Cherubims and Shekinah Glory

August 13, 2007

This is a study I did today on cherubims and the Shekinah glory of God:

I am uncertain as to the exact number of cherubims that are in heaven, although many think there are seven. I would say that the number is unknown because in Genesis it is a pluralized form with no exact number, so to me it could have been two or more (unimportant details again, but can't be exact). In Ezekiel it says four were around the throne, but when it says that one of the cherubs reached in for a coal it does not say that it was one of the cherubs who was one of the four. In Ezekiel there are four mentioned of course of this kind, but once again does not limit the amound of other kinds of cherubims. And of course Satan was the cherub who would have been above the four who surrounded the throne.

Ezekiel 10 it describes the four cherubs that surround the throne of God. They surround His glory. They have the likenesses of a man, an eagle, an ox, and a lion these are the four facets of Jesus Christ!!!

Interesting how everything that He created was created to show a truth!

These are found in the gospels as we see that Matthew shows Jesus as the the King - the Lion. Mark shows Jesus as the Servant - the Ox (a Preacher). Luke shows Jesus as the Son of Man - the man, and John shows Jesus as the Son of God - the eagle (who soars above the other three!)

Which is why Matthew, Mark, and Luke are called the synoptic gospels-- they have the same viewpoint but never quite show Jesus as who he Truly is- John is just so high above all of them! Jesus is GOD!!! :0)

We see these four facets appear again here:

Revelation 4:6-7

Quote:

"And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle."

Perhaps our dear brother John thought that cherubims were beasts? Or perhaps there really are cherubims and beasts? Interesting anyway. Of course they probably are separate going by the description that Ezekiel gives of cherubims...

Now I will jump over to Shekinah glory for a moment.

Shekinah glory was in the cloud and the pillar of fire that led the children of Israel across the Red Sea and through the Wilderness. It is also on Sinai when Moses saw God and came down 'glowing.'

Back to the cherubims:

2 Kings 19:15

Quote:

"And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, and said, O LORD God of Israel, which dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made heaven and earth."

Isaiah 37:16

Quote:

"O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, that dwellest between the cherubims, that art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth: thou hast made heaven and earth."

And we see this all throughout the Old Testament in various ways... God is always dwelling between the cherubims.

Now we move to the time of the Old Testament temple:

The Shekinah glory that dwelt in the temple between the two cherubims was the full glory of God, yet it was only a symbol of what was to come as we see in I Kings 8:27 as Solomon refers to God dwelling in the temple,

Quote:

"But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee: how much less this house that I have builded?"

and Acts 7:48

Quote:

"Hobeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,"

He was there but He was separate from the people... He could not be revealed in His fullness.

But God did choose to allow His glory to rest upon His chosen people of Israel, not only in the temple, but also as a nation: Isaiah 60:1-2 "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people; but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee."

We have the Shekinah showing up again in the New Testament with the angels in Luke 2:9

Quote:

"And the glory of the Lord shone round about them"

as they announced the Saviour's birth. Why? you may ask.... hmm.. because of course! The ultimate Glory of the Lord had come to earth! Refer back to I Kings 8:27 Will God indeed dwell on the earth? OH YES!!! He did indeed dwell on the earth! Matthew 17:5

Quote:

"While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him."

shows the Glory of God upon Christ at the Mount of Transfiguration.

The other word in the New Testament that I found that translates closest to Shekinah (that exact word does not happen) is Romans 9:4

Quote:

"Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;"

Which is the passage that shows what Christ has in store for those who believe Him and are counted part of Spiritual Israel. (context Paul is sad for those who have these promises available to them but goes on to say that they are not all Israel that are of Israel) So here we see that we are partakers of the actual Glory of God!!!
And as that veil was rent at the cross the shekinah glory was free for all who accepted the sacrifice of the beloved Son Jesus to enter boldly and experience it in their own lives. I have seen the Glory of the Lord! And as Moses may it be said of me that I have a shine that is so bright that others cannot dare to behold! "Let us come boldly to the throne of grace" Heb 4:16

And to bring this back to the cherubims (for I don't like to leave loose ends... everything is always connected) In Christ we are seated in heavenly places... we are one in Him... in actuality as He is seated on the right hand of the Father, so are we... but as He and His Father are one... He sits on the throne of Heaven... therefore so do we... we are, as saved people in the midst of the four cherubims, the four facets of Jesus Christ! IN HIM! (Keeping in mind that the vessel NEVER becomes the contents and the contents NEVER becomes the vessel... we are simply filled with Him and are given the greatest honour ever bestowed upon man. No wonder Satan tries so hard to defeat us.)
Revelation 3:21

Quote:

To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

I'm amazed at all the references to cherubims and God, and the glory of God... this has been fun! I could just keep on going...

Oh... one more addition...

II Corinthians 4:17

Quote:

"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;"

That's the end of the matter! God has in store for us great Shekinah! His Glory! (Shekinah meaning glory dwelling and weight of glory having that same connotation)