God sent cherubim to the east side of Eden to guard
the way to the tree of life after Adam and Eve were banished. A flaming sword
flashed back and forth between them. (Genesis
3:24)
Cherubim
made of gold are included in God’s specific instructions and design on the
cover of the ark of the covenant, which carried the law of Moses. They are
woven into the veil of the tabernacle and they play a prominent role in Solomon’s
temple, carved into the panels and supports. The ark of the covenant is placed
in the inner room of Solomon’s temple called the Holy of Holies. Two large
cherubim are carved out of olive wood and embossed in gold. They are fifteen
feet tall and there is fifteen feet from one wing to the next. The wings of the
two cherubim meet in the middle of the wall. (Exodus 25, 1 Kings 6 and 7, 2
Chronicles 3)
When
David is praising God for delivering him from his enemies in 2 Samuel 22 he
says:
He
mounted the cherubim and flew, he soared on the wings of the wind. 2 Samuel
22:11 (Also Psalm 18)
Over and
over again in Scripture we find these words about the Lord: “He is enthroned
between the cherubim” (1 Samuel 4:4, 2
Samuel 6:2, 2 Kings 19:15, 1 Chronicles 13:6, Psalm 80:1, Psalm 99:1, Isaiah
37:16)
The cherubim are below and surrounding
the throne of God, and He actually rides on them.
So what
do these angelic guards look like? When I hear the word, “cherub” I picture a
small angel, resting her head on her arms, with golden curls, small wings and a
halo. This image couldn’t be further from the truth. Are you ready?
I
looked, and I saw a windstorm coming out of the north, an immense cloud with
flashing lightning and surrounded by brilliant light. The center of the fire
looked like glowing metal, and in the fire was what looked like four living
creatures. In appearance their forms were human, but each of them had four
faces and four wings. Their legs were straight; their feet were like those of a
calf and gleamed like burnished bronze. Under their wings on their four sides
they had human hands. All four of them had faces and wings, and the wings of
one touched the wings of another. Each one went straight ahead; they did not
turn as they moved. Their faces looked like this: Each of the four had the face
of a human being, and on the right side each had the face of a lion, and on the
left the face of an ox, each also had the face of an eagle. Such were their
faces. They each had two wings spreading out upward, each wing touching that of
the creature on either side; and each had two other wings covering its body.
Each one went straight ahead. Wherever the spirit would go, they would go,
without turning as they went. The
appearance of the living creatures was like burning coals of fire or like
torches. Fire moved back and forth among the creatures. It was bright, and
lightning flashed out of it. The creatures sped back and forth like flashes of
lightning. As I looked at the living creatures I saw a wheel in the ground beside
each creature with its four faces. This was the appearance and structure of the
wheels. They sparkled like topaz and all four looked alike. Each appeared to be
made like a wheel, intersecting a wheel. As they moved, they would go in any
one of the four directions the creatures faced, the wheels did not change
direction as the creatures went. Their rims were high and awesome and all four
rims were full of eyes all around. When the living creatures moved, the wheels
beside them moved; and when the living creatures rose from the ground, the
wheels also rose. Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, and the wheels
would rise along with them because the spirit of the living creatures was in
the wheels. Ezekiel 1: 4-20
(See
also Ezekiel 10 and Revelation 4 and 5)
Remember
the live coals the seraphim picked up from the altar?
The
Lord said to the man clothed in linen, “Go in among the wheels beneath the
cherubim. Fill your hands with burning coals from among the cherubim and
scatter them over the city.” And as I watched he went in. Ezekiel 10:2
Four
faces? Wheels with eyes and a spirit? Moving like flashes of lightning? Live
coals among them? Imagine if one of these was your guardian angel! I can understand why God placed them as guards
and why they are below and around His throne! Maybe they really are fifteen
feel tall like the carvings in Solomon’s temple.
Thank
you, Father for this study. Your miraculous angels are messengers, warriors and
guards. They are swift in flight, surrounded with light and unbelievable in
appearance. We are amazed. We love You and ask for Your angels to protect and
guide us.
Amen
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