Jeremiah 3:16

OLBHeb;

When ye be multiplied; after the growth of the church under the Messiah. In those days; pointing at the great work of conversion that should be among them, especially in the days of the Messias, and how greatly the church should be increased by the accession of the Gentiles, a beginning whereof we read Acts 2:41, Acts 4:4. The ark; a synecdoehical expression for all the legal ceremonies, whereof the ark was a chief part: the sense is, that whole worship, with all the rites and ceremonies belonging to it, should wholly cease, Christ being come, who was the substance of what the ark and all other rites did but shadow out for a time he being now our propitiatory, instead of the covering of the ark or mercy-seat, Romans 3:25; he answers all the uses and purposes thereof. In the ark was laid up the manna, Aaron's rod, and the tables of the law, Hebrews 9:4. He is now the bread of life, Joh 6 35, he is our rod of government, Psalms 23:4, in him is the whole law fulfilled, Romans 10:4; and now God shall reign gloriously in his church by his word and Spirit, and shall be so worshipped without ceremony, 1 Thessalonians 4:21,23. For if this so eminent and comprehensive a token of God's presence must cease in the days of the gospel, much more the temple service, with all the rites belonging to it, 1 Thessalonians 1:17 Colossians 2:17 Hebrews 10:8,9. The ark of the covenant; called also the ark of the testimony, Exodus 25:22, Exodus 30:26 31:7; and the reason is, because the two tables of the law, which were the testimony or witness of the covenant, were closed up in it, Exodus 25:16,21 Exodus 40:20. Neither shall it come to mind, & c., i.e. it shall be no more in use, neither shall there be any miss of it, or any thing like it, there shall be no such thing; men shall not trouble their thoughts about it, or mention it; compare Isaiah 65:17; or repair to it as an oracle to receive the answers of God; nor for God's worship; compare Jeremiah 16:14,15; or the place of its residence, as if no where else to be had; in a word, it shall not at all be had in honour or respect, or made much of. The word hve hhasah, done or made, signifies to magnify, as it seems to be used, Deuteronomy 32:6 1 Samuel 12:6. The whole church shall now be the throne of God, Jeremiah 3:17, to which purpose the ark formerly served; now God foreseeing, partly how hard a thing it would be to be believed, and partly the pleas that the corrupt wit and invention of man would find out for the retaining of these rites, and by consequence their lothness to forego them, he useth such a heap and variety of expressions to the same thing, that he may leave no room for doubting in a thing so plainly and fully prohibited in gospel times.