Holy of Holies

Book of Exodus - Part 36 • Exodus 25:10-22 • August 9, 2020

 
 
 

Exodus 25:10-22 NASB

10 “They shall construct an ark of acacia wood two and a half cubits long, and one and a half cubits wide, and one and a half cubits high. 11 You shall overlay it with pure gold, inside and out you shall overlay it, and you shall make a gold molding around it. 12 You shall cast four gold rings for it and fasten them on its four feet, and two rings shall be on one side of it and two rings on the other side of it. 13 You shall make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. 14 You shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, to carry the ark with them. 15 The poles shall remain in the rings of the ark; they shall not be removed from it. 16 You shall put into the ark the testimony which I shall give you.

17 “You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold, two and a half cubits long and one and a half cubits wide. 18 You shall make two cherubim of gold, make them of hammered work at the two ends of the mercy seat. 19 Make one cherub at one end and one cherub at the other end; you shall make the cherubim of one piece with the mercy seat at its two ends. 20 The cherubim shall have their wings spread upward, covering the mercy seat with their wings and facing one another; the faces of the cherubim are to be turned toward the mercy seat. 21 You shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the testimony which I will give to you. 22 There I will meet with you; and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony, I will speak to you about all that I will give you in commandment for the sons of Israel.

Notes

The Holy of Holies was like a throne room. Israel had no king at this time. God alone was the king. The Holy of Holies contained two pieces of furniture: the Ark of the Covenant and the Mercy Seat. Although there were two, Scripture would often refer to them as one furniture. Both are known as the Ark of the Covenant. Israel took the Ark to battle, and they won many victories.

The Ark was holy, they treated it with profound respect, but they did not worship it. When they did not, there were consequences. When Uzzah touched the Ark with his hand, God struck Him dead (2 Samuel 6:6-7). Because they forgot to transport the Ark according to the pattern that God showed.

2 Samuel 6:6-7 NASB — “But when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out toward the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen nearly upset it. And the anger of the Lord burned against Uzzah, and God struck him down there for his irreverence; and he died there by the ark of God.”

  1. The Ark of the Covenant contained the Testimony, the ten commandments, which meant that God ruled with justice. It was a shadow of the Ark in heaven (Rev. 11:19).  

    Revelation 11:19 NASB — “And the temple of God which is in heaven was opened; and the ark of His covenant appeared in His temple, and there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder and an earthquake and a great hailstorm.”

  2. Mercy Seat was the lid that covered the Ark of the Covenant, which contained the Testimony. One could surmise that although God ruled with justice, He preferred to rule with mercy. Yet both are necessary.

  3. God would commune with the people on top of the mercy seat, which meant that God prefers mercy over judgment. God was merciful to Israel, yet God would reveal His grace through Christ for all peoples.

Application

  1. The purpose of the law was to reveal sin (Romans 3:20). God gave the law to make us understand what sin is. And God hates sin. Let us then remember that God is a God of justice who hates sin. Thus, we should fear Him.

    Romans 3:20 NASB — “because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.”

  2. The grace of God is in Christ alone. He was the fulfillment of the Mercy Seat (John 20:11-12). Thus, men should trust in Christ alone for eternal salvation. His perfect sacrifice was sufficient for the world's sin but efficient only to those who believe. Thus, we should believe in His grace.

    John 20:11-12 NASB — “But Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping; and so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying.”

  3. God’s presence today lives in His church and each true believer. The church must rejoice because God prefers to show mercy and grace. But the people of God should never forget His justice. Overall, Christ’s blood covers our sins. Praise the Lord!