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Mercy seat: Exodus 26:34 And you shall put the mercy seat on the ark of the Testimony in the Most Holy Place.

Exodus 30:6 You shall put the altar [of incense] in front and outside of the veil that screens the ark of the Testimony, before the mercy seat that is over the Testimony (the Law, the tables of stone), where I will meet with you.

Grammiesue's thoughts: The mercy seat was behind a Vail the curtain that was ripped in two when Jesus died on the cross. It is not necessary anymore because we can go directly to God, right up to the mercy seat. Awesome thought and in thinking about it makes me double check my reverence when I pray. Is my heart in the right place? Do I have the proper respect when I pray? I hope so but from here on I hope I think about it before I go to God. On the other hand He is Daddy so there is great mercy there in talking to Him.

One other thing I noticed is that the Alter was in front, or before the Mercy Seat which was over the Testimony (The word of God) and then the verse says ". . . where I will meet with you." That's God's word in-conjunction with prayer. He meets us as we prayerfully read the word and as we pray His will about the things in His word. He meets us. As the Psalms testify over and over (as well as many other verses in the bible) He answers those prayers.

(Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible is Public Domain.)
The vail of the holy of holies, and for the entrance. A vail, or curtain, separated the holy place from the most holy place. It was hung upon pillars. This vail was for a partition between the holy place and the most holy; which forbade any to look into the holiest of all.

The apostle tells what was the meaning of this vail, Heb 9:8. That the ceremonial law could not make the comers thereunto perfect, nor would the observance of it bring men to heaven; the way into the holiest of all was not made manifest, while the first tabernacle was standing. Life and immortality lay hidden till they were brought to light by the gospel; which was signified by the rending of this vail at the death of Christ, Mt 27:51. We have now boldness to enter into the holiest, in all acts of worship, by the blood of Jesus; yet such as obliges us to holy reverence. Another vail was for the outer door of the tabernacle. This vail was all the defense the tabernacle had.

God takes care of his church on earth. A curtain shall be, if God please to make it so, as strong a defense to his house, as gates of brass and bars of iron. With this typical description of Christ and his church before us, what is our judgment of these matters? Do we see any glory in the person of Christ? any excellence in his character? any thing precious in his salvation? or any wisdom in the doctrine of the cross? Will our religion bear examination? And are we more careful to approve our hearts to God than our characters toward men?

Great post...I too think about reverence and respect to God...There is a book that I love, written by Joy Dawson; it is called "Intimate Friendship with God...through understanding the fear of the Lord". Not being afraid of God but having reverence and respect because He is Holy and Worthy. As Sue said..the Mercy Seat is where God meets us...He is so Holy that no one can look at His face and live, but yet, He invites us to come. Oh how I long to be holy...to stand in His presence without shame. Thank you Jesus for the blood that cleanses us from all unrighteousness...even while we were YET sinners, Christ died for us! Here is a song that I absolutely love..originally done by Vickie Yohe. These young people do an awesome job on it..