But the Word of God Endures Forever…

Nothing was in the ark except the two tablets of stone which Moses put there at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt.—1 Kings 8:9

I stopped at this verse because I wondered what happened to Aaron’s rod that budded and golden pot that had the manna that Hebrews 9 speaks of. 

Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and the earthly sanctuary. 2 For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary; 3 and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All, 4 which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant; 5 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.—Hebrews 9:1-5

I spent some time thinking on this before I went to the commentators.  No joy. 😀  Some expositors pointed me to Exodus 16:33 and Numbers 17:10 saying that the articles mentioned were never in the ark, but by it…being laid in the place before the testimony. My favorite explanation and the one I wish I had thought of goes to Jon Courson who says this:

“Hebrews 9:4 tells us that the ark contained the Ten Commandments, a pot of manna, and Aaron’s rod. Here, however, we see only the Ten Commandments within the ark. I believe the Holy Spirit included this information to help us to come to a very important understanding. That is, signs and wonders—budding rods and manna—as wonderful as they are, are not lasting. What lasts, what endures, what is absolutely essential is the Word of God.”

Amen!  

23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, 24 because

"All flesh is as grass,

And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass.

The grass withers,

And its flower falls away,

25 But the word of the LORD endures forever."

Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.—1 Peter 1:23-25