Main Idea:  The holiness of God’s presence demands the atonement of sin which He provides out of His great mercy.

The Ark of the Covenant Served as the Earthly Throne and Footstool for the Presence of the Lord

• The design of the Ark of the Covenant
  • Exodus 25:10–15 (37:1–5)
• The significance of the Ark’s contents
  • Exodus 25:16
  • Hebrews 9:3, 4
  • Deuteronomy 10:1–5
  • Exodus 16:33
  • Numbers 17:10, 11
• The significance of the cherubim fashioned atop the Mercy Seat
• Exodus 25:17–22 (37:6–9)
  • Ezekiel 1:5–13
  • Ezekiel 10:20
  • Psalm 99:1

The Mercy Seat Provided a Place of Atonement Before the Lord Foreshadowing the Full Atonement Made by Jesus

• The sins of the people were annually atoned for upon the Mercy Seat in order for the presence of the Lord to remain among His people
  • Leviticus 16:11–16
  • Hebrews 9:6–8
• By offering himself as the perfect atonement for sin, Jesus fulfills the need for annual atonement upon the Mercy seat and opens the curtain too all who believe
  • Hebrews 9:11–14
  • Matthew 27:51

So What?

• By the mercy of the Lord, those who look to Christ in faith are granted access to the presence of the Lord.
  • Exodus 34:6, 7
  • Titus 3:4–7