The Mercy of God
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| In loving memory of my father Robert Louis (Bob) Padgett July 28, 1931-May 22, 2023 |
Grace Before Mercy
Grace and mercy are very closely related but they are not the same. Grace describes God's attitude toward the law-breaker and the rebel.
Grace must go before mercy ... Each one of us, as an individual believer, needs the mercy of God to be extended. That includes you and me.
The Mercy Seat
In Romans 3:25 we see exactly Who this mercy seat is, "(Christ Jesus) Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood." The Greek word used here for "propitiation" is the same Greek word that is used in Hebrews 9:5, which is translated "mercy seat." So Jesus was set forth by God to be our mercy seat. Note that the mercy seat was placed above the ark, which contained the tablets of stone.
Tremendous Significance of the Blood
God has nothing to say to man apart from Jesus Christ and His redeeming blood. It was the blood that changed the throne of judgment into a throne of grace. It is through faith in the blood that Jesus becomes our propitiation ... our mercy seat. The word "propitiation" means "to appease, placate, or make satisfied."
As we stand sprinkled in the blood of Christ, God can be merciful, just and the justifier of all who believe or have faith in the blood (Romans 3:20-27). Now we can stand with the publican who prayed in the temple, "God be merciful to me a sinner" (Luke 18:9-14), or as the literal suggests, "God be mercy-seated to me a sinner." The blood shed at the brazen altar (a type of the cross) is brought to the ark and mercy seat (the throne of God) and God is propitiated (or satisfied).
The mercy seat was the one and only seat in the whole of the tabernacle. It was called a seat, and yet no man ever sat upon this seat (Hebrews 10:11-12). The fact that Jesus sat down is significant of His finished work (Isaiah 16:5 and John 19:30). Christ presented His own blood at the throne of God, and having done so, He sat down. He is now seated as our heavenly High Priest after the order of Melchizedek, on a throne of pure gold, a seat for Deity, even the eternal Son of God.
The Two Cherubims
The Lord told Moses that "in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee" (Exodus 25:21). Further, the mercy seat was put above the ark. But above the mercy seat, between the two cherubims, was the place that the Lord told Moses that He would commune with him. Who or what are the two cherubims? Or who or what do they represent? We present here our understanding at this point in time.
From Exodus 25:18-20, note that the mercy seat and the two cherubims were one piece. We have already seen that the mercy seat represents the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, the two cherubim must represent God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. Who else, in addition to the Lord Jesus, is Deity and one with the Lord? Not angels and certainly not any human being or created being. We also know that God is Spirit (John 4:24). Therefore the place that the Lord communes with His chosen people is in the realm of the Spirit.
Our Humanity: Overlaid With Pure Gold
The ark symbolizes the Body of Christ, those who have been saved by grace and in whose hearts the Lord has written His testimony. The ark was made of shittim wood, from the acacia tree. Wood represents humanity. But the wood was overlaid with pure gold. So when God looks at the ark, He sees the gold which overlays the wood, not the wood. Above the ark was the mercy seat (of pure gold), which symbolizes the Lord Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church ... those saved by grace. Note that the covering of those within the ark is NOT another member of the ark. Our covering is the Mercy Seat, the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.
Because God is so merciful to us, as we press on into His kingdom we should likewise exhibit His mercy. Indeed, we reap that which we sow.
Blessings to you all!
Grace and mercy are very closely related but they are not the same. Grace describes God's attitude toward the law-breaker and the rebel.
"By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Mercy is His attitude toward those who are in distress. Mercy assumes need on the part of him who receives it, and resources adequate to meet the need on the part of him who shows it. Mercy implies pity or compassion for the ills of others.
Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly. Psalm 31:9
And His mercy is on them that fear Him from generation to generation. Luke 1:50And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me and keep My commandments. Deuteronomy 5:1022 It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.23 They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23
Grace must go before mercy ... Each one of us, as an individual believer, needs the mercy of God to be extended. That includes you and me.
The Mercy Seat
17 And thou shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof.18 And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat.19 And make one cherub on the one end, and the other cherub on the other end: even of the mercy seat shall ye make the cherubims on the two ends thereof.20 And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be.21 And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee.22 And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel. Exodus 25:17-22
In Romans 3:25 we see exactly Who this mercy seat is, "(Christ Jesus) Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood." The Greek word used here for "propitiation" is the same Greek word that is used in Hebrews 9:5, which is translated "mercy seat." So Jesus was set forth by God to be our mercy seat. Note that the mercy seat was placed above the ark, which contained the tablets of stone.
Tremendous Significance of the Blood
God has nothing to say to man apart from Jesus Christ and His redeeming blood. It was the blood that changed the throne of judgment into a throne of grace. It is through faith in the blood that Jesus becomes our propitiation ... our mercy seat. The word "propitiation" means "to appease, placate, or make satisfied."
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16
As we stand sprinkled in the blood of Christ, God can be merciful, just and the justifier of all who believe or have faith in the blood (Romans 3:20-27). Now we can stand with the publican who prayed in the temple, "God be merciful to me a sinner" (Luke 18:9-14), or as the literal suggests, "God be mercy-seated to me a sinner." The blood shed at the brazen altar (a type of the cross) is brought to the ark and mercy seat (the throne of God) and God is propitiated (or satisfied).
The mercy seat was the one and only seat in the whole of the tabernacle. It was called a seat, and yet no man ever sat upon this seat (Hebrews 10:11-12). The fact that Jesus sat down is significant of His finished work (Isaiah 16:5 and John 19:30). Christ presented His own blood at the throne of God, and having done so, He sat down. He is now seated as our heavenly High Priest after the order of Melchizedek, on a throne of pure gold, a seat for Deity, even the eternal Son of God.
And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel. Exodus 25:22
The Two Cherubims
The Lord told Moses that "in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee" (Exodus 25:21). Further, the mercy seat was put above the ark. But above the mercy seat, between the two cherubims, was the place that the Lord told Moses that He would commune with him. Who or what are the two cherubims? Or who or what do they represent? We present here our understanding at this point in time.
From Exodus 25:18-20, note that the mercy seat and the two cherubims were one piece. We have already seen that the mercy seat represents the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, the two cherubim must represent God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. Who else, in addition to the Lord Jesus, is Deity and one with the Lord? Not angels and certainly not any human being or created being. We also know that God is Spirit (John 4:24). Therefore the place that the Lord communes with His chosen people is in the realm of the Spirit.
To the chief Musician upon Shoshannimeduth, A Psalm of Asaph. Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, Thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; Thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth. Psalm 80:1The LORD reigneth; let the people tremble: He sitteth between the cherubims; let the earth be moved. Psalm 99:1
Our Humanity: Overlaid With Pure Gold
The ark symbolizes the Body of Christ, those who have been saved by grace and in whose hearts the Lord has written His testimony. The ark was made of shittim wood, from the acacia tree. Wood represents humanity. But the wood was overlaid with pure gold. So when God looks at the ark, He sees the gold which overlays the wood, not the wood. Above the ark was the mercy seat (of pure gold), which symbolizes the Lord Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church ... those saved by grace. Note that the covering of those within the ark is NOT another member of the ark. Our covering is the Mercy Seat, the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.
Because God is so merciful to us, as we press on into His kingdom we should likewise exhibit His mercy. Indeed, we reap that which we sow.
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Matthew 5:7
Blessings to you all!
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