Exodus 25:19

Exodus 25:19 is part of God's detailed instructions to Moses for constructing the Tabernacle, a portable sanctuary that would serve as the dwelling place of God among the Israelites during their wilderness journey. Specifically, this verse focuses on the design of the Mercy Seat (Hebrew: kapporet), which was the golden lid placed atop the Ark of the Covenant.

Context

In Exodus 25, the Lord outlines the precise specifications for the sacred furnishings of the Tabernacle, beginning with the most holy item: the Ark of the Covenant. The Ark contained the tablets of the Law, a pot of manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, symbolizing God's covenant, provision, and authority. The Mercy Seat, with its cherubim, formed the very top of the Ark, serving as the throne of God from which He would communicate with Moses (Exodus 25:22).

Key Themes

• Divine Presence and Holiness: The cherubim, celestial beings often associated with guarding God's presence and holiness, are depicted facing each other, looking down upon the Mercy Seat. This imagery emphasizes the sacredness of the space and the profound holiness of God who dwelt there. Their presence recalls the cherubim guarding the way to the tree of life after the fall (Genesis 3:24).
• Atonement and Mercy: The term "Mercy Seat" itself is highly significant. The Hebrew word kapporet is derived from the verb kaphar, meaning "to cover" or "to atone." On the annual Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), the high priest would sprinkle blood on the Mercy Seat (Leviticus 16:14), symbolizing the covering of sins and the appeasement of God's wrath, allowing for His mercy to be extended to His people.
• Access to God: The cherubim, though guardians, also frame the very point of divine encounter and communication. While access was restricted to the high priest once a year, the setup symbolized a way for sinful humanity to approach a holy God through prescribed means of atonement.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "cherubims" is kerubim, the plural form of kerub. These are not merely decorative figures but represent powerful, winged angelic beings often associated with God's glory and His throne (as seen in Ezekiel's visions). The fact that they are to be made "of the mercy seat" (one piece, hammered out of the same gold as the lid) signifies their inseparable connection to the place of atonement and God's dwelling.

Practical Application

The symbolism of the Mercy Seat finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The New Testament identifies Christ as our propitiation (Greek: hilasterion), a term that in the Greek Old Testament (Septuagint) refers to the Mercy Seat. Just as the blood on the Mercy Seat covered the sins of Israel, so Christ's sacrifice on the cross fully atones for the sins of humanity, providing a permanent and perfect way for us to approach a holy God with confidence (Hebrews 4:16). The cherubim, once guarding a limited access, now point to the open access to God's presence made possible through Jesus, our great High Priest.