The Church Fathers on Psalm 132:8 and the Ark of the Covenant

 

"Arise, O Lord, into thy resting-place: thou and the ark which thou hast sanctified. Once the prophet realized that the Lord Christ's promises previously mentioned had been fulfilled, he cried out to the Lord: Arise into thy resting-place, for he did not wish any debt to remain unpaid. He sought to make clear the outcome of events in the dispensation of the attained truth: in other words, that Christ should rise again from the world below into the enduring blessedness of His divinity. Observe that he added thy resting-place; for Your own majesty bestowed it on You, since You reign with the Father in equal power and everlasting glory. He did not wish you to think that the Head could abandon the members, so he added: Thou and the ark which thou has sanctified, in other words, "the Church which You have deigned to sanctify by making it Your members." He did not specify the ark of Noah, or the art of the covenant, though both of these appeared to represent a type of the Church; instead he designated her in a special way when he added: Which though hast sanctified. Now observe what follows." (Cassiodorus, Explanation of the Psalms, Vol. 3, from Ancient Christian Writers Series, 53:326)

"Ascend to your resting place, O Lord, you and the ark of your sanctification (v. 8). A different version, "of your strength;" another, "of your power." Both versions are right: holiness was given from there, and the writings contained in it were productive of holiness and strength. He put it well, therefore: God gave evidence of great power by means of it, once, twice, many times, as for example when it was captured by the people of Ashdod, when the idols were cast down, when it struck its captors, when on its return it stopped the plague, and he gave evidence of his might through other portents he worked in the same place. Now, what is the meaning of Ascend to your resting place? Put a stop to our wandering and the carrying of the ark, and give it rest at long last." (John Chrysostom, Commentary on the Psalms, trans. Robert C. Hill, 2:206)

"8. Arise, O Lord, into Your resting place [Psalm 131:8]. He says unto the Lord sleeping, Arise. You know already who slept, and who rose again....You, and the ark of Your sanctification: that is, Arise, that the ark of Your sanctification, which You have sanctified, may arise also. He is our Head; His ark is His Church: He arose first, the Church will arise also. The body would not dare to promise itself resurrection, save the Head arose first. The Body of Christ, that was born of Mary, has been understood by some to be the ark of sanctification; so that the words mean, Arise with Your Body, that they who believe not may handle." (Augustine, Exposition of Psalm 132)