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Mercy-Seat

The mercy seat was the golden lid of the Ark of the Covenant where God's presence dwelt and where atonement was made on the Day of Atonement. It symbolizes God's throne of grace and foreshadows Christ's redemptive work.

Overview

The mercy seat (Hebrew: kapporet) was a pure gold plate that covered the Ark of the Covenant in the Holy of Holies. God promised to meet with His people there and speak to them from above the mercy seat between the two cherubim. Once yearly, the high priest would sprinkle the blood of the sin offering on the mercy seat to atone for the sins of Israel.

Key Scriptures

"You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold. Two and a quarter cubits shall be its length, and a cubit and a quarter its breadth." (Exodus 25:17, ESV)

"And you shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered work shall you make them, on the two ends of the mercy seat." (Exodus 25:18, ESV)

"And the Lord said to Moses, 'There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the testimony, I will speak with you.'" (Exodus 25:22, ESV)

Application

Recognize that Jesus Christ is our mercy seat today—through His blood, we have access to God's grace and forgiveness.

Scripture References 40
Exodus 25:17 Exodus 25:18 Exodus 25:19 Exodus 25:20 Exodus 25:21 Exodus 25:22 1 Chronicles 28:11 Exodus 37:6 Exodus 37:7 Exodus 37:8 Exodus 37:9 Exodus 37:1 Exodus 35:4 Exodus 35:5 Exodus 35:6 Exodus 35:7 Exodus 35:8 Exodus 35:9 Exodus 35:10 Exodus 35:11 Exodus 35:12 Exodus 26:34 Exodus 30:6 Exodus 31:7 Exodus 40:20 Hebrews 9:5 Leviticus 16:14 Leviticus 16:15 Exodus 25:22 Exodus 30:6 Exodus 30:36 Leviticus 16:2 Numbers 7:89 Numbers 17:4 1 Samuel 4:4 2 Samuel 6:2 2 Kings 19:15 1 Chronicles 13:6 Psalms 80:1 Psalms 99:1
Full Topical Reference List 42 total — Nave's Topical Bible

Description of

Exodus 25:17 Exodus 25:18 Exodus 25:19 Exodus 25:20 Exodus 25:21 Exodus 25:22

In Solomon's temple

1 Chronicles 28:11

Made by Bezaleel

Exodus 37:1 Exodus 37:6 Exodus 37:7 Exodus 37:8 Exodus 37:9

Materials of, to be a freewill offering

Exodus 35:4 Exodus 35:5 Exodus 35:6 Exodus 35:7 Exodus 35:8 Exodus 35:9 Exodus 35:10 Exodus 35:11 Exodus 35:12

Placed on the ark of the testimony

Exodus 26:34 Exodus 30:6 Exodus 31:7 Exodus 40:20 Hebrews 9:5

Sprinkled with blood

Leviticus 16:14 Leviticus 16:15

The shekinah upon

1 Chronicles 13:6 1 Samuel 4:4 2 Kings 19:15 2 Samuel 6:2 Exodus 25:22 Exodus 30:6 Exodus 30:36 Hebrews 4:16 Isaiah 37:16 Leviticus 16:2 Numbers 7:89 Numbers 17:4 Psalms 80:1 Psalms 99:1
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