Exploring the Significance of the Tabernacle's Mercy Seat

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2. Key verse Exodus 25:8,9 8 And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. 9 According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it. Tabernacle #5 Polson

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6. 17 And thou shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof. 18 And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat. 19 And make one cherub on the one end, and the other cherub on the other end: even of the mercy seat shall ye make the cherubims on the two ends thereof. Tabernacle #5 Polson

7. 20 And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be. 21 And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee. 22 And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel. Tabernacle #5 Polson

8. Introduction Mercy seat • the covering of the Ark of Covenant. • Fitted exactly on top of the Ark. • Jehovah’s throne, place of communion • place of appeasement, reconciliation. Hebrew word – Kapporeth Greek word – Hilasterion English – Propitiatory or Mercy seat. Tabernacle #5 Polson

9. The Mercy Seat 1. Its Material 2. Its Dimension 3. Its Decoration 4. Its Significance • Its Purpose • Its Blessings • Its Application. Tabernacle #5 Polson

10. 1.Its Material. Solid sheet of pure gold. Different from the Ark – No wood Placed above the Ark – crown of gold supported. Only other furniture of pure gold – Candlestick. Weight and worth – Most valuable of all. Tells of the preciousness of its Type in God’s sight. Tabernacle #5 Polson

11. 2. Its Dimension 2 ½ cubits long and 1 ½ cubits wide – thickness? Ps 103:11 "For as the heaven is high above the earth so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him“ Strict limitations of saving grace. “God’s mercy is wide enough to take in every sinner who presents himself at the appointed Mercy-seat with repentance. It extends no further than that. The limits are divinely established, and are unalterable.“ No grace apart from the redemptive blood of Jesus. Tabernacle #5 Polson

12. 3. Its Decoration A Cherub at either end beaten out of same gold Wings outstretched to cover the Mercy Seat Faces looking down upon the ark of covenant. Tabernacle #5 Polson

13. Figure of the Cherubim. Ex 25:17-22 repeated Seven times First mention in Gen 3:24 Guarding the tree of life Rev 4, Ezek 1, 10 related to the throne of God. Cherubim - Highest among Angelic order. Judicial acts and divine interference in judgment. Striking significance - their place on Mercy seat. God’s righteousness and wrath against sin become one piece with his mercy. Light and Love are two sides of God’s nature! Tabernacle #5 Polson

14. Two Cherubim facing each other heads bowed. Their number - speaks of competent witness. Redemption of the Church is an object lesson. Eph 3:10 The manifold wisdom of God made known by the church unto principalities and… 1 Pet 1: 11,12 Sufferings of Christ and His glories to follow - things angel desire to look into.. The interest of the angelic hierarchies in the unfolding of God’s redemptive purpose. Tabernacle #5 Polson

15. 4. Its significance Romans 3:25: "Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past." Gk. rendered Propitiation same as Heb9:5 Mercy seat - Hilasterion - Kapporeth. Christ is the Mercy seat by virtue of propitiation He offered to God. 1 John 2:2; 4:10 Lord Jesus’ sacrifice pacifies God. Tabernacle #5 Polson

16. Its Significance “The Mercy seat or propitiatory was not the place where propitiation was made, but instead, the place where it’s abiding value was borne witness before God” - commentator. Type of Christ as the propitiation for our sins is the bleeding victim on the Altar. Type of Christ as the propitiatory is the Mercy seat within the veil. Christ has become God’s rest – sinners meet God. Tabernacle #5 Polson

17. Its significance Day of Atonement – Leviticus 16 – Ritual v.14: "And he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the Mercy-seat eastward, and before the Mercy-seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times." Blood obtained – Judgment of innocent substitute. Blood sprinkled – God accepted the victim. What obtained a standing ground before God? Blood Sprinkled before the Mercy seat. “Once – sufficient for the eye of God. Seven Times – Assures man his perfect standing ground which Christ purchased for his people.” Tabernacle #5 Polson

18. 5. Its Purpose No chair in the Tabernacle for the priest to sit. Reminded the One Sacrifice was yet to come. The one seat – Mercy seat – Jehovah’s throne. This Mercy seat resting on the Ark foreshadowed that God would find His rest in the perfect work of His incarnate Son. Mercy Seat was God’s throne on earth. Exodus 25:21,22. 1 Samuel 4:4; 2 Samuel 6:2; 2 Kings 19:15; Psalms 99:1 Tabernacle #5 Polson

19. Its purpose Q? How is it possible for the thrice Holy God to dwell in the midst of a sinful people? Only on ground of an accepted sacrifice. God’s throne was a blood-sprinkled one. Christ died for sinners – Christ died for God. Christ died to vindicate the character of God. "justice and judgment are the habitation of Thy throne" (Ps. 89:14). All claims of righteousness is settled by Christ. Revelation 5:6: "And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne... stood a Lamb as it had been slain"!! Tabernacle #5 Polson

20. Its Purpose "Whom God hath set forth a Propitiation through faith in His blood to declare His righteousness" (Rom. 3:25). To declare = to manifest, proclaim, publicly show God’s avenging holiness was fully satisfied by His Son on the cross. On the cross of Calvary, God’s holiness, justice and grace, love are manifested. Pure Gold of Mercy seat displayed divine glory. Mercy seat with blood sprinkled attested that propitiation is made. Tabernacle #5 Polson

21. 6. Its Blessings First – Mercy seat hid the tablets of stone within the Ark . Without it the law is uncovered. Law expresses God’s righteousness. "Cursed is everyone that continues not in all things which are written in the book of the Law to do them" (Gal. 3:10). Only one who could stand before God on the basis of keeping the law - Man Christ Jesus. He allowed his side to be pierced for the people. The Law can no longer touch those who flee to Him. 1 Sam 6:19,20 Beth – Shemesh. Tabernacle #5 Polson

22. Its Blessings Second – The meeting place, God met the sinner. Christ is one appointed meeting place for God and his people. Mercy seat was in the Holy of Holies Invisible to physical eyes It can be approached only by faith. Hebrew 10:19-22 Exhortation to draw nigh. Third – Place of communion – Number 7:89 Not only brought nigh – but speak to him, hear him. Tabernacle #5 Polson

23. 7. Its Applications Tabernacle #5 Polson

24. Applications God has good reasons for accomplishing His purposes in a difficult, painful manner. Pure Gold – represents divinity. The divine substance has to be beaten into shape. Wondered why the Spirit of God is hammering? Christ-likeness has to beaten into shape! The divine nature is subjected to fashioning process Human nature cannot be ‘hammered’ into shape Jesus said Matt 5:48 Phil 3:10 God in Christ is joined together – Mercy seat! This is God’s throne forever! Tabernacle #5 Polson