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It is very clear from this Scriptural use of the word that the O.T. atonement is a very
full and precious type of the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus. Upon this great work
accomplished by the Saviour, and essentially connected with it, is the purpose of
restoration, pledged by the golden cherubim. The way of the tree of life was guarded by
the flaming sword in the garden of Eden; here in the tabernacle in the wilderness the way
of the tree of life was guarded by "the veil", which Heb. 10: 29 says was "His flesh".
The word cherubim occurs in Exodus and Numbers, and in this plural form it is found
14 times.
The kingdom of peace; the type.
The next place where the cherubim are found is in the temple built by Solomon,
recorded in I & II Kings. There once more we find the word occurring 14 times. David
himself was not allowed to build the house of God because he had been a man of blood,
but Solomon, whose name means peace, was commissioned to do so. That kingdom, first
subdued and governed by David and subsequently by Solomon, was a wondrous picture
of the future reign of the great Prince of Peace. When the temple was completed,
Solomon assembled all the elders of Israel and the leaders of the people that they might
bring up the ark of the covenant:--
"And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the Lord unto His place, into
the oracle of the house, to the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubim"
(I Kings 8: 6).
Then follows the dedication, blessing and prayer. Practically central in that truly
marvelous prayer comes the great thought of God "dwelling" with His people:--
"But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold the heaven and the heaven of
heavens cannot contain Thee; how much less this house that I have builded?" (I
Kings 8: 27).
The cherubim made for Solomon's temple were not of gold, neither did they form part
of the mercy seat, but they were made of olive word overlaid with gold, and their
outstretched wings touched either side of the holiest of all. Just as the cherubim were
worked in embroidery upon the veil and hangings of the tabernacle, so were they carved
upon the walls and doors of the temple. The great feature in the temple type appears to
have been that of a "dwelling place". The only references outside the description given
in I Kings 6:-8: which occur in the history of the temple speak of this one thing:--
"God . . . . . Which dwellest between the cherubim" (II Kings 19: 15; Isa. 37: 16).
"Thou that dwellest between the cherubim" (Psa. 80: 1).
"He sitteth between the cherubim" (Psa. 99: 1).
Yet after all, this is just what we found in the record of the tabernacle.