The Mercy Seat

[Alive]

1 minute ago, Mr. M said:

This does not negate the fact that we are all instructed to have a special place of prayer. I have misled no one.

Matthew 6:6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

This clearly is mirrored by the fact that Moses spent time in the tent of meeting with the Lord for fellowship, not for making atonement. The fact that Israel was always in His presence is based on the "cloud by day, and the fire by night". The point is there is a place to sit quietly and hear his voice. If that is taught by tradition, it is accurate.

Sure--it was the 'seeking His presence' part I was responding to, brother.

As in many things, when you start with an incorrect premise, you build what is incorrect. This distinction is vital. We are always in His presence and visa-versa.

So, as I said--understanding this is important as a believer learns and matures.

[Mr. M]

2 minutes ago, Alive said:

As in many things, when you start with an incorrect premise, you build what is incorrect. This distinction is vital. We are always in His presence and visa-versa.

Israel was always in His Presence. Only Moses and Joshua (who never left!) went into the tent of meeting for fellowship. That distinction is also vital, and I brought it into the discussion, as you opened the OP with the suggestion that we re-visit the significance of the "mercy seat", but also the tent of meeting. What exactly is incorrect, other than what I posted may not have been what you had in mind? It remains a central issue to the tent of meeting, as we are instructed to come boldly before the throne of grace. You are absolutely correct in that some may not do so because of a faulty understanding of the atonement. However, a lack of prayer in a believer's life is less likely to be because of condemnation, and more likely to be a lack of commitment to prayer. Now we see a vicious cycle forming, as the guilt comes not from condemnation of sin, but the condemnation of knowing they should be spending more time in prayer! Give God the Glory:

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.