8/7/2019 Daily Faith (040311): The Mercy Seat - Hugo McCord

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The ark of the testimony (Exodus 25:22) was a wooden chest aboutfour feet long, about two feet wide, and about two feet deep (Exodus25:10), made of acacia [locust?] wood (Exodus 25:10). A mercy -seat[kipporeth] of pure gold (Exodus 25:17) covered the ark. God talked withMoses from above the mercy -seat (Exodus 25:22; Numbers 7:89).

Once a year, on the tenth day of the seventh month, (Leviticus16:29), our October, the high priest sprinkled the blood of a goat upon themercy- seat with his finger seven times to atone for the sins of theIsraelites (Leviticus 16:15, 19). This annual observance was called the dayof atonement ( yom hakkippurim, Yom Kippur (Leviticus 23:27).

The word kipporeth, derived from kaphar , to cover, translated as themercy -seat, is only used of the cover of the ark of the covenant(Gesenius, 412). Kaphar means to cover sins, to pardon, to obtainforgiveness (ibid.).

In the New Testament the word for the mercy-seat is hilasterion, theplace where sins are forgiven (Hebrews 9:5, Newman, 86), the means bywhich sins are forgiven (Romans 3:25, Newman, 86). Literally hilasterion (eleos, mercy, and tereo, hold) is a holding place for mercy.

As the high priest brought goat blood and sprinkled it on the mercy

seat, so Jesus brought his own blood figuratively to sprinkle onheavens mercy seat, having entered the Holy of Holies once for all time,obtaining eternal redemption (Hebrews 9:12).

Literally Jesus was never a priest on the earth, even on the day he shedhis own blood (Hebrews 7:14). Figuratively God ordained Jesus as ahigh priest after he had returned to heaven, on the day of Pentecost, May28, A.D. 30, when God said to him, You are a pri est forever, after theorder of Melchizedek, putting the ceremony in pictorial language, Youare my Son! Today I have begotten you (Psalm 2:7; Hebrews 5:5).

The blood of sprinkling that Jesus, as a figurative high priest,brought speaks better than that of Abel (Hebrews 12:24). Did Abelsblood talk? God heard it and told Cain that The voice of your brothersblood cries out loudly to me from the ground! (Genesis 4:10).

What did Abels blood say? Apparently the same thing as that manyinnocent mart yrs for Jesus said as they cried with a loud voice, saying,How long, holy and true Master, will you not judge and vindicate ourblood among the inhabitants of the earth? (Revelation 6:10). Their bloodand Abels blood apparently were crying, Vengeanc e! Vengeance! ButJesus blood cries out loudly, Mercy! Mercy! What a difference! Jesusprayed, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing(Luke 23:34).

The Mercy Seat | Hugo McCord

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8/7/2019 Daily Faith (040311): The Mercy Seat - Hugo McCord

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The word used by the writer of the book of Hebrews to designate theOld Testament mercy seat ( hilasterion, 9:5) Paul used to designate Jesusas the mercy seat (Romans 3:25). If Jesus is our mercy seat, then anastounding thought strikes our minds: Jesus bringing his own blood andsprinkling it on himself!

This means Christ, besprink led with his own blood, was truly thatwhich the cover or mercy seat had been typically, i.e., the sign andpledge of expiation (Thayer, 301). This means that Christ not onlypropitiates, but is Himself the propitiation. To speak in the languageof the Epistle to the Hebrews, in the offering of Himself He is both atonce archiereus (high priest) and thusia (sacrifice), . . .the two functions ofpriest and sacrifice were united in Him. . . . All this the word hilasm[offering, propitiation, 1 John 2:2; 4:10], used of Christ, declares (Trench,294).

O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge ofGod! (Romans 11:33): God has displayed him [Jesus] publicly as themercy seat [ hilasterion], through faith in his blood, as a demonstration ofhis righteousness in overlooking past sins (Romans 3:25).

Hugh Stovells hymn, From Evry Stormy Wind That Blows, isheart-touching:

From evry stormy wind that blows, From evry swelling tide of woes, There is a calm, a sure retreat;

Tis found beneath the mercy seat.There is a place where Jesus shedsThe oil of gladness on our heads,A place than all besides more sweet;It is the blood-bot mercy seat.

There is a scene where spirits blend,Where friend holds fellowship with friend;Tho sundered far, by faith they meetAround one common mercy seat.

There, there on eagles wings we soar, And sin and senses seem all no more,And heavn comes down our souls to greet, And glory crowns the mercy seat.

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The Mercy Seat (continued)

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