The Seat of Mercy {Bible Study}

Oh ladies, I'm so excited about this one! If you are one that stays as far away from the Old Testament books as possible, always flipping to the last three-quarters of the Word, you are not alone. Honestly, it's tiresome and tedious work- perusing through exhaustive genealogies, gruesome battles, endless laws, and difficult commands. It makes a girl grow weary. And goodness, don't we all want to open the Word and be inspired and encouraged.

Well, if that's what you are seeking- inspiration and encouragement- then you MUST turn to the book of Exodus. Yes, I realize it's an Old Testament writing full of stiff-necked broods, but you absolutely must go there! Treasures await you!!!

Please start by reading Exodus 25:18-22

We covered this a little in my last (and very first!) bible study on this blog, Dwelling Among Men {Bible Study}. If you haven't completed that one, then go there now. Otherwise press on, sisters! It's a long road, but I promise you, the result will be worth the tedious journey.

In Exodus 25, God is giving Moses precise instructions on constructing the tabernacle- specifically the Ark of the Covenant. God's purpose for this divine declaration was simple, yet profound: The God of eternity desired to dwell among sinful men of flesh. That's you and me, girls!

Let's look at a couple other arks in the scriptures. Read Genesis 6:17-19, and Exodus 1:22, 2:2-3. Now look again at Exodus 25:16. What were these three arks used for?

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The arks were created to preserve and protect God's precious cargo. God established His covenant with Noah by preserving him, his family, and selected beasts of the earth from the destruction of floodwaters with the shelter of the ark. Jochebed fashioned an ark of bulrushes for her son, safeguarding him from Pharaoh's slaughter. Eventually the one sheltered in an ark would be given orders to assemble another kind of Ark; an Ark that would preserve and testify unlike anything else of its kind.

Moses wasn't instructed to build just another ark. In fact, the word for ark mentioned in Genesis 6:17-19 and Exodus 1:22, 2:2-3 is the Hebrew word tebah which simply means box or vessel. However, the word for Ark used for the Ark of the Testimony in Exodus 25:16 is an entirely different Hebrew word: arown.

Read Genesis 50:26. Read it a couple times if necessary to decipher how the Hebrew word arown is used in this passage.

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You guessed it! It's used in reference to a coffin. In fact, this is the first usage of this specific word in the scriptures and refers to Joseph's coffin. The Ark of the Covenant was in actuality a coffin. In the King James Bible this Hebrew word is translated as coffin one time, chest six times, and Ark one hundred ninety-five times.  And this Ark always refers to the Ark of the Covenant.

According to Hebrews 9:3-5, what was eventually placed inside this coffin?

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This ark or coffin contained some very specific and meaningful items: the golden pot of manna (Exodus 16:33-34), Aaron's rod that budded (Numbers 17:1-10), and the tablets of the covenant, also known as the ten commandments (Exodus 25:16).

Ladies, these items illustrate a glorious revelation of the work of Christ! Stay with me here. Don't quit now! We've only looked at the coffin and its contents. Let's not stay in this place of death. Flip back to Exodus chapter 25. 

According to verse 10, what were the measurements of the Ark of acacia wood? ___________________________________________________________________

What else did God command they make and what was its measurements according to verse 17? 
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Through the Levitical Law, God gave Moses the purpose and instructions for the Mercy Seat. It was to be the exact same dimensions as the Ark, and was placed upon the Ark as a lid, or covering. The High Priest, the only one given divine permission to enter into the Most Holy Place, was to come before the Ark of the Covenant  on the Day of Atonement and sprinkle blood from a bull and a goat onto the Mercy Seat. This would make atonement for himself, for his household, and for all the assembly of God (Leviticus 16:17).

What do Colossians 2:16-17 and  Hebrews 10:1-4 teach us about these Old Testament laws and regulations?

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Who does Luke 24:44 tell us the Law of Moses teaches about?

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The writings of Moses, the Old Testament Law, and the tabernacle regulations and requirements all pointed to one gloriously magnificent Being- Jesus the Christ. The Lamb slain before the foundation of the world. The One who was and is and is to come. The Almighty.

So what is this Mercy Seat? The more accurate question might be WHO is this Mercy Seat? Let's look more closely at the Hebrew word for Mercy Seat: kapporeth meaning covering. We've seen it as a lid placed on top of the coffin, or Ark, containing holy Old Testament items. However, the Mercy Seat represented much more than this. The Mercy Seat represented the coming Mercy Giver-Jesus Christ.

Open up to Hebrews 9:1-5 to find a New Testament reference to the Old Testament Mercy Seat. What were the cherubim overshadowing according to verse 5? 
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Please read Romans 3:24-25.  What did God send Christ Jesus as, according to this passage?
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Some translations use the words sacrifice of atonement or sacrifice for sin in verse 25, but most translate it as propitiation. Christ is the Propitiation. I can't help it. I have to go to the Greek definition again, and I think you're going to enjoy it as much as I did! Ready for it? This Greek word hilasterion means an atoning victim, or the lid of the Ark, or the Mercy Seat. Did you catch that? The word for Mercy Seat in Hebrew 9:5 and the word for propitiation in Romans 3:25 are identical. They are one and the same. Christ is our Mercy Seat.

The Old Testament coffin depicted a New Testament death. The covenant of death, the covenant that could save no man, the covenant that brought only condemnation- this covenant was placed into a coffin, sealed, and covered by the Mercy Seat. Over one-thousand years later, Jesus Christ, our Mercy Seat came to cover sin by conquering the death of the grave.

Let's close with one last magnificent Old Testament , New Testament correlation. I pray this leaves you just as awestruck as it has me.

Look closely at Exodus 25:18-20 and answer the following questions:

Where were the cherubim to be precisely placed?

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What did these cherubim look like?

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Verse 20 tells us specifically what direction they faced and exactly what they were to look upon. What was it?

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Now turn to John 20:11-12.

Where is Mary looking in verse 11? ___________________________________________

What did Mary behold in verse 12? ___________________________________________

Where exactly where these angels seated? ______________________________________
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Can you fathom it? I wonder if Mary envisioned the Mercy Seat at that very moment. I wonder if she imagined the implications of what had taken place, of what she was witnessing. Do you think she grasped the sum of it all? Certainly we cannot, as even the apostles couldn't speak in detail (Hebrews 9:5).  But put yourself there for just a moment and visualize those angelic beings. Can you imagine one at the head, and the other at the foot of the place where the perfect, yet crushed body of Christ lay? Wings outstretched above that Mercy Seat, touching one another and protecting the Propitiation with every ounce of authority bestowed upon them. Their eyes never left the Appointed One. And then He rose. They couldn't keep it to themselves, but shared with any who dared approach, "He is not here, He is risen!"

He's risen, ladies! The One who poured out blood and water, the One who lay in a tomb for three days, the one who showed His resurrected Self to over five-hundred at one time- He lives!  He's living as your Mercy Seat, covering your sins, making intercessions, having abolished death. This Man of Mercy is now seated at the right hand of the Father. Now it's your turn. Go spend time with the Giver of Life, Grace, and Mercy.

Write your prayer to Him here

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