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| Mercyseat | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Feb 3 2011, 05:43 AM (168 Views) | |
| MarkStaneart | Feb 3 2011, 05:43 AM Post #1 |
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And thou shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof. (Exodus 25:17 KJV) Lots of folks ask about my kippah which I wear, pretty much, everywhere I go. The Hebrew word "kippah" simply means "covering"; but, by extension, it carries the idea of "atonement" (the covering or hiding of one’s sins). The word Hebrew word "kippah" is found in the Old Testament of the Bible. However, it is translated "mercyseat". The donning of the kippah by Jewish men is difficult to trace. Some say that the practice began with the carrying away into bondage by the Babylonians. Others suggest that it was the trademark of the Maccabbees in the revolt against Antiochus (the Hanukkah story). Others say that the practice began after the dispersion by the Romans in 70 AD. In any case, there is an association between the Temple (or the absence thereof) and the kippah, as to say, "you can take the Jew away from the priesthood and the Temple; but you can’t take the priesthood and the Temple out of the Jew." All of the elements and symbolism of the Most High providing access to Himself through sacrifice and holiness is bound up in the description and function of the Tabernacle. All of this is "summed up" or encapsulated in the donning of the kippah. When placing this "mercyseat" on my head, it is a fifteen second step of worship and obedience, coming under the authority but mercy of Adonai Elohim. When walking through town, when observed by the curious or speculative, I am aware of the "Mishkan" the dwelling place of God, being connected to everything that I do. It is unfortunate that so many look at tools of worship such as the kippah as a Jewish thing, or simply trying to display a Jewish identity. If that were what it were about, it would be a blatant immodesty: trying to be noticed for being something that we are not. But, such is absolutely contrary to the basis of this ritual worship: it is walking in the reality of who we actually are. |
| Visit Mark Staneart at www.renewourdays.com | |
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| MarkStaneart | Feb 3 2011, 05:44 AM Post #2 |
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And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat. (Exodus 25:18 KJV) The Greek Septuigent describes the "mercyseat" as the "hilestai-ree-on" or "expiatory": that which makes amends. The word is translated "propitiation" in Romans 3:25 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; (Romans 3:24-25 KJV) and is used to describe the "mercyseat" in Hebrews 9:5 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the holiest of all; Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; And over it the cherubim of glory shadowing the mercy seat; of which we cannot now speak particularly. (Hebrews 9:3-5 KJV) Fastened upon the mercyseat and sprinkled with blood watch the Cherubim: comically described in Catholic tradition as sweet and babyish. These are the dudes with the flaming swords guarding the Tree of Life in the Sacred garden. (Genesis 3:24). The comparison may be significant. The Etz Chayim He, "the Tree of Life," is an idiom used to describe the Torah, which is protected within the chamber of the Ark. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her. (Proverbs 3:17-18 KJV) The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise. (Proverbs 11:30 KJV) And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. (Revelation 22:1-2 KJV) The question we must wonder about is if we are protected from the Tree of Life (the righteousness of God’s wrath) or is her holiness protected from us? |
| Visit Mark Staneart at www.renewourdays.com | |
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| MarkStaneart | Feb 3 2011, 05:45 AM Post #3 |
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And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be. (Exodus 25:20 KJV) And the cherubim shall stretch out their wings on high... and their faces shall look one to another (25:20) But in 2nd Chronicles 3:13 it says, "they faced the walls of the room"? Talmud explains, "When the people of Israel fulfilled God's will, the cherubim would face each other; and when the people of Israel did not fulfill God's will, the cherubim would face the walls of the room. (Talmud, Bava Batra 99a) |
| Visit Mark Staneart at www.renewourdays.com | |
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1:20 AM Jul 11