Exodus 25:21-22

"You shall put the mercy seat on the top of the ark; and in the ark you shall put the covenant that I shall give you. There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the covenant, I will deliver to you all my commands for the Israelites."

Reflection by Ron Buford

The leadership of UCC living legend Thomas Dipko gave the church the prophetic New Century Hymnal, Christendom's first and highly controversial inclusive language hymnal.

At first, the president of a large music publishing company resisted permitting inclusive language changes.  But then an author and composer of some of the hymns in the hymnal told him that even though the publishing company held the rights to her work, she did not want her music to become outdated and unused. Remember this song?

Look what they've done to my song, Ma
Look what they've done to my song, Ma
Well they tied it up in a plastic bag
And turned it upside down, Ma
Look what they've done to my song

Apparently God feels the same way, telling the Children of Israel not to tie some dusty old covenant up in a plastic bag—or a golden box.

The ark, an ornate gold box, was to have rings on it through which poles would be inserted to keep it moveable at a moment's notice.  God told them to "put the covenant that I shall give you" in the box. God never said it would happen only once. In fact, the invitation to meet at the mercy seat implies it will happen continually.

Perhaps this is what Jesus had in mind when he taught about divorce, saying that Moses had permitted it though it was not in the original covenant. The ark of God's covenant includes a mercy seat that covers the law and is not complete without it.

Prayer

Gracious God, I thank you that you are still speaking with compassion for our human experience. Help me remember that if you, being holy, can be this flexible, I can too. Help me bring my needs, faults and failures before your mercy seat alongside my limited perception of the needs, faults and failures of others. Untie us from judgment. Unite us in compassion and loving kindness.  Keep us mindful of your presence and covenant, love and mercy, flowing through me to everyone I meet today. Amen.

About the Author Ron Buford is Interim Minister for Discipleship at Old South Church in Boston, Massachusetts. The former coordinator of the UCC's God is still speaking campaign, Ron consults with UCC conferences and churches across the nation and appears in the DVD-based progressive theology series, Living the Questions 2.0.