Subscription Lists
Today's Little Lift
by Jim Bullington
Mercy is not a new virtue with God; neither is it a blessing of the New Testament to the exclusion of the Old Testament. Fifteen hundred years before the first book of the New Testament was written, God’s plan included provisions for mercy. Notice how prominent mercy was even under Moses Law.
“You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold; two and a half cubits shall be its length and a cubit and a half its width. And you shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered work you shall make them at the two ends of the mercy seat. Make one cherub at one end, and the other cherub at the other end; you shall make the cherubim at the two ends of it of one piece with the mercy seat. And the cherubim shall stretch out their wings above, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and they shall face one another; the faces of the cherubim shall be toward the mercy seat. You shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the Testimony that I will give you. And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the Testimony, about everything which I will give you in commandment to the children of Israel.” (Exodus 25.17-22; all emphasis mine, jb).
Note God’s words, “And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you.” In the place appointed by God Himself and in the manner that God chose, He would speak with Moses or other appointed representatives from time to time. The mercy seat itself became a symbol of God’s presence and blessings. As was observed earlier, mercy was abundant in the Old Testament and even foreshadowed the mercy that would be dispensed under the New Covenant. Just because it was but a temporary system does not mean that the Law of Moses was not replete with mercy and similar blessings.
Neither does this imply that the New Testament would not replace and overshadow the Old. Hear the Hebrews writer: “But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Hebrews 9.11-14).
The “greater and more perfect tabernacle” is one “not made with hands.” Nor was it a place where the blood of bulls and goats was sprinkled; rather, eternal redemption is available there through and because of the blood of Jesus Christ. This tabernacle is a place that is not a place! It does not exist on this earth nor can it be contained herein. Its composition is not of materials made with hands and its purpose transcends those of human origins. Just as surely as the tabernacle is greater, so are the services of the tabernacle. Eternal redemption was obtained there!
“Years I spent in vanity and pride Caring not my Lord was crucified Knowing not it was for me He died on Calvary. Mercy there was great and grace was free Pardon there was multiplied to me There my burdened soul found liberty at Calvary.” (words by William R. Newell and music by Daniel B Towner from the classic hymn, At Calvary). Mercy truly does rejoice against and triumph over judgment by means of the cross of Jesus Christ and I am recipient of that magnificent and unequalled blessing!
Questions:
1. What was the practical purpose of the mercy seat in the Old Testament system of things?
2. What was symbolized by the fact that God would meet and speak with Moses at the mercy seat?
3. Why was the blood of animals not used to procure and purge the new tabernacle? What two word phrase does the writer use to describe the sacrifice of Christ in Hebrews 9.14?
4. Just how great a blessing is it to know that mercy truly does triumph over judgment?
Receive the newest devotional each week in your inbox by joining the "Today's Little Lift" subscription list. Enter your email address below, click "Go!" and we will send you a confirmation email. Follow the instructions in the email to confirm your addition to this list.