Mercy-Seated
Luke 18:9–14
God, be merciful to me, a sinner! Luke 18:13

The word translated “be merciful” is the verb form of the word for the “mercy seat” on the ark of the covenant in the Jewish temple. Therefore, it could literally (but awkwardly) be translated “be mercy-seated toward” or “treat me as one who comes on the basis of the blood shed on the mercy seat as an offering for sins.”

The ark of the covenant was a box about a yard long, containing the stone tables of the law of Moses. The lid of that box was the mercy seat, having on each end of it angels whose outstretched wings went backward and upward, almost meeting over the center of the mercy seat. Between those outstretched wings, God was imagined to dwell symbolically. As it stands, the ark is a picture of judgment intended to produce dread in the worshiper through a knowledge of his or her sin. For what does God see as he looks down from between the wings of the angels? He sees the law of Moses that we have broken. He sees that he must act toward us as Judge.

But here is where the mercy seat comes in, and here is why it is called the mercy seat. Upon that covering of the ark, once a year on the Day of Atonement, the high priest sprinkled blood from an animal that served as a substitute. It was an innocent victim dying in the place of the sinful people who deserved to die. Now, when God looks down between the outstretched wings of the angels, he sees, not the law of Moses that we have broken, but the blood of the innocent victim. He sees that punishment has been meted out. Now his love goes out in mercy to save the one who comes to him through faith in that sacrifice.

That is why the prayer of the tax collector was so profound. Not only did it embody his faith in the way of salvation by sacrifice, it actually expressed the idea by its form. That is to say, between “God,” whom we have offended, and “me, a sinner,” which describes us all, comes the mercy seat.

When the tax collector prayed, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner,” he was thinking of these animal sacrifices because, although Jesus was then present, he had not yet died. When we pray the tax collector’s prayer, we think of Jesus and the way in which God has provided a full and perfect salvation through him.

Do you think of Jesus? Have you prayed that prayer? No one will ever be justified who has not prayed it, nor will anyone be received by God who has not first of all taken his stand with sinners in need of the mercy that God alone provides.

Taken from Come to the Waters by James Boice ISBN 9798887790954 used with permission from P&R Publishing, Phillipsburg NJ 08865

Scripture quotations are from the ESV (the Holy Bible English Standard Version) copyright 2001 by Crossway a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.