and containants, as they were, of outward worship—were symbolic of the various things of internal and spiritual worship yet to be developed in the Christian Church.
But Christian worship in its highest sense is Christian life. Thus the sublime truth was figured forth in these as representatives, that the providence of the Lord broods, as it were, with beaming countenance and watchful eyes and outstretched wings, over every human life and heart, in all its worship, ways and wanderings. The face of the cherub was representative of the Lord's love and circumspection; the body, of his power and presence; the outstretched wings, of his having them, after the beautiful similitude of the birds with their young, under his overshadowing and tender care; its standing on the mercy seat, the constant presence of the Lord in all human affairs with infinite compassion, gentleness and love.
As, therefore, the cherubim are referred to in all other portions of the Word as symbolic forms only, and not as supernatural beings, so must it have been in Genesis. In the description of the tabernacle and temple with their furniture and worship, we have an account of things actually made and once historically existent. The cherubim were beautifully carved figures placed in the positions to which they were assigned by divine command as representative of spiritual things.
