The Great Cherubim

One of the most unique features of Solomon’s Temple were the great cherubim which were set up in the Oracle, or Holy of Holies. They were in addition to the gold figures which were upon the ark. The ark was exactly the same in the Temple as in the Tabernacle, save as regards its contents. The large cherubim were each ten cubits high (about fifteen feet); and each had two wings. “Five cubits was the one wing of the cherub, and five cubits the other wing of the cherub: from the uttermost part of the one wing unto the uttermost part of the other were ten cubits” (1 Kings 6:24). Thus the breadth of the wings was as the height of the cherubim themselves. They touched the walls of the Oracle on either side, and they touched each other in the middle. They were made of olive wood, and were covered with gold. (The four wings are put together in 1 Chronicles 3:11―”twenty cubits long”).
The cherubim have been well described as “God’s judicial executive, to whomsoever entrusted, and in whatsoever circumstances displayed.” They do not appear to be a distinct order in the creation of God; they are rather symbolical figures. In His ways of government and judgment God sometimes uses angels and sometimes men. Whichever it may be, the instruments employed would be God’s cherubim for the moment.
Their faces (given not in 1 Kings, but in Ezekiel 1) suggest to us the varied qualities of God’s dealings in government and in judgment. The man’s face suggests intelligence; the lion’s face power; the eagle’s face rapidity of execution; and the face of the ox suggests patience.
The cherubim are mentioned for the fourth time in Scripture in connection with the Temple. (1) In Genesis 3:24 we see them placed forbiddingly at the gate of the garden after Adam’s sin (living creatures doubtless). (2) In Exodus 25:18-20 we see golden cherubim upon the ark, beaten out of the same sheet of gold as the mercy-seat. The contrast between these Scripture passages is instructive. The executors of God’s judgment who are seen opposed to transgressors in Genesis 3 are seen in Exodus 25 looking down peacefully upon the mercy-seat from which the blood of the sacrifice was never lacking. Blessed be God, the atoning blood of Christ makes blessing sure for sinful men, and puts judgment far away. (3) The cherubic symbol comes before us next (but in the singular) in 2 Samuel 22:11: “He rode upon a cherub, and did fly: and He was seen upon the wings of the wind.” This is really part of Psalms 18, a rapturous song written by David “in the day that Jehovah had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul.” It is a remarkable outpouring. David was carried by the Spirit far beyond the circumstances of his own case. Israel’s deliverance from Egypt is also in the Psalm; and, what is much more important, the Psalm speaks of the deliverance of Christ from the power of death, and from all other foes. He becomes “head of the nations.” The cherub is introduced into the Psalm as expressive of the righteous government of God acting on behalf of the objects of His favor.
In a Chronicles 3:13 we have the interesting statement that the Temple cherubim “stood on their feet, and their faces were inward.” The margin reads “toward the house.” Now, seeing that the cherubim were situated at the far end of the Temple, “towards the house” would in result mean “outwards,” for they were looking in the direction of the front door. Here we have the delightful suggestion, so fully taught in the prophetic word, that in the day of Kingdom-glory all that God is in righteous government will look abroad in blessing upon men—not Israel only, but all nations. Judgment will have done its needful work.