Tabernacle – The Mercy Seat

“You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold…You shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark” (Exo. 25:17,21)

The ark of the testament was located in the Holy of holies (the third spiritual realm). On it were the mercy seat of pure gold and two cherubs of gold with outstretched wings. It was here in the midst of the ark of the testament that the cloud of God’s glory manifested.

Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest would enter into the holy of holies representing the entire nation to provide atonement for their sins by sprinkling the blood sacrifice of animals on the mercy seat. This practice was a shadow of the heavenly. For “Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us” (Heb. 9:24).

The mercy seat represents the throne of mercy. It was here that Our Lord Jesus Christ presented His blood as the atoning sacrifice for every man’s sin. Notice the high priest entered the holy of holies on behalf of the entire nation, not one person was exempted from the sin atonement. Similarly, Jesus Christ our High Priest made atonement for all having entered on behalf of all mankind.

How can it be that the atonement of the high priest in Moses’ tabernacle was effective for the entire nation however the atonement of our Lord Jesus was only for a few? According to popular doctrine of the church system it would seem that the new order God instituted is inferior to that of Moses’ tabernacle. But His mercy is all encompassing. Indeed the Lamb that was slain is worthy of the reward for His suffering.

Our Lord Jesus Christ presented a greater sacrifice, for at the end of the ages, He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself once and for all. But why has its magnitude been lost to the professing church system?

The mystery of the mercy seat has yet to be revealed to those in the order of Pentecost. A veil still remains as it did between the holy place and the holy of holies that girds these saints from seeing and entering the realm of the throne. Only those who have been caught up to the throne can truly know the magnitude of the mercy seat.

The mercy seat portrays the throne of mercy from where the everlasting mercy of God extends to all mankind. It is a seat because it is the perpetual state of being of the Father from which He administers. God is love and from His throne His love manifests in mercy. Isaiah prophecies: “In mercy the throne will be established; And One will sit on it in truth” (Isa. 16:5). Yet, it is also from the same throne that justice proceeds.

The throne of God is the authority of God and it is unlike any rule and administration of man. It is a balanced throne; a throne of justice, righteousness and truth. For mercy without these attributes would be a flawed mercy. Behold, “righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Mercy and truth go before Your face” (Psal. 89:14).

But we need to establish in our hearts that His justice leads to judgment for the purpose of establishing righteousness and not endless torment. His judgments are corrective and purging. For we read that “judgment will return to righteousness” (Psal. 94:15). Throughout scripture, judgment and righteousness often appear hand in hand. The Lord declares: “I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth” (Jer. 9:24).

His justice, judgment and mercy all accomplish righteousness. The connection between righteousness and mercy is signified by the pure gold that covers the mercy seat. Righteousness is the foundation of His throne for it is the essence of the Kingdom.

Dear reader, this may confound the natural mind but in His mercy God executes judgment for the purpose of producing righteousness in man. Thus mercy is never absent in His judgment and justice is never absent in His mercy.

Mercy is the wiling arm that opens the way to righteousness. For “by mercy, and truth iniquity is purged” (Pro. 16:6). This is good news! This is the gospel!

Hear it, in mercy, His throne, His dominion, His rule and yes His righteousness shall be established. From the same throne of mercy and grace abound to all of humanity. The writer of the Hebrews encourages us: “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16). It is exactly to those in need that His mercy is extended. Strong’s concordance defines mercy (Greek: eleos) as: “kindness or good will towards the miserable and the afflicted”.

It is from the mercy seat – His throne of mercy, that His limitless mercy overflows to all, to the end that the He may draw all to Himself. To those who love His mercy, rejoice in the mercy seat of God!