New Ark

Now may the Mother of the Lord be hailed
As Ark of the new covenant between
Yahweh and His people, soon to be freed
From Satan’s grip and therefore be restored
For all time and eternity unto
The majesty and beauty of the Lord
Redeeming humankind and making all
Things new by His command and sovereign will.
Not by tablets of stone or Aaron’s staff
Which budded almonds, there to indicate
The choice of Yahweh of the tribe which would
Become the tribe of priests to serve Yahweh,
The tribe of Levi chosen from above.
Neither the pot of manna, heavenly food
Which fell from Heaven on the Israelites.
These sacred articles, these holy things
Soon to be mirrored in the virgin’s womb
To bring the restoration of beauty
To humankind. Wondrous obedience
By maiden holy and immaculate.
The Ark of the old covenant was formed
Of purest gold and of Acacia wood
Perfect materials of Yahweh God
Created by His hand and to be placed
Inside the tabernacle of the Lord,
Forever to be present among all
The Israelites, so he would be their God
And they His people; holy, heavenly plan.
But now a new Ark was to supercede
All that had gone before and which was lost
From Israel’s sight; but now a new vision
Would come to Israel and to all nations
Bringing salvation by one sacrifice
For sin by which all nations would be cleansed,
Freed from the shackles of the evil one.
Mary, maiden, pure and immaculate
A holy mirror of the ancient Ark
Since lost, yet the new Ark forever would
Immortal be, forever in the sight
Of Yahweh, of the Lamb of God and of
The Holy Spirit who would come upon
And overshadow Mary, virgin pure.
No imperfection for the Lamb of God
Could there be in the Mother of the Lord,
Lest sin its shadow cast itself upon
Both Lamb and Mother, never could she be.
Pure, holy and immaculate must be
The maiden fair to bring into the world
The Lamb of God who sets us free from sin.
The message from Archangel Gabriel
Which told Mary of the incarnation,
Related also to Elizabeth
Who, though barren, had yet conceived a child
(the Baptist, who was to prepare the way
For Jesus, Lamb of God, Saviour and Lord).
The Ark of the old covenant was brought
To the hill country bordering Judea,
To David’s exclamation as to why
The Ark could ever come to him, and yet
 It was brought to him for in Yahweh’s mind
A greater Ark would be foretold, though not
In a way thought of to the human mind.
It stayed in that same place for three months, just
As Mary stayed with Elizabeth until
Her child was born. Before that birth, she too,
In her joy exclaimed why the Mother of
Her Lord should come to her, favoured was she
By such a visit, yet significant
Was Mary’s visit, reason unbeknown.
Yet further fulfilled, in that Mary stayed
For three months with her, as the Ark of old
Had stayed with David that same length of time
And in the same vicinity, in which 
Elizabeth resided, blessèd plan
Unfolding for the salvation of the world.
Now may we come to great significance
Concerning the old Ark and now the new,
For matters hidden from all human gaze
Yet seen and known by Yahweh and all those
Of centuries before in Moses’ time
And seen of David, rightly stake their claim
Of their place in salvation history.
Let us look at the contents of the Ark
Of the old covenant, in comparison
To that of Mary in her spotless womb.
In Moses’ time, two tablets of the law,
The Ten Commandments, writ on Sinai’s mount;
The priestly staff of Aaron that Yahweh
Caused to bring forth the buds of almonds which
Gave priestly rites to the tribe of Levi;
The pot of manna, nourishment from on high
Given each morning to the Israelites.
Now these are superceded by the fruit
Of Mary’s womb, the infant child who would
Become the Saviour of the human race,
To those who put their faith and trust in Him.
Jesus, the Lamb of God, the Word of God,
Fulfilment of the law, which in Him is
Now made complete. He is our righteousness.
Jesus the Lamb of God is our high priest,
A priest forever in the Order of
Melchizedek, yet not of Aaron’s tribe.
A change of priesthood meant a change of law,
The law of love, forgiveness, mercy, peace.
Against such things no earthly law can stand.
Jesus, the Lamb of God, the living bread,
The bread by which eternal life is gained.
The manna in the wilderness by which
All human hunger pains were satisfied,
Is surpassed by this true and living bread
By which all people gain eternal life. 
Jesus; the Word, a priest, the living bread
By which all our hunger is satisfied,
Born from the Virgin’s womb immaculate,
Who lives to intercede and plead our cause.
All hail the King of Kings and Lord of Lords
Who from the New Ark came into the world
To save and sanctify, redeem and bless
All humankind, who must, like Mary say
Resounding “Yes” to the offer of life
Eternal from the Saviour’s nail-pierced hands.