Mercy rejoiceth against judgment

A mercy seat. The word thus translated is from a root meaning “to cover,” that is, “to pardon” sin. It represented divine mercy. Significantly, it was of “pure gold,” implying that mercy is the most precious of God’s attributes. It was placed over the law, inasmuch as mercy transcends justice (Ps. 85:10:89:14). The ark with its justice and its mercy seat with its mercy were both needed to reveal the full character of God’s dealings with men. Mercy without justice is weak sentimentality, subversive of all moral order. On the other hand, justice without mercy is moral severity, theoretically without a flaw, but revolting to both God and man.

The ark and the mercy seat constituted the very heart of the sanctuary. Above the mercy seat was the Shekinah, the symbol of the divine presence. The tables of the law within the ark testified to the fact that God’s kingdom is founded on an immutable standard of righteousness (Ps. 97:2), which even divine grace must respect. Grace cannot be dispensed on terms which “make void the law: (Rom. 3:31). When sin is pardoned, the law’s claim against the sinner must also be satisfied. The very purpose of the gospel is to secure for the sinner the forgiveness of his sins, by faith in a means that does not “make void the law,” but “establishes” it. While the tables within the ark testified against the people, the mercy seat pointed to a way in which the claims of the law could be met and the sinner saved from death, the penalty of the law. On the basis of law alone there can be no reunion between God and man, since sin separates us from Him (Isa. 59:1,2). The blood-sprinkled mercy seat must intervene, for it is only on the ground of Christ’s mediation on our behalf that we can draw near to God (Heb. 7:25). SDA Bible Commentary, Vol. 1 p. 637.

The above statements come from the SDA Bible Commentary and articulate the beauty of the relation of God’s mercy through Christ and God’s Law given by Christ. From the beginning of heaven’s work to uplift man from the ruin sin caused, the Son of God has been the medium to man of all the fullness from God. It has been Christ’s infinite wisdom that has provided and provides all the revelation of God to creation, fallen and unfallen. The plan of redemption, a precious alteration of the divine revelation in disclosing the individual, yet beautifully together, principles of the character of the the mysterious King’s mercy and justice, Unknown God of love.