By Companion Jack A. Holloway
Illustrous Associate Grand Chaplain, Grand Council of Florida

Mercy Seat, Photo Credit: Clipart Panda

And you shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark; and in the ark you shall put the testimony that I shall give you. There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat from between the two cherubim that are upon the ark of the testimony, I will speak with you of all that I will give you in commandment for the people of Israel. Exodus 25: 21-22

Companions, the ark was a box made by the Israelites of dimensions and design given by God to Moses with a top called the Mercy Seat. From the Mercy Seat the Shekinah or visible glory of God spoke to Moses. This was called the Ark of the Covenant or the Ark of the Testimony. Both terms refer to the words given to Man by Almighty God. As the tablets of God\’s words were kept in the Ark, in the Holy of Holies of the Tabernacle, so should we now keep God\’s words in the repository of the faithful breast where with the help of the Holy Spirit they may rule and guide our lives.

Heavenly Father, you have given us Holy Scripture for our learning, help us to read, study and ponder its holy teaching, that we may ever hold fast to its eternal truths. Amen.