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The Mercy Seat of God
by A.J. Wilson

“You shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the Testimony that I will give you. And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the Testimony, about everything which I will give you in commandment to the children of Israel.” Exodus 25:21-22  (Ex 25-30 describe God’s requirements for the tabernacle and ark, Ex 36-40 show how carefully the Israelites followed the orders.)

I hope everyone enjoyed Sunday School this morning, and if not grab a book to read this week’s lesson from Exodus.  The following is an excerpt from the lesson, a wonderful tie between the Old Testament law and the New Testament church.  I invite you to ponder on the detail God puts into the place where He dwells.  (Heaven, the tabernacle, and our hearts.)  Also consider our efforts for worship today.

“First it would be there above the mercy seat that He would meet with Moses and, by extension, with His people.  At the place where God’s law and God’s atonement intersected, His people would encounter Him.  There His requirement of holiness would be satisfied and the people’s need of forgiveness would be provided.  Second, God promised that from there He would speak with Moses concerning his commands to the Israelites.  In other words, the place of worship also would serve as a place of revelation and instruction.”

 “Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services. . . It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience. . . But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation.. . . how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.” excerpts from Hebrews 9:6-15 (please read the whole passage)

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.” 2 Corinthians 4:7

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