The name cherub in the Bible refers to the winged creatures in this reading from the book of Exodus…

Exodus 25: 10 – 22

God said to Moses: “Make a Box out of acacia wood, 45 inches long, 27 inches wide, and 27 inches high. Cover it with pure gold inside and out and put a gold border all around it. Make four carrying rings of gold for it and attach them to its four legs, with two rings on each side. Make carrying poles of acacia wood and cover them with gold and put them through the rings on each side of the Box.  The poles are to be left in the rings and must not be taken out. Then put in the Box the two stone tablets that I will give you, on which the commandments are written.

“Make a lid of pure gold, 45 inches long and 27 inches wide. Make two winged creatures of hammered gold, one for each end of the lid. Make them so that they form one piece with the lid. The winged creatures are to face each other across the lid, and their outspread wings are to cover it. Put the two stone tablets inside the Box and put the lid on top of it. I will meet you there, and from above the lid between the two winged creatures I will give you all my laws for the people of Israel.

Picture

Today’s image is a model of the ark of covenant made using the description in the Bible.

Prayer

In the scriptures, Cherubim, or cherubs, are mysterious winged creatures whose role is to guard the way into God’s presence, because God is so incredibly holy.

Holy God, we are glad that we can approach you without fear because you are our loving and gentle parent.  Help us to hold together the twin truths that you are close at hand and far away; that you are so holy no-one can glimpse you and so ordinary that you walked among us in Jesus whose birth was anticipate.  May we discover a healthy reverence and awe for this incredible mystery of who you are.  Amen.