The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 253

'!'he mercy-eeat covered and concealed the accusing tables. Hence arose the poetical view of forgiveness as a covering of sin. "Blessed is he whose tranw,ression is for"iven, whose sin is covered." 2. In the symbolical atonement which was m~de upon the :iercy- seat. The covering of the tables of testimony was not in itself sufficient to put away the guilt of the people. For this atonement also was necessary. Hence on the <Treat Day of Atonement the high priest was required to sprinkle the blood of the sin offerings upon the mercy-seat to "make an atonement, because of the uncleanness of the children cf Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins" (Lev. xvi. 11-113). To foe mercy-seat in this aspect there is reference in several verses of the Scripture, or at least the verb used in these verses (kaphar) suggests such a reference. "Our trans- gressions, thou 8halt purge them away'' (Ps. !xv. 3); "He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity" (Ps. l.xxviii. 38); "To make reconciliation for iniquity" (Dan. ix. 24). In this the mercy-seat pointed to the Christ, the great Atonement, the true Propitiatory, "whom God set forth to be a Propitiation, through faith by his blood" (Rom. iii. 24-26). 'l'hus the manifestation of the grace of God in his redemptive relations with man was symbolized in the covering of the ark of the covenant. More- over, grace and Law appear here as connected and harmonious. Rightly understood, , Law itself is an expression of Divine grace, and Divine grace aims to establish the universal reign of Law, which is but another word for the reigu of God. The mercy- seat was "God's throne of grace founded upon Law." Here "mercy and truth are met together, righteousness and peace have kissed each other." 111. 'l'HE ATTITUDE AND ACTION OF ANGELS IN RESPECT TO Goo's REDEMPTIVE RELATIONS WITH MEN. "Above it cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy-seat.'' We regard the cherubim as emblems of angelic powers; and their position here sug- gests that they are: 1. The solemn guardians of God's holy Law. They kept constant watch over the" tables of testimony." They are deeply interested in the maintenance of moral law. They "are in Scripture evermore the attendants, and bearers up, of the throne of God." When man rebelled against the authority of that throne, they were appointed ministers for punishing the transgressors (Gen. iii. 24). 2. The inter1JSted students of God's redemptive relations with men. The cherubim were represented as looking intently and constantly upon the ark of the covenant. "Toward tl..e mercy- seat shall the faces of the cherubim be," etc. (Exod. xxv. 20, 21). " Which things the angels desire to look into" (1 Pet. i. 12). "Unto the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places is made known through the Church the manifold wisdom of God " (Epb. iii. 10). 3. The willing servants in promoting the successful isS'U,6 of God's redemp- tive relations with men. "Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to do service for the sake of them that shall inherit salvation?" (see on eh. i. 14). JV, THE REVELATION OF THE PRESENCE OF Goo IN HIS REDEMPTIVE RELATIONS WITH MEN. "Cherubim of glory." They were so called because they appeared to bear up the visible symbol of the presence of God, which in the Old Testament is sometimes called "the glory." God promised to commune with his people "from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony" (Exod. :xxv. 22). "Moses heard the voice of one speaking unto him from between the two cherubim n (Numb. vii. 89). God was sai1l to "dwell between the cherubim" (1 Sam. iv. 4; 2 Sam. vi. 2 ; Ps. lxxx. 1 ; xcix. 1). God sometimes manifested his presence here in a lnminous cloud, which the Jews called the Shechinah, and here he was always thought of as present. Jesus Christ our Redeemer is the true Shechinah. He is "the Effulgence of the Father's glory, and the very Image of his substance." He is the truest, the highest, the fullest manifestation of God to man. And in spiritual presence Goel dwells with his people now. The Holy Spirit is present with every godly soul. And Christians are inspired by the mighty and blessed hope that when this life in the body ends, they will follow their Forerunner within the veil and see God" even as he is."-W. J. Vere, 11, 12.-The pre-eminent priesthood. "But Christ being come a High Priest of good things to come,'' eto. Our Lord is here represented as the pre-eminent High Priest in three respeots. 1. IN THE TEllPLE IN WHICH HE HINISTERB. 1. The temple in which he ministers is itself pre-eminent. He has "entered in once for all into the holy place.'' ~e ~isters io the true holy of holies, of which the Jewish one was only a figure. lie 1s not U1 the  THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS, [ OH, IX. 1-28,