TWO OLIVE CHERUBIM
Before we dive into a quick summary of the Furniture used in the Temple (previously studied in Moses` Tabernacle) and discover what additional features were added to Solomon's Temple ... let's finish the structure of the Temple itself.
SILVER WALLS - It seems that the walls of the Temple were overlaid with silver. The thought here is "to plaster the walls" or "to daub" the stone walls with silver. Seven thousand talents of refined silver were given for that purpose, as well as three thousand talents of gold. The silver was over ten times the amount of gold. All of this was for use in the Temple. This is an amazing amount and all was placed at Solomon's disposal by his father King David.
The Scripture says that silver was in an abundance in Solomon's day, it was nothing to be accounted for. All this silver was used for :
1. Silver vessels and instruments
2. Silver overlay or plaster for the Temple walls. What would all this vast amount of silver be used for apart from overlaying the walls of stone, for there is nothing in the Temple itself of silver, as all in the Set-Apart Place and Oracle (Most Set-Apart Place) was all of GOLD!
Even after the building was finished, the silver had not all been used and the remainder of it was placed in the treasuries in Yahuah's house. In the light of this abundance of silver, it seems evident that the stones were plastered over with silver, as well as the stones covered with silver. Thus no stone would be seen. All would be encased, joined together, and overlaid with silver. What a magnificent sight!
Silver, as noted, speaks of redemption, the atonement money, the ransom, the price of a person. Joseph was sold for 20 pieces of silver by his brothers, Samson was also sold for 1,100 pieces of silver. Yahusha was sold by Judas for 30 pieces of silver, the price of a slave. After the Exodus, Yisharal could only be numbered amongst the redeemed if they brought the half shekel of silver, the ransom money, the price of a person, to the sanctuary. David bought the threshing floor of Ornan for 50 shekels of silver.
The first commandment of Yahuah for atonement was silver and the final atonement is blood! (LEV 17). So we have silver and blood. Most of the silver given came from numbering the children of Yisharal and the half shekel of ransom money. Silver represents the thousands of redeemed Yisharalites. Peter interprets this shadow for us by saying that "we are not redeemed with corruptible things as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Messiah as a lamb slain from the foundation of the world, manifested in these last times for us" (1PET1).
We are not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold, which were used in the Tabernacle and Temple, but with the incorruptible blood of Messiah. We are bought with a price. As the stones were encased in silver, so Yahuah sees the "lively stones" — the believers "in Messiah", redeemed, in this world, yet not of it. The stone within the silver symbolises Yahusha's Bride. Yahuah sees our Saviour, then He sees us, accepted in the beloved. All that the stone was by nature is covered by silver, as all that we were by nature is covered by Messiah's redemption. Stones overlaid with silver speak of the Assembly overlaid by Yahusha's redemption. Bought from the quarries of sin and the world, shaped to the Divine standard ...
... and measurements, by the Word and training of Yahusha and given a place in the House of Yahuah, so believers, as living stones may rejoice! The stones were related together, by the silver. So the Bride is related together through the redemptive work of Yahusha Messiah, set in their place in the House of Yahuah. To find a place in Yahuah's House all must know the silvery truth of their redemption.
WALLS OF CEDAR - the silver-covered stones of the Temple's internal walls are now covered with boards of cedar so that there were no stones seen. The walls and the ceiling of the house were covered with timbers. The main beams and planks were of cedar tree. The floor and ceiling were lined or covered by boards from the fir tree, and the walls with timber from the cedar trees.
These fir trees came from King Hiram of Tyre, in exchange for gifts from King Solomon. What does this shadow forward to us? Trees in Scripture are often used in symbolic sense, of people, whether believers or sinners, and also of Messiah and His Assembly. Because these trees are used in the House of Yahuah, they become symbolic of believers in their various beauties in Yahuah's House.
Nebuchadnezzar was likened in his Kingdom of Babylon to a tree, the royal House of Judah is likened to a cedar tree, the Kingdom of Heaven is likened to a mustard seed which grows into a great tree, the righteous are likened to a tree planted by the rivers of water which bring forth fruit in their season. The Psalmist says "the trees of the Yahuah are full of sap" (PS 104). Yahusha said, "I am the vine and you are the branches" (JN 15). Solomon spoke parables of the trees, from the cedar down to the lowly hyssop, from the greatest to the humblest.
Therefore in the Temple, trees represent believers in Messiah, different in nature to stones, yet all shaped to be part of His habitation.
Variety of trees speak of variety of Yahuah's people, yet all one in Yahusha becoming part of the House of Yahuah. The characteristics of cedar are incorruptibility, fragrance, strength, imperishableness, able to resist decay and rot, and durability. These are the characteristics of Yahusha Messiah in His people.
