Our mercy seat

Very detailed instructions for the tabernacle, aren’t they?

Why all the detail? What does it matter? The writer of Hebrews tells us.

These serve as a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was warned when he was about to complete the tabernacle.

For God said, “Be careful that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown to you on the mountain.” (Hebrews 8:5)

What did the author of Hebrews mean by “these serve as a copy and shadow of heavenly things?”

There are several examples we can take from Exodus 25, but the one that struck me most today was verse 22.

I will meet with you there above the mercy seat, between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the testimony; I will speak with you from there about all that I command you regarding the Israelites. (Exodus 25:22)

Inside the ark were the ten commandments God had given the people. (16)

The ten commandments were a reminder of God’s holiness. They were a reminder that we are to be holy as God is holy. And they were a reminder of how far short we fall of that holiness.

It’s a good thing we don’t meet God on the basis of our keeping of the ten commandments.

Rather we meet him above the mercy seat.

In the Old Testament, once a year, a sacrifice of atonement was made and the blood from that sacrifice was sprinkled on that mercy seat, providing forgiveness for the people. (Leviticus 16)

But now Paul says this,

God presented (Jesus) as the mercy seat, by his blood…(Romans 3:25)

Jesus is our mercy seat.

Through his blood, our sins are forgiven. And by his blood we can now draw near to God.

So as you read this passage, remember Paul’s words…and rejoice!

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

God presented him as the mercy seat, by his blood…(Romans 3:23-25)