The Living Ones

One with the Mercy Seat there were the two golden cherubim (Exod. 25.18-20). These cherubim appeared also in the embroidered work upon the ten curtains of the Tabernacle (26.1) and upon the veil before the Most Holy Place (26.31). Thus upon and above and before the Mercy Seat were cherubim — and yet we are not told what they looked like. We have to turn to other parts of the Bible to learn more about them, notably to the book of Ezekiel, and then again to the book of Revelation, where they are called “living ones”.

They concern Ministry. Turn to the first chapter of Ezekiel. God had a very important message which He wanted Ezekiel to convey to the nations, but before he could understand it, God gave him a vision of the cherubim. Only as he kept that vision in view, could he convey the Lord's message to the people in its fulness. When we are born again we too have a ministry to fulfil and it is as we learn the meaning of the cherubim that we understand what the nature of that ministry is.

We read in Ezekiel 1.1 that the prophet was “among the captives”, men who had become slaves in Babylon because of their sin and disobedience and the sin of their whole nation. He was by the river Chebar when the heavens were opened to him and God showed to him why the people had become captives, how they could get back their lost possessions, and how God would judge the nations. We read that “the hand of the Lord was there upon him” (v.3); in other words he became identified with God in His message. Before Ezekiel could speak on behalf of God or be a true witness, prophet, or servant of God, he had to become identified with God, and that spiritual identification was demonstrated to him through the meaning of the cherubim.

Verse 4 of this chapter tells us that “a whirl wind came out of the north”. The north speaks of the direction from which God executes judgment. The whirlwind speaks of great speed. God was showing to the prophet that what He was saying would speedily come to pass. Then a fire came out of this whirlwind—the fire of the judgment of God—and out of this fire came living creatures. These living creatures had feet that were straight, the soles of their feet were like a calf's feet, and they shone like barnished brass. The calf is a symbol of service for God, and iii order to be a true servant of God, Ezekiel had to have straight feet to walk in the path that God commanded him. There could be no crookedness in his path; his ‘yea’ had to be ‘yea’ and his ‘nay’, ‘nay’; no idle word was to come from his lips. The feet were as brass, signifying that, just as our Lord Jesus bruised the head of Satan under His feet, so we, by our obedience to Him, will bruise Satan under our feet (Rom. 16.19 & 20).

Although these living creatures looked so impressive and inspiring, yet they had the form of a man (verse 4) and the hands of a man (v.8). For though Ezekiel was only a man, God wanted to accomplish through him a great ministry. When we are born again, God calls us to a heavenly ministry, and yet He knows that we are just human beings. We still have to eat, sleep and take rest and have all the limitations of the human body. In spite of this, God wants to use us to accomplish His eternal plans. This is only possible as we are identified by faith with Him in all His movements and the working of His plans. This is the meaning of the ‘hands of a man.’

How much, for example, can be wrought by a single man through prayer. When people learn the secret of how to pray, and how to agonise in prayer, how much power is released through them to all parts of the world! Such people may be simple, ordinary folk, with no special gifts or talents; yet, through their prayers, the heavens are opened and towns and cities are blessed. This is just one example of how God can work through us when we are identified with Him. So Ezekiel saw that, if he became one with God, then God could work through him all His plans and prophecies.

The living creatures also had wings (verse 8) and these speak of free motion. Birds fly freely through the air wherever they like to go without fear of obstacles in their way. God has given us, too, spiritual wings so that, as one with Him, we may move unrestrictedly through the whole universe of God. When we begin our Christian lives we are only concerned about ourselves and our immediate families. But as we grow spiritually we think of those about us: our neighbours, then those in the city or province or country. Gradually we find our thoughts travelling over the whole world to see how God is working in other lands. Then we are interested to know what God will do after this world comes to an end. Our minds consider the heavens themselves, the New Creation that is to come. That is what happens as we grow spiritually; and that is why the devil so often tries to limit us by getting us absorbed in earthly and passing things. God plans that we should be no longer limited by our human way of thinking. With those wings the cherubim could go anywhere throughout God's universe to accomplish His purposes, and that is how we have to obey God. Thus, through the Church His heavenly plans will be accomplished everywhere.

Then we see that these four living creatures had their wings joined together (verse 9). This meant that, wherever any one creature went, the other three had to follow. That speaks of true spiritual unity. Together they had to move and together they had to rest. They could not just go independently, each in the direction he chose. They could go only as a single unit. And that is how the Church of Christ has to work. We cannot speak and work as we like in His service. When we understand God's full purpose for His Church, we find ye can no longer act independently, but only in full fellowship with other believers and fellow-workers with whom we have been called to live and share responsibility. We all like to be independent; we do not like to be questioned about our actions; we do not like others to interfere with what we are doing. No matter what our calling is, whether we are teachers or pastors or preachers or evangelists, as human beings that nature is in us. Do not think that, because you know your Bible well, you are free from inward weaknesses. Each of us has some weakness or failing; self is still there, and it must be broken.

