2 Chronicles 5:1-14
The final piece of furniture for the Temple, located in the innermost part of the Temple, is the Ark, which symbolized God’s throne. It was a box that contained the Ten Commandments. The box was then covered by a lid called the mercy seat. The blood of the sacrificed animal is sprinkled on the mercy seat, because God’s mercy and forgiveness can only be gotten if someone else has paid the death penalty. We all by nature break God’s commands, but He mercifully provides a substitute to pay our penalty. Forgiveness comes at a very high cost, but it is free to us!
The real mercy seat is in heaven, the throne of God. When Jesus paid our death penalty on the cross, He returned to the right hand of the throne, bringing His own blood to the mercy seat. Because He took our punishment, we can receive God’s forgiveness and be received by God. Though salvation is free to us, we are called to give our lives to God in love and grateful obedience.
Meditate on verse 1. What is God teaching you in this verse?
My loving eternal Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, help me fulfill and finish well every work You give me. To the glory of Your name. Amen.