Exodus 25:16 Then put in the ark the tablets of the covenant law, which I will give you. (The Lord told Moses to place the document inside the ark of the covenant, a document which the Lord would write Himself and to which He had agreed and to which He had invited the people to agree. This law would actually be enclosed under what would become the earthly dwelling place of God to show us that His holiness cannot be separated from the standards of the law. This law would not only show the people God's standards of holiness and His expectations of the people, but would also show them the impossibility of fulfilling those expectations. While it would serve as a summary of God's high demands of holiness, it would also serve as both a testimony against the people and the resulting judgment when they failed to keep these commandments. The Lord still wants us to understand that He has given us the Law, that the Law is good and its purpose is to show us we can never achieve holiness and right standing with Him through our own efforts and that that is the reason. Knowing beforehand that we would not be able to keep the Law according to His high and holy standards, knowing beforehand that we would need His intervention, He had to provide a perfect Sacrifice for us, One Who perfectly fulfilled the Law, so that He Himself pronounces us holy and acceptable through His mercy and grace.)
