What Are They Looking At?
When God gave Moses the Ten Commandments, He also gave him instructions to build a tabernacle. And within this tabernacle, veiled away from human eyes lies the Ark of the Covenant, within an area called the Holiest of All. And lastly, sitting atop the Ark is the Mercyseat, upon which are two golden Cherubims, (similar to angels), looking at each other, apparently staring off into space:
And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be. -Exodus 25:20
So just what are they looking at?
I believe that God used this entire design to impress upon the people, (or at least the high priest and anyone else that could lay eyes upon it), God’s sovereignty and holiness. I don’t think it’s contradictory to discover that the second of the Ten Commandments states that “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above…” (Exodus 20:4) and shortly thereafter God also commanded Moses to make these images of angel-like beings called cherubims.
They are in a very secluded and holy place, and they’re looking at something. Or maybe, someone?
The One who dwells between the Cherubims
Many times throughout the Bible, we learn the true identity, the true purpose of the Cherubims’ stare: they are looking at God Himself.
The LORD reigneth; let the people tremble: he sitteth between the cherubims; let the earth be moved. -Psalms 99:1
And so in a subtle way, with this “graven image” that was made at the command of God, He was teaching people that God is not an image, and cannot be seen. He is a Spirit. He is formless. The closest thing that God compares Himself to is a formless fire:
Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves; for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that the LORD spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire: …Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the LORD your God, which he made with you, and make you a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, which the LORD thy God hath forbidden thee. For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God. -Deuteronomy 4:15, 23-24
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