The Mercy Seat

I can’t help but think of my faith when considering the principle of mercy. For me, God’s mercy is where all other mercy flows from and God’s mercy is where all other mercy points toward.

Enter the Mercy Seat.

When Yahweh first set up people to follow him as their God, he had a temple built and had an area, the Holy of Holies, sectioned off for his spirit to dwell among his people. He had to be separated from his people, or his magnitude of perfection would destroy them. God created humans to have a relationship with, so he wanted to be as close to his people as he could be.

Inside the Holy of Holies, on top of the Arc of the Covenant, was a seat, almost a throne, with two golden angels on top. This was the Mercy Seat. This was where the Spirit of God lived. Once a year, a priest was able to approach the Mercy Seat, after purifying himself, and petition God on behalf of the people. Because of God’s benevolence, he would put off the punishments his people deserved until the next year. This was where life-saving compassion flowed for God’s people.

Since Jesus’ death, that same Spirit of God no longer lives among the angels on the Mercy Seat. Instead, he lives within the bodies and minds of his people. We have become Mercy Seats. We are where God’s life-saving compassion now rests and it’s our responsibility, should even be our passion, to pass that mercy on.

…Peter got up the nerve to ask, “Master, how many times do I forgive a brother or sister who hurts me? Seven?”Jesus replied, “Seven! Hardly. Try seventy times seven. The kingdom of God is like a king who decided to square accounts with his servants. As he got under way, one servant was brought before him who had run up a debt of a hundred thousand dollars. He couldn’t pay up, so the king ordered the man, along with his wife, children, and goods, to be auctioned off at the slave market. The poor wretch threw himself at the king’s feet and begged, ‘Give me a chance and I’ll pay it all back.’ Touched by his plea, the king let him off, erasing the debt. The servant was no sooner out of the room when he came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him ten dollars. He seized him by the throat and demanded, ‘Pay up. Now!’ The poor wretch threw himself down and begged, ‘Give me a chance and I’ll pay it all back.’ But he wouldn’t do it. He had him arrested and put in jail until the debt was paid. When the other servants saw this going on, they were outraged and brought a detailed report to the king. The king summoned the man and said, ‘You evil servant! I forgave your entire debt when you begged me for mercy. Shouldn’t you be compelled to be merciful to your fellow servant who asked for mercy?’ The king was furious and put the screws to the man until he paid back his entire debt. And that’s exactly what my Father in heaven is going to do to each one of you who doesn’t forgive unconditionally anyone who asks for mercy.” Matthew 18:21-35 (The Message)

It makes perfect sense that if something good has happened to us, we should pass that on to others. And similarly, how can we expect to be shown mercy by others when we don’t display that mercy to them?

Let me challenge you: Spend the next few days focusing on displays of mercy. Be full of forgiveness, be quick to advocate on behalf of others, be courageous enough to stand with someone who would otherwise be alone. And when you are shown mercy, take note of it and be grateful for it. I believe very firmly that being merciful does not come naturally to humans, so when mercy is shown, it’s an exquisite thing.