THE MERCY SEAT

(Exodus 25:17-22)

• A. THE MERCY SEAT WAS THE LID COVERING THE ARK
  • 1. It had the same dimensions as the Ark
    • a. 2 1/2 cubits long (4 ft. 4 1/2 in.)
    • b. 1 1/2 cubits wide (2 ft. 7 1/2 in.)
  • 2. More than a lid, it was the most important article in the Tabernacle. In First Chronicles 28:11, the Holy of Holies is described as "the place of the Mercy Seat." Also, see Leviticus 16:2.
• B. IT WAS A SOLID SLAB OF PURE GOLD - It was fitted into the crown of gold encircling the Ark.
• C. AT THE ENDS WERE TWO CHERUBIM OF GOLD
  • 1. Their wings were outstretched over the Mercy Seat (vs. 18:20)
  • 2. They overshadowed the Mercy Seat. (See Heb. 9:5.)

• A. IT ACTED AS A COVERING
  • 1. The Hebrew word for Mercy Seat means "Covering" - to cover over sin. The Mercy Seat shielded Israel from the judgment of the Law.
  • 2. Without this covering, Divine judgment must inevitably follow. Whenever the lid was removed, death was the result. (See First Samuel 6:19.)
  • 3. It was a perfect covering. None of the Ark's contents were exposed. Christ's atoning sacrifice completely covers our sins. (See Rom. 4:7,8.)
• B. IT WAS A PROPITIATORY (a place of appeasement).
  • 1. The Mercy Seat was blood-stained (Lev. 16:14,15), by the blood of the national sin-offering. Apart from the blood, the Mercy Seat would have been a throne of judgment.
  • 2. Our Mercy Seat is Christ Jesus. (cf. Rom. 3:24-26.) The Greek word for Mercy Seat means "propitiation". In the LXX, "Mercy Seat" is translated "propitiatory." The Ark represents Christ in His life--the Mercy Seat, Christ in His death.
  • 3. The sprinkled blood constituted the propitiation. Christ's atoning blood is the only propitiation for sin. It is "through faith in His blood" (Rom. 3:25). God's wrath had to be appeased. Christ met God's claims for justice, paying sin's penalty by pour out his life for us. (See 1 John. 2:2.)
  • 4. The atoning blood was taken right into God's presence. High Priest sprinkled the blood into the very Shekinah. Christ Jesus entered heaven with His own blood. (See Heb. 9:12,24.)
  • 5. The Mercy Seat conveys the thought of a finished work. There was no "seat" among the Tabernacle furniture--the work of the priesthood was never finished. Jesus made one sacrifice for sin and then sat down, for it was a finished work. (See Heb. 10:11,12.)

• A. FIRST MENTIONED - Our first encounter with Cherubim is found in Geneses 3:24 - "So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life."
• B. THEIR TYPICAL SIGNIFICANCE
  • 1. THEY TYPIFY THE REDEEMED (cf. the "living creatures" found in Rev. 4:6-7; 5:8-10) They represent believers in the holiest place.
  • 2. THEY WERE PART OF THE MERCY SEAT - A "beaten work" (v.18). They were of the same material as the Mercy Seat. So the believer's union with Christ. (See Heb. 2:11; Eph. 5:30.) The term "beaten work" is suggestive of bruising and suffering--we share in Christ's suffering and glory. (See Rom. 8:17,18; 2 Tim. 2:12.) NOTE: Please note that this is the author's view, i.e., John Carter. Some believe that the Cherubim are representative of Christ. Strong's #3742. keruwb, ker-oob'; of uncert. der.; a cherub or imaginary figure:--cherub, [plur.] cherubims.
• C. THE MERCY SEAT UPHELD THE CHERUBIM
  • 1. Believers are sustained or upheld by the power of Christ. (See Jude 24.) We are seated in heavenly places, "in Christ Jesus."
  • 2. The mercy Seat was also their Foundation. They rested upon it. We rest upon the finished work of Christ. (See 1 Cor. 3:11.)
  • 3. The Mercy Seat came between the Cherubim and God's law. Christ's atoning sacrifice comes between the believer and the Law with its terrors. (See Rom. 7:4.)
• D. THE DIRECTION OF THE CHERUBIM'S GAZE - The faces of the Cherubim were toward the Mercy Seat. (v. 20b) They were ever gazing at the atoning blood. We must keep our gaze upon Christ's sufficient sacrifice.

• A. THERE WAS CLOUD ABIDING UPON THE MERCY SEAT -
  • 1. It was the cloud of Jehovah's manifest presence. (See Lev. 16:2.)
  • 2. Here was Jehovah's throne. (See Ps. 80:1; 99:1.) It was connected with the Cloudy Pillar visible above the Tabernacle.
• B. THE BLOOD-STAINED MERCY SEAT WAS THE PLACE OF COMMUNION
  • 1. It was from here that God spoke to Moses. (See Ex. 25:21-22; 30:6,36; Num. 7:89.)
  • 2. Communion with God is now possible for all believers.
• C. THE RENT VEIL HAS GIVEN BELIEVERS ACCESS TO GOD AND TO HIS GLORY
  • 1. We may approach the Throne of Grace boldly. (See Heb. 4:16.)
  • 2. We may behold the glory of God. (See 2 Cor. 3:18.)

John Carter, God's Tabernacle in the Wilderness & its Principal Offerings, pages 73-76.