge. Therefore, even the Ark of the Covenant carries the thought of preservation. This ark was made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold within and without. This ark is the most important piece of furniture in the Old Testament because it is the only piece of furniture that inhabited three different tabernacles or sanctuaries. (Read 1 Chronicles 16:1 and 1 Kings 8:9) 

Kevin Conner writes the following:

“But why would God begin here with this ark or chest of wood overlaid with gold? Why would God specify this piece of His sanctuary to be made first? In order to understand this more fully we must see what the ark represents. The ark of the Lord represents the following:

1. The ark represents the Throne of God in the earth.

2. The ark represents the Presence of God in Christ, by the Spirit in the midst of His

     redeemed people

3. The ark represents the Glory of God revealed in divine order and worship.

4. The ark represents the Fullness of the Godhead bodily revealed in the Lord Jesus

    Christ.”

I love the way Kevin Connor continues to explain the ark by saying:

“God begins the revelation of His sanctuary with Himself, “in the

Beginning God” (Genesis 1:1). God begins in the Holiest of all or Most Holy Place, in His own throne Room, with the Ark of the Covenant. It was upon this piece of furniture that the High Priest sprinkled the Blood of atonement once every year. (Leviticus 16 and Hebrews 9:7). It was from this piece of furniture the God’s audible voice was heard speaking to Moses the Lawgiver and Aaron the High Priest (Leviticus 1:1). Every other article took a place of subordination in the ark of the Lord. If the ark of God’s Presence was to be removed from this tabernacle (as it was when the Tabernacle of David was established), all that would remain would be empty form. For without the Presence of the Lord, as upon the ark and the mercy seat, all our ritual is meaningless and powerless. All of Israel’s worship was directed to Jehovah who dwelt upon that blood-stained mercy seat (Psalms 80:1)

God begins with Himself, where He must begin. For He alone is God, who is from everlasting to everlasting. This is a picture of the grace of God. God dwelling in eternity becomes flesh and dwells among us (John 1:14). God begins first with His throne, the Ark of the Covenant, and proceeds in grace to man and the place of sacrifice – brazen altar.”

As you can see, the ark of the Lord represented God’s very presence on earth. That is why David was determined to bring the ark to Jerusalem. He knew if he could just get God’s presence back to the place it belongs (Jerusalem), the whole nation of Israel will be blessed. He (God) is the bread of life and His absence mean there is no bread. That is why in 2 Samuel 19 you will see that after they had brought the ark in tent David had pitched for it, he (David) gave a loaf of bread, a cake of dates and a cake of raisins to each person in the crowd of Israelites, both men and women. And all the people went to their homes. Notice that David is the only King ever to nourish a whole nation. Why, because he brought back the presence of God in the nation.

Congolese, there is no bread in our land. The presence has departed because of our rebellion towards God. So we are about to go on a journey. I need every single Congolese who is willing to rise and rebuild Congo to take this journey with me. I have a heavy burden for my beautiful country. I love the people and the land. I believe the salvation of the Africa will start in Congo. If you ask me how I am doing right now I will tell “bad” because something is wrong in Congo. The ark is not in its place and the glory has departed. How will the presence of the Lord ever come to Congo? Congolese, you are a people tall and smooth-skinned, a people feared far and wide, and an aggressive nation of strange speech whose land is divided by rivers. You have potential and a great future. We have to start somewhere and that somewhere is bringing back the ark or presence of God to its rightful place. Let us assemble and bring the ark back to where it belongs. We have taken the praise and worship of the One and Only true God and have given it to man. We have broken the covenant with our God and sold the country to the devil. Congo, how will the ark (presence) of the Lord ever come to Congo?

Stay tuned to Congoboston.com for part 2 of “How will the ark of the Lord ever come to Congo?

If this message appeals to you in any way or shape and want to make a decision this day to do all that is necessary to bring the ark back to Congo, please pray this prayer with me:

O Lord, God of heaven, the Great and Awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and obey his commands,

Let your hear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Congo.

I confess the sins we Congolese including myself and father’s house, have committed against you.

We have acted wickedly towards you.

We have not obeyed your commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses. We worshipped man and objects instead of you. We killed and cursed the land you gave us. We committed abominations before you.

Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, “If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, but if you return to me and obey my commands, then I will them gather from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my name.

They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand.

O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayers of your servants who delight in revering your name.

Give your servant success today by granting him favor.

In Jesus’ name

Amen

By M. David Kasonga