Exodus 25:17: “You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold;”

November 29th, 2022 by Pastor Ed in devotional

We notice that the ark was a chest that was built to open at the top. However, the Lord designed another critical piece of furniture that fit tightly on top of the ark. God Himself appropriately named it “the mercy seat.” The mercy seat was the most expensive piece of furniture inside the Holy of Holies, being made of solid gold. Why do you suppose God required it to be fashioned from solid gold? So that they (and we centuries later) would understand that God places the highest priority on mercy. This seat or lid was fashioned with 2 cherubim, or angels, folding their wings over the seat. On the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), the High Priest would spread blood on it 7 times. Why 7 times? Once would be enough for God, but He knows we are slow to realize that His atonement is about unearned, undeserved mercy.

We still approach God on the basis of Jesus’ mercy and grace. We can never go to Him on the basis of our devotional life, knowledge of the word, church attendance, or financial giving. We can approach God safely on the basis of one thing and one thing only—His abundant mercy.

There is a tombstone in a small graveyard in Olney, England that reads:

John Newton, clerk [pastor], Once an infidel and libertine, a servant of slavers in Africa, was, by the rich mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, preserved, restored, pardoned, and appointed to preach the faith he had long labored to destroy.

While his name may or may not be familiar, the song he wrote, “Amazing Grace” is known by all.

“Thank You, LORD, for Your grace and mercy on our lives this day.”