The ark of the covenant was a box of acacia wood, covered with pure gold, which God instructed his people to build in the wilderness. It was the place (and of course God is not contained in a box) where God was, to be with his people. The lid of the ark was called the mercy seat, and it was crafted from pure gold, and on it were images of golden cherubim. These were not chubby little cherubs playing harps as they are sometimes painted, but fearsome creatures of God who served him as guardians. The golden images of cherubim faced each other on the mercy seat with wings outspread. They were called the “cherubim of glory” in the book of Hebrews and perhaps their eyes were downcast because above them is the holy presence of God. The psalmist wrote, “The Lord reigns; let the people tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!” If God is enthroned upon the cherubim, then the ark of God is his footstool. The same psalm cries, “Exalt the Lord our God; worship at his footstool! Holy is he!” Think of this: the mercy seat was on top of the ark. The law would be placed inside the ark. Even before God gave his people the engraved tablets of the law that would reside in the ark, he made provision for their failure to keep it at the mercy seat. In human terms with an image we can understand, God is enthroned on the mercy seat and his feet are resting upon the law. In that way, the ark of the covenant demonstrates God’s truth that mercy triumphs over judgment.
The Holy of holies in the tabernacle and later in the temple was no longer needed when Jesus Christ came to save. As our high priest, Christ entered the Holy of holies bringing his own blood as a sacrifice. The writer of Hebrews says, “But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption…Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance.”
Oh, how we need the mercy of God which is only found in Jesus. The Lord told a parable to illustrate what it looks like when a man finds mercy. This man was a tax collector, a sinner who used his position to cheat and steal and line his own pockets at the expense of his fellow man. But he found himself in the temple one day, maybe thinking he had no chance at being forgiven for all he had done. But he was there, searching for forgiveness, desperate for mercy, and he didn’t know what to say. He did not dare look up but with head hung down and standing far off in the shadows, he prayed, “God have mercy on me, a sinner.” The literal translation is, “God be merciful to me, the sinner.” As though he were the only one. This is a picture of true brokenness and repentance. There he stands in the temple, not that far from the ark of the covenant. His prayer starts with God, who sits enthroned above the ark of the covenant. He asks for mercy from the one who was his only hope, the one who is in the seat of mercy, the one in whom mercy dwells. And he only mentions himself last.
“God, be merciful to me, the sinner.”
Jesus heard that man’s cry as he does all who come to him and to him alone. That man received mercy from the throne of God. You and I can, too.
J. Mark Fox 