God was showing Ezekiel that, though he was to speak as one solitary man, yet he was speaking on behalf of heaven. When God's people make mistakes they bring reproach on heaven. Ezekiel could not do or say just what he liked, because he was speaking on God's behalf, and God's interests were involved in his conduct. And that is true of us also. The fact that the wings were joined together typifies the spiritual unity which God demands of us. Although these living creatures had differing features (verse 10), yet when it came to their movements they were all joined together to go in one direction. As you grow spiritually, you should see this spiritual oneness amongst you as God's co-workers. When there is difficulty in getting along and working together with others, that means that you are still carnal; you are still just babes in Christ. But as there is spiritual growth, so there will be oneness, harmony, liberty and peace. Again note that it is spiritual and not worldly oneness. Those who have not seen God and do not know His purposes and plans, cannot be one with you. Those who know God and have His Spirit within work with you. The four creatures going straight forward spoke of eternal life. They could not go backwards, only forwards (verse 12). There must be constant growth as we move forward with God.

You will remember that when the Children of Israel were marching or camping in the wilderness, they were always in four groups, on the North, South, East and West. They had four standards or four banners, on which were the four faces of Ezekiel's cherubim: a lion, a man, an ox, and an eagle. (Compare Ezekiel 1.10 with Numbers 2.17.) Three of the twelve tribes were grouped under each of the standards which were raised on the four sides of the Tabernacle. This gave the order by which God ordained that they should march or encamp, and He never varied it. The four faces on the four banners always reminded the Israelites of God's eternal plan for His people. Supposing the people changed the order, and, instead of Judah, Benjamin went first, what would happen? God could not go with them. God could only go with them when they marched in His revealed heavenly order, and it is as you discover for yourselves the revealed plan of God that you will know victory.

These four faces of the cherubim reminded Ezekiel of the way in which the people had in fact failed God and had changed His order for their lives and service. The Jews as a nation had failed Him, and from very early days “every man did that which was right in his own eyes” (Jud. 21.25). That was their condition when Ezekiel was sent to them—confusion, disorder and barrenness because they had set aside the revealed order of God and defiled His dwelling place. (See Ezekiel, chapters 8 and 9.) And today we find the same conditions prevailing. Man has brought in his own thoughts, improvements, refinements, and by setting them in the place of God's Word, has brought chaos and strife, confusion and barrenness among God's people. Thus, just as the four faces reminded the prophet of the changelessness of God's Word, so must we be reminded. Let us consider each of them.

The first face, that of the man, reminds us that the Lord Jesus became a Man; He who was King of kings was crucified in weakness for us, and we have to humble ourselves and learn meekness from Him. Who are we to glory in our own works? No, the Cross of Christ must work deeper and deeper in us to make us truly humble, for only thus can we be identified with the purposes of God.

The second cherub or living creature had the face of a lion. In Genesis 49.10 it was prophesied that ‘the sceptre should not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come’. Zedekiah was the last king of Judah, (2 Kings 25.7) and after him there was no king, until the Lord Jesus came who was called “the Lion of the tribe of Judah” (Rev. 5.5). He came as the Lion, God's true King. All the other kings who had reigned over the house of Judah had failed, but the Lord Jesus, the true King of Righteousness, is come to reign. Now His Kingdom is to come on earth. No other kingdom, however good it be, will stand forever. There is no hope whatsoever in earthly kingdoms. But we do believe in the coming back of the King of kings, the Lord Jesus Christ. He must come to reign and to bring true peace on earth, and we have to get ready for that. It is only as we identify ourselves with Him now in everything that we shall be with Him when He comes back to judge and to reign

The third creature had the face of an ox. The ox was used by the Levites either as a burnt offering or a sin or peace offering. Those who could not afford an ox, brought a lamb or dove, but the sacrifice needed was an ox. The Lord Jesus Christ died on your behalf as your sin — and burden-bearer. Generally speaking, people use bullocks or oxen to pull carts and carry burdens, and by these humble, patient animals we are reminded of the completeness of the sacrifice that the Lord Jesus made of Himself in order to carry our burdens and our sins. You cannot carry your own burdens, but He can if you will let Him. If you are still trying to carry your own burdens and worries and troubles, pray, and go on praying, until the burden is rolled away on to Him. Then you will find how much strength you receive from Him. He offers rest to the heavyburdened, but it only comes as we cast our cares on Him. He can be touched with our infirmities, because He knew all these trials when on earth. So let us take our place in Him as our sin-and burden-bearer.

The last of the creatures had a face like an eagle. The eagle is a bird which does not age quickly. It is thus symbol of eternal youth (Psa. 103.5; Isa. 40-31). When you get old, you cannot do all you used to do. The eagle we may say, stays young, for even in its old age it does not stop and walk, but still flies high and goes great distances. This means that when we are truly identified with the Lord in all His heavenly workings, we remain fresh and have a constant supply of energy. Even if we die, the work which we have begun in the Name of the Lord Jesus will go on to completion. Provided it has been started in the energy of the Lord Jesus Christ, it goes on and cannot come to an end.

