Not at the door.
Not at the altar.
If God met me at the door first, it wold be about me, being there.
If God met me at the altar first, it would be about me, and my offering.
God meets us in all our failures and brokenness at the mercy seat.
A pattern’s given. The words are written. The plans are drawn up.
“Let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them.” (1)
God desired to dwell with His people. He asked them to construct a place of refuge and safety:
According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it. (2)
God gave instructions to build His place to dwell. First in importance was the ark of the covenant: And they shall make an ark of acacia wood; . . . (3)
God gave pattern with exact measure and size:
And you shall overlay it with pure gold, inside and out you shall overlay it, and shall make on it a molding of gold all around . . . (4)
Make an ark out of a dessert wood. A wood when punctured, oozes out a sap that heals wounds. Overlay it with pure gold, inside and out and then give it a crown molding all around.
Does this description remind us of anything?
God continues His meticulous instructions:
And you shall put into the ark the Testimony which I will give you. (5)
The 10 commandments, written by the finger of God, given to Moses for His children to know. They were put in the box made of wood, overlaid with gold.
Inside this ark, the 10 commandments reside.
Jesus, Himself was the only Man able to keep all these commandments, never a spot or miss. Only Jesus.
Next, God proclaims:
You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold; . . . (6)
With golden cherub and wings stretched out to meet, God proclaims the pattern concerning His mercy seat,
You shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the Testimony that I will give you. (7)
So we have a picture clear in our mind. The box made of wood, covered with pure gold, and inside are the 10 commandments. And God says,
And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the Testimony . . .
The seat of mercy sits atop the ark. Covering the Commandments kept inside the box overlaid in pure gold.
“This is where I will meet.” God tells us all.
Who is listening to these gracious words of mercy?
A story is told in 1 Samuel, chapter 6, of this ark being captured by the Philistines. It was set near their god named Dagon that day. Well, the next morning, their god Dagon, was flat on his face.
Lifted again by Philistine people, only to find next morning Dagon had fallen, again. But now with broken neck and hands.
“Let’s get rid of this ark and send it back home,” the Philistines said.
The Israelites were delighted when the ark was returned.
But something happened that day, it’s recorded, in all the excitement, they took the liberties that day, to lift the mercy seat and uncover the Law.
Fifty thousand and seventy people died that day. The mercy seat was lifted off the ark covering the commandments.
What was God saying? What was the message that day?
What is mercy anyway?
MER’CY, n. [L. misericordia.]
1. That benevolence, mildness or tenderness of heart which disposes a person to overlook injuries, or to treat an offender better than he deserves;
the disposition that tempers justice, and induces an injured person to forgive trespasses and injuries, and to forbear punishment, or inflict less than law or justice will warrant.
2.Mercy is a distinguishing attribute of the Supreme Being.
God meets us at His seat of mercy.
Jesus became a man, yet He was God come down. Pure and Holy.
He was pierced for our transgressions. His blood that poured out brings healing to our souls.
He paid our debt, that we might receive His undeserved favor.
He meets us first, not at the door. Nor at the altar. Jesus meets us at His mercy seat.
And great warning comes to us who try to lift the mercy seat. God wants us to be Holy and gracious and compassionate, He is just.
The picture’s complete.
Jesus’ love covers me.
Because of His love, I desire to open my heart’s door. Because of His love, I offer Him, . . .
my life.
The Lord is long-suffering and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty. Num 14.
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“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” Matthew 5:7
“He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with you God?” (Micah 6:8).
(1) Exodus 25:8
(2) Exodus 25:9
(3)Exodus 25:10
(4) Exodus 25:11
(5) Exodus 25:16
(6) Exodus 25:17
(7) Exodus 25:21
(8)Exodus 25:22