Arca da Aliança: o que era e o seu significado na Bíblia
O que é a Arca da Aliança
A Arca da Aliança era uma caixa sagrada de madeira de acácia revestida de ouro que guardava as tábuas dos Dez Mandamentos e simbolizava o trono e a presença de Deus no meio de Israel. Ela não era um amuleto com poder mágico próprio nem um receptáculo para conter a divindade: o objeto visível apontava para o Deus invisível e para a fidelidade ao pacto estabelecido no Sinai.
O lugar da presença e da revelação
No tabernáculo, a arca ocupava o Lugar Santíssimo, o espaço mais reservado do santuário. Sobre ela ficava o propiciatório — a tampa de ouro com dois querubins esculpidos —, onde Deus manifestava a sua glória e transmitia suas instruções ao povo.
There I will meet with you; and from above the atoning cover, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony, I will speak to you about every commandment that I will give you for the sons of Israel.(Exodus 25:22)
O perigo de tratá-la como amuleto
A distinção entre o Deus vivo e a caixa de madeira ficou evidente quando o exército de Israel levou a arca para o campo de batalha esperando vitória automática. Por não tolerar a manipulação de sua santidade, Deus permitiu a derrota militar e a captura da arca pelos filisteus.
Then the Philistines drew up in battle formation to meet Israel. When the battle spread, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men on the battlefield. When the people came into the camp, the elders of Israel said, "Why has the Lord defeated us today before the Philistines? Let’s take the ark of the covenant of the Lord from Shiloh, so that He may come among us and save us from the power of our enemies." So the people sent men to Shiloh, and from there they carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord of armies who is enthroned above the cherubim; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.
And as the ark of the covenant of the Lord was coming into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth resounded. And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, "What does the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews mean?" Then they understood that the ark of the Lord had come into the camp. So the Philistines were afraid, for they said, "God has come into the camp!" And they said, "Woe to us! For nothing like this has happened before. Woe to us! Who will save us from the hand of these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the wilderness. Take courage and be men, Philistines, or you will become slaves to the Hebrews, as they have been slaves to you; so be men and fight!"
So the Philistines fought and Israel was defeated, and every man fled to his tent; and the defeat was very great, for thirty thousand foot soldiers of Israel fell. Moreover, the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died.(1 Samuel 4:2-11)
A sombra que apontava para Cristo
O autor aos Hebreus descreve a arca e os utensílios do tabernáculo como figuras terrenas de uma realidade espiritual permanente. A aliança antiga e seus símbolos preparavam o caminho para a redenção realizada por Jesus, que abriu o acesso direto à presença divina.
Now even the first covenant had regulations for divine worship and the earthly sanctuary. For a tabernacle was equipped, the outer sanctuary, in which were the lampstand, the table, and the sacred bread; this is called the Holy Place. Behind the second veil there was a tabernacle which is called the Most Holy Place, having a golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden jar holding the manna, Aaron’s staff which budded, and the tablets of the covenant; and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the atoning cover; but about these things we cannot now speak in detail.(Hebrews 9:1-5)
Compreender o papel da Arca da Aliança ensina que Deus busca uma relação de compromisso moral e fé sincera, nunca a confiança supersticiosa em objetos religiosos.
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