THE FIR TREE provided planks of foundation for the floor of the Temple and also the doors. The prophet Hosea says, "I am like a green fir tree" (HOS 14). The fir tree is symbolic of strength, support, power to uphold. Messiah is our strength, our support, and He has the power to uphold His house. This same strength, support and power should be revealed in His people also.
THE ALGUM TREE was red sandal wood, very heavy, hard and fine grained wood, and of a beautiful red colour, having a red vein throughout. In the Temple and its surroundings it was used for steps and stairs, for handrails, and for pillars. It was also used for musical instruments such as harps, psalteries and other instruments for the Temple singers and choir. There were none such as this in the land with which to compare. It was a fragrant wood.
Solomon requested Hiram to send him timbers from the cedar, the fir and the algum trees for the Temple. It was a very costly wood. In relation to Messiah Yahusha, this tree speaks of the atoning work of Calvary. It speaks of the blood of Yahusha. He was "impaled on the tree, becoming a curse for us". The theme of blood-atonement runs through the total Scripture as a 'red vein' connecting all 66 books together as one. The Bride is to uphold the truth of blood-atonement in the House of Yahuah, for this is the price and cost of our redemption. Messiah's death was victorious.
THE PALM TREE was also seen in the Temple timbers, and was actually carved into the cedar wood wherever it was used in the Temple. The palm tree is significant and symbolic of righteousness, uprightness, and fruitfulness, peace and rejoicing as seen in the following Scripture references. The truth is first applicable to Messiah and then finds fulfilment in the Bride, the believers in His house. The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree, for those who are planted in the house of the Yahuah. At Elim there were 12 wells of water and 70 palm trees. This finds fulfilment in the New Blood-Covenant's first 12 followers and 70 others which Yahusha sent forth to heal in Luke 9. Palm branches were used in the rejoicing in the Feast of Tabernacles, and the triumphant redeemed wave palms of victory before the throne of Yahuah and the Lamb in Revelation.
The ornamentation of the palm tree was used very much in the Temple. It was carved on the lavers in the Temple courts. It was carved upon the walls of the Temple, in the Set-Apart Place and the Oracle. Also the doors of the Sanctuary were ornamented with the palm tree, all pointing to Yahusha the Righteous One the Victorious One, the Fruitful One both in His own person and that which is manifested in His Bride. The early Assembly used the palm tree as a symbol of Messiah's triumph over death through resurrection, as also the Natsarim who were martyred. The Bride of Messiah is likened in stature to the palm tree in Song of Solomon.
THE OLIVE TREE is actually "the oil tree", used for the posts of the doors of the sanctuary and for the two great winged Cherubim in the Oracle (most Set-Apart Place) and for the posts of the doors of this place. In Hebrew, the "oil tree" is "shemen", translated as "anointing", "ointment" and "oil". It is the word used for the Set-Apart anointing oil and the pure olive oil used in the golden lampstand in the Tabernacle of Moses. The olive tree is therefore symbolic of the anointing of the Set-Apart Spirit in the House of Yahuah, first upon Yahusha the Messiah, THE ANOINTED, and then upon the Assembly, the anointed ones, the Body of Messiah. The olive tree is mentioned in the parable of Judges 9, when the trees went forth to anoint a King over them.
It is the first mentioned tree after the Flood, when the dove had the olive branch in its mouth. The two witnesses in the vision of Zechariah and John are likened to olive trees by reason of the anointing upon them. Olive oil from the berry of this tree was used in all the anointing of the Tabernacle of Moses, on furniture and priesthood, and also used of the true Yisharal of Yahuah, the Nation in which Jew and Gentile are one and partakers of the anointing and fatness of the tree. Yahusha (after the flesh) came out of the "olive tree" Nation of Yisharal, suffering in Gethsemane which means "Oil" or "Olive press". He will return to the Mt of Olives even as He ascended from this mount. He is the anointed prophet, priest and King. The Olive trees speak of Messiah and His Bride.
The trees-were cut off from their natural surroundings, the former source of life in the earth. All their natural beauty was stripped from them. Then they were sawn up, shaped and planed. They all experienced death to their old life. After this they go through the process of preparation by the hands of the carpenters in order to find their place in the House of Yahuah, to partake of His esteem.
They were clothed with unnatural beauty and fitly framed together. Messiah, as the Branch, was cut off out of the land of the living. There was no natural beauty that we should desire Him. In His death He suffered for us. But He was raised to resurrection esteem and beauty to Yahuah's Temple in Heaven.
He is the perfect One, the royal One, the righteous One, the incorruptible One. He is the Master Carpenter when it comes to His work in His Bride. He shapes us for His building. Every part of the Temple speