Wed.’s Devo - The Mercy Seat

Read Ex. 25:1-22 God gave instructions on the making of the tabernacle. He was to tell the people they could build a sanctuary and God would live in it. They could give an offering toward this sanctuary if they gave with a willing heart. Then he told them what they would need for the tabernacle: gold, silver, brass, and blue, purple, scarlet, and fine linen, red-dyed rams’ skins and badgers’ skins, and shittim wood; oil for the light, spices for the anointing oil, and for sweet incense, onyx stones, and other stones for the ephod and the breastplate. God showed Moses the pattern of how it should look like. First they were to make an ark (where’s Noah?) of shittim wood (acacia) two and a half cubits by one and a half cubits. This is about 3 and 3/4’ long x 2 and 1/4’ wide x 2 and 1/4’ tall. It was to be overlaid with pure gold on the inside and outside and a gold crown should go around the top. They were to attach pure gold rings for the corners so that the gold poles could go through them to carry it. Inside the ark was to be put the tablets that God wrote. On top of the ark was to be made a lid called the mercy seat. It was the exact measurement of the ark. On it was to have two golden cherubim’s facing one another with their wings spread toward each other. Their faces were to be bowed looking at the mercy seat. This lid with the cherubim’s on it was to be put on top of the ark and between the cherubim’s was where God would meet with them. This ark was a picture of the throne of heaven. This piece of furniture would go into the Holy of Holies and be the most holy of places on the earth. The gold stood for the glory and purity of God’s presence. This tabernacle was to be a picture what went on in heaven to the people. When Jesus died and was put in the tomb, Mary came to see him. When she got there his body was gone but she saw two angels: one at the head and one at the feet where he had be laid (John 20:12). This was the exact position of the angels on the tabernacle. So the tabernacle was the body of Jesus which embodied the Word of God. Lord, your Word never ceases to amaze me. You gave us pictures all through your word that all end up at the feet of Jesus. We worship you our King!