And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the Testimony … Exodus 25:22

This was said to Moses, but it can be applied to you, if you are a Christian, because we have a much better covenant!

who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 2 Corinthians 3:6

Yeshua is the Mercy Seat

The mercy seat was the cover of the Ark of the Covenant in the Old Testament. It was there that the blood of the lamb was offered to God, inside the Holy of Holies. This would anticipate the atonement by their prophesied Messiah.

For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.
Hebrews 10:4

It is Christ’s blood that atones for our sins.

“God presented Him as the atoning sacrifice through faith in His blood, in order to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had passed over the sins committed beforehand.” Romans 3:25 BSB

Some versions translate this as “atoning sacrifice”, others “propitiation” and others “mercy seat”. For all, it is the very same Greek word that is seen in the Septuagint (LXX version) of the Old Testament.

Definition: propitiatory G2435 hilastḗrion – the place of propitiation; the lid of the golden ark (the mercy-seat) where the blood of a vicarious lamb appeased God’s wrath on sin.

“God presented Him as the mercy seat by His blood…”
Romans 3:25 CSB

Because Christ has passed over our sins, we now have access into His Presence!

“Christ is the mercy-seat of the New Covenant. It is upon Him, as it were, that the divine grace, drawn forth by His own atoning blood, resides.”

Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

“Commune with Me”

Christians have the right to meet with God. Anytime. Anywhere. How wondrous!

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:16

Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus,
Hebrews 10:19

For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.
Ephesians 2:18

God longs for us to have communion or fellowship with Him!

“Commune with me … Between the wings of the cherubim …”

This is a song I’ve been singing since 1995 by Kirk Dearman. It’s our anniversary song for the day I had the vision of the LORD in September 1984. See, God speaks primarily through His Word but also in other ways!

We should desire God’s fellowship. Communion is fellowship! It is the same word in the Greek! Notice these two translations of verse 16:

The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.
1 Corinthians 10:16-17 NKJ

The cup of the blessing that we bless—is it not the fellowship of the blood of the Christ? The bread that we break—is it not the fellowship of the body of the Christ?
1 Corinthians 10:16 Literal Standard Version

G2842: koinónia (koy-nohn-ee’-ah)
Definition: fellowship
Usage: (lit: partnership) (a) contributory help, participation, (b) sharing in, communion, (c) spiritual fellowship, a fellowship in the spirit.

We have fellowship with one another and with God when we partake of the bread and wine, but we do this in remembrance of our Savior!

The word “eucharist”, especially in the Judeo-Christian mind, means to “give thanks to God”.  When we remember His sacrifice in participating in communion, whether the actual taking of communion or fellowship with one another, something supernatural happens within us through our union with Christ and His saints. We are changed from “glory to glory”!  We, Christians, are one body! That’s why the Apostle reminds us, not to take this “unworthily” because we are all one body! And Christ, and only Christ, is our head!

Do This In Remembrance …

And He [Yeshua] took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” (Luke 22:19)

23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
1 Cor 11:23-25

TASTE & EAT

“Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!” Psalm 34:8

We cannot physically taste the LORD but this is meant to be symbolic! Just as this is:

And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”
Matthew 26:26

Was Jesus saying this was literally His body? How could it be when He was reclining right there with them? Would He now have two bodies? He meant it symbolically! The word “bread” symbolically means the Torah or the Word of God. Yeshua is the Word of God.

that man shall not live by [natural] bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD.
Deuteronomy 8:3

Yeshua is the Bread of Life, in that we “eat” or digest His words into our mind and being. We live through His Words to us!

Yet something in the spirit realm does occur in taking communion – whether it be fellowship or the actual taking of the bread and wine:

Many, O Lord my God, are Your wonderful works
Which You have done! (Psalm 40:5a)

We are transformed spiritually, mentally and even sometimes physically. Our mortal bodies can be quickened or revitalized!

But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
Romans 8:11 KJ

Christ’s Words are Spirit!

It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.
John 6:63

Yeshua is the TRUE BREAD from HEAVEN! May we have sweet fellowship in communion with Him!

For more on this subject, please see: The True Bread of Heaven