Saturday,November 29, 2003
THE NUMBER THREE AND THE MERCY SEAT. The Mercy Seat was the covering which was placed on the Ark of the Covenant. Ex. 25:21 Its very purpose was, to cover, to expiate, to cancel indicates the extreme importance of this article of furniture. It was the place of atonement. It was the meeting place of the Lord with His people. It was here that there would be a pure and instructive communication between the Lord and the high priest. Ex. 25:22 This piece of furniture was placed in the Most Holy Place, within the vail, and back to back with the Altar of Incense. The Most Holy Place was the footstool of the Lord. It was here that the awesome presence of the Lord was made manifest. Lev. 16:2 The Lord would appear, above the Mercy Seat, in the cloud of incense offered by the priest. Lev. 16:12-13 Legitimate Levitical entrance required the blood of sacrifice. Where there is no blood offering there can be no forgiveness. Lev. 16:14 Coals of fire were necessary. Typical of the fire of the Holy Ghost. Incense, [prayer, the prayers of the saints], placed on the fire causing a cloud above the Mercy Seat was extremely vital for the life of the priest depended on its shadowing presence. Lev. 16:12-13 Furthermore, in order to minister in this all important moment of time for the Israelites, he must put off the holy garments of glory and beauty. There was to be no exhalation of office of flesh in the Holy presence of the Lord. Ex. 28:2 As he entered to serve the Lord he was to be clothed with the purest and whitest of fine linen garments. He was making atonement for Israel and must be pure and holy. First having washed his flesh with water he would then clothe himself with the four items of clothing. Lev. 16:4 This is the great Day of Atonement, or propitiation. Atonement was made for the Most Holy Place, for the priest and his family as well as all Israel. This was accomplished in the feast of the seventh month. Lev. 16:17 All this is symbolical of spiritual experiences which are to be accomplished in the lives of the child of God, today.
THE MERCY SEAT IS A BEAUTIFUL TYPE OF THE GODHEAD. Its unity is manifest in the fact that the Mercy Seat was of one piece of gold. The gold indicative of the priceless work of redemption. The work of greatest value. Ex. 25:19 The one piece of gold was to be beaten, hammered and pounded into three pieces, but still united as one. Thus, displaying the suffering of the Godhead in providing atonement for the sins of men, by Christ Jesus. The two ends were to be identical Cherubim, the Father and the Holy Spirit. They were to look down on the mercy seat, with their wings spread upward as in flight or being active. They too were involved in the work of atonement by the sacrifice of the Son. Ex. 25:19-20 Christ Jesus is our Mercy Seat, our propitiation. Rom. 3:25 The one whose blood is eternally on the heavenly Mercy Seat as a slain Lamb. Rev. 5:6 He is the price of our salvation. Aside from the Lord Jesus there is no other savior. He is the real Mercy Seat, eternal in the heavens. The work of redemption is completed for time and eternity. Christ has taken His blood to heaven itself and it is now sprinkled on the Mercy Seat of heaven.