Mercy Seat
The mercy seat was the gold cover of the ark of the covenant, where sacrificial blood was sprinkled on the Day of Atonement. It marked the place of God’s holy presence and His merciful provision for atonement under the old covenant.
At a Glance
The mercy seat was the gold cover of the ark of the covenant, where sacrificial blood was sprinkled on the Day of Atonement. It marked the place of God’s holy presence and His merciful provision for atonement under the old covenant.
Description
In the Old Testament, the mercy seat was the gold cover placed on top of the ark of the covenant, with cherubim above it, located in the Most Holy Place of the tabernacle and later the temple. It was especially associated with God’s throne-like presence among His people and with the annual Day of Atonement, when the high priest sprinkled sacrificial blood before or on it according to God’s command. In this setting, the mercy seat signified both God’s holiness and His mercy, since atonement was made only through the blood He appointed. In the New Testament, the related imagery is often connected to Christ’s sacrificial death as the fulfillment of the old covenant sacrificial system, though care is needed in stating exactly how the Old Testament object and New Testament language correspond.