The Mercy Seat

Ex 25:22 “And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat…”

 

Inside of the Ark of the Covenant were three items. Three items they were depending on to approach God: 

1) The manna (word of God) The word of God explained in details how they should approach God. What to do and what order to do them.

2) The rod of Aaron (priesthood) They could not enter in themselves, but needed the priest to go in there for them. They came in on his shoulders where their names were written.

3) Tablets of stone. (The law) In the Old Testament they had to keep the law to approach God.

 

 

Even though God in details explained how they should live and how to approach him. Even though they had to keep the 613 commandments in the Torah, and the law described the consequences of not obeying these commandments. God placed a lid on top of the law and called it the mercy seat. He said, this is where I will meet with you. I will not meet you in the law. I will not meet you in the word. I will not meet you in or through the Priesthood. They will guide the way, but I will meet you at the Mercy seat. 
I am so glad I can meet him at the Mercy seat. He has opened a new and living way, and that’s why the author of Hebrews can say: 

Heb 4:16Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.