(Today and tomorrow, posts on the "cherubim.")
It’s just a “cute” title. No, the cherubim are not pistol carrying guys in black suits who drive black Suburbans. No, God does not fear for His life. No, God has not put His personal safety in angels. BUT God has designed a particular class of angelic beings called “cherubim” (singular: cherub) who are guardians of His glory and majesty. It’s not whether God needs guardians. It’s whether we, sinful men, need to be kept in our place in a world that is destined to be full of His glory.
First, you perhaps of heard of “seraphim” (singular: seraph). They are so-called in Isa. 6:2-3 where Isaiah saw God high and lifted up. The other 5 uses of the term call them “fiery serpents,” included Num. 21:6,8 and Dt. 8:15 in the story of the fiery serpents. The term is used elsewhere in Isaiah (14:29; 30:6), again translated “fiery serpent.” Why they get called “seraphim” (a transliteration rather than a translation) is a bit odd since one of the seraphs takes a hot coal and cleanses Isaiah’s lips so he can be a prophetic conduit for God’s word. Maybe it’s because someone didn’t want to bring pictures of Satan into the story about God’s throne room. But why not? Satan was there in the beginning, and we all know he is primarily known by a serpent/dragon image. So anyway, that is what we have to say about seraphim. Now let’s think about cherubim.
The first place we see them is in Gen. 3:24, after Adam and Eve sinned. God positions them at the entrance to the Garden of Eden so no one can enter into the tree of life. This defines their whole purpose of existence: keep people, specifically sinful people which is all people, from that holy place where men and God dwelt together. Their next appearance is over the Ark of the Covenant (Ex. 25:18), at each end of the “mercy seat” or place of atonement. Same idea: watch over the place where God would dwell with men, making sure men to not desecrate the Holy One or minimize His glory. Because of this God became known as the One who “dwells between the cherubim.” Thus, you could not enter that “Holy of Holies” on pain of death, unless you were the High Priest, and then only once a year, and not without a blood sacrifice. That’s Lev. 16 and Hebrews all wrapped up!
Before we move on, cherubim are not mentioned on Mt. Sinai where Moses and God were together for lengthy periods of time. Moses asked God to show him His glory and God did what He could without blinding Moses altogether (Ex. 33-34). The fellowship was amazing, and with no need for the guardians. Also, there were none at the transfiguration of Christ, although admittedly as God’s glory was displayed there in Christ the sinful men were helplessly asleep. And, the big news, in Rev. 22, when the Tree of Life makes a big comeback, it is available for all to enjoy, for all who are in the heavenly Jerusalem (22:1-5).
Meditate on this. The cherubim remind us of the fact that we worship a God who is like no other! I am the Lord, that is My name; And My glory I will not give to another, Nor My praise to carved images (Isa. 42:8)
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