The mercy seat (Hebrew kapporeth or Greek hilasterion) is the golden covering of the Ark of the Covenant in Judaism and the throne of God in heaven. It was stored in the Most Holy Place. It was on the lid of the Ark with two cherubim with their faces turned toward each other (Leviticus 16:2; Numbers 7:89)—the mercy seat was the sole exception on the ban against engraved images. Their outspread wings over the top of the ark formed the throne of God, while the ark itself was his footstool (Exodus 25:10-22; 37:1-9). The holiest place of the mercy seat was the oracle where Yahweh made announcements from a cloud or bright light over the oracle. Christians hold that the sacrifice of Jesus was the equivalent of the atonement shown by the mercy seat.
Role in ceremonies
The High Priest was allowed in the Most Holy Place once a year at Yom Kippur. On that day, he placed the blood of a bullock and a goat upon the mercy seat as atonement or sin-offering for the sins of the people of Israel. This ceremony renewed the closeness of the Jewish people with their God and showed them His holiness.
History
The mercy seat was created at the time of Moses and carried into Israel with the Ark of the Covenant. It was kept first at Shiloh then Kirjath-jearim. David wanted to take the mercy seat and Ark to Mount Moriah but was banned by God. Solomon placed it in Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem where it remained until the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem.
Whereabouts
Historians generally believe that the Ark of the Covenant and the mercy seat were destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar's troops. However, the Talmud claims that it was hidden under the Temple Mount or removed from Jerusalem.
The Ethiopian Orthodox Church claims that the ark and the seat is stored in a Treasury near the Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion in Axum, Ethiopia. There are other claims that it was buried by Jeremiah under the Hill of Tara in Ireland while the late Ron Wyatt claimed that he had discovered the ark but was unable to excavate it. It is acknowledged that it was not kept in the Second Temple.
Christianity
Christian theology holds that the death of Jesus was an atoning sacrifice or propitiation equivalent to the role of the mercy seat in the Most Holy Place. Saint Paul says in Romans 3:25 that God intended Jesus to be the mercy seat to atone for the sins of mankind. The Book of Revelations places the mercy seat together with the Ark of the Covenant in heaven. Judaism rejects this explanation.
Cultural references
Hymnist John Newton, writer of Amazing Grace also wrote the hymn Approach, my Soul, the Mercy Seat. Gordon Gano of the Violent Femmes named his 1987 gospel side project The Mercy Seat.
Nick Cave wrote the song The Mercy Seat for his 1988 Tender Prey album. It tells the story of a condemned man facing death on the electric chair seeking redemption in the afterlife. Johnny Cash covered the song on his 2000 album .
Neil LaBute wrote his 2002 play The Mercy Seat based on an urban myth of a man who escaped the September 11 attacks because he was seeing his mistress and contemplates running off with her. The play starred Liev Schreiber and Sigourney Weaver and was successful commercially and critical.
References
- Old Testament, King James Version
External links
