Good morning. Today is Wednesday, October 21st!

🥳 Congratulations on starting today with God, and thank you for letting us be a part of it.

— Psalm 99:1

Have you ever heard the word cherubim?

Maybe you have, maybe you haven’t. And even if you have, you might not know what it means.

Cherubim are heavenly beings mentioned throughout Scripture. A single one is called a cherub, while cherubim is the plural form in Hebrew.

You might recognize cherubs from paintings of chubby little babies with wings. But Scripture describes something far more unusual.

And the details get pretty fascinating!

Their first appearance is in Eden.

In Genesis 3:24, God placed cherubim and a flaming sword to guard the way to the tree of life after Adam and Eve sinned.

Interestingly, Scripture never tells us how many were there or what they looked like.

Next, we find them on the Ark of the Covenant.

In Exodus 25:18–22, God instructed Moses to make two golden cherubim facing each other, with wings overshadowing the Ark’s cover.

God even said He would meet with Moses from between them!

Cherubim were also woven into the tabernacle’s curtains. Later, Solomon placed two enormous cherubim in the temple, each about fifteen feet tall, with wings spanning the entire width of the Most Holy Place (1 Kings 6:23–28).

But Ezekiel gives us the strangest details.

In Ezekiel 1 and 10, the prophet describes four living creatures he later identifies as cherubim.

Each had four faces, four wings, and humanlike hands beneath their wings.

Their faces included a human, lion, eagle, and a fourth face described differently between the two chapters.

Even stranger, wheels covered with eyes moved alongside them. The creatures could move without turning around.

Ezekiel also describes their wings making a tremendous sound, like the voice of Almighty God (Ezekiel 10:5).

Here’s another interesting connection.

Psalm 18:10 poetically describes God riding on a cherub, while Psalm 99:1 describes Him as enthroned between the cherubim.

And in Hebrews 9:5, the New Testament calls them the cherubim of the Glory above the Ark.

Notice the pattern?

From Eden to the Ark to Ezekiel’s visions, cherubim repeatedly appear in connection with God’s holy presence.

Some scholars even see a connection between Eden and the temple, since both feature cherubim and imagery associated with God’s dwelling place.

Scripture doesn’t explain everything about these mysterious beings, but the details it does provide are extraordinary.

And now, the next time you come across the word cherubim, you’ll know there’s much more behind it than a little baby with wings!

When you’re not sure how to pray, A.C.T.S. gives you a simple path to follow: Adore, Confess, Thank, and Ask.

Adoration: Lord, You are holy and glorious.

Confession: Forgive us when we fail to honor You.

Thanksgiving: Thank You for revealing Yourself through Scripture.

Supplication: Help us grow in wisdom and reverence for You.

In Jesus’ name, Amen

“Changes” by Brandon Lake

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Thanks for letting us be a part of how you start your day with God.

See you tomorrow,

Zach | Start With God