Then, we are told that the appearance of these creatures was “like burning coals of fire, and like the appearance of lamps: it went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning. And the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning” (verses 13- 14). Fire throughout the scriptures reminds us of judgment, and here we have a solemn warning. Paul in 1 Corinthians 3 tells us that every man's work will be tried by fire. All that we have ever done upon earth, either through word or deed, will be fully tested and proved by fire; if it abides there will be the reward, but if it is burnt up there will be loss. We must therefore learn to discriminate between earthly and heavenly works, between what is just the fruit of our own human effort and what is Spirit-energised. The former will perish in the day of judgment, and only that which has been initiated and carried through by heavenly resources can be acceptable to God. How careful we have to be in regard to the spending of our energies, our time, our money, because God is going to test all our works by fire. That which is promoted by the Holy Spirit will last for all eternity; that which is done with human zeal soon fades away. So when we are true servants of God we are like the burning, naming fire, and that is the kind of service that He accepts.

In Revelation 4 John the Apostle had a similar vision of the living creatures, and he too saw lightnings and lamps of fire before the throne of God (verse 5). The symbolism is the same. God was about to pour out His last judgments and plagues on those who had rebelled against Him. Those seven lamps of fire are called “the seven Spirits of God” and speak of the complete and perfect work of the Holy Spirit. His work is in us, and when He works among us fully and freely, then God is able to carry out His plans through us. Those judgments are to be executed through the glorified Church. We may often ask why God did not destroy Satan on the very day he rebelled, and why there is this long delay in judging him. The answer is that God wants His judgments to be carried out through His Church; His love for His people is so great that He wants to give them His authority in this. But to exercise that authority, we must ourselves be constantly tested and proved by fire and so refined. It is in the furnace of affliction that we are chosen (Isa. 48.10). The saints of God may have to go through extremes of suffering, sometimes physical and sometimes mental, that the Divine plan may be brought to fulfillment.

Malachi tells us that the same fire which will consume the wicked will also bring healing to those who walk in the path of God (Mal. 4.1 & 2). The same rays of the sun which kill the germs of disease bring life and healing when absorbed by the leaves of plants and trees. So, when we become part of the living creatures, we must be prepared for the divine fire to go up and down in us, so that everything is completely, thoroughly and perfectly refined.

Then too, these living creatures moved like lightning. As God's fire, covering the earth, bringing judgment to the wicked but gathering out the chosen, so they had to work swiftly, like lightning through God's universe. Our part in the New Creation involves swift movement in obedience to God. “Whither the Spirit was to go they went” (verse 12). Thus in verses 15-21 we read of their wheels. We do not know their height, but we are told that they were very high, and that the wheels were within a wheel. These living creatures with their huge wheels and wings were all moving as one—they could not be separated. When the living creatures moved the wheels moved with them, and when the living creatures stopped, the wheels stopped. They moved or stood still at the Holy Spirit's command. We have already seen that wings speak of heavenly movement, but wheels here speak of our commission and our activity upon the earth. The wings and the wheels moved simultaneously and that is how we also have to work with God. Our activities on the earth, whether it be our preaching, our teaching, or our simple service to others in need, must be governed by the divine activity in heaven of which we become aware in the quiet place with God. There are some who are visionaries and dreamers, who have wings but no wheels, no testimony on the earth. On the other hand there are those who do much that seems good and praiseworthy on this earth, but have no contact with heaven. God cannot accept either kind of ministry. We have to have wheels and wings. We have to draw our life from heaven while our feet are on the earth. This is a great mystery—but by it we can enjoy both heaven and earth at the same time.

And there were eyes all around the wheels (verse 18). The wheels moved with the help of the eyes. The eyes could see and interpret what was happening in heaven, and could watch that the wings and the wheels were moving in the same, and not contrary directions. Even while we are on this earth we have to work in perfect oneness with God by knowing how and where He is working and what He is saying. God may speak through outward calamities, famines, earthquakes, wars, pestilences, or He may speak inwardly to us through our own failures and disappointments. We have to listen carefully to what He has to say to us, and to be quickly obedient to the Spirit's promptings. When we truly move with God's movements, all our activities and motions will be governed by the One on the throne above.

Thus the prophet Ezekiel saw the visions of the cherubim whose meaning was not yet fully revealed to Moses. For Ezekiel was called to proclaim God's judgments one by one against all the nations who had done wickedly. But at the same time he had to proclaim God's mercy and kindness to those who had waited patiently for the Lord, and that is why, in his later chapters, we have a beautiful picture of God's renewed Dwelling Place among His people.

The final judgment of God's perfect love is to be revealed through the cherubim. “Thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth.... Stir up thy strength, and come and save us. ... Turn us again, O Lord God of hosts, cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved” (Psa. 80-1-2, 19). Thus the cherubim over the mercy seat, and embroidered on the curtain and the veil are symbols of God's love and mercy to the flock of which He is the Shepherd. As His judgments against evil are poured forth, we, His servants, are to be identified with Him in His perfect heavenly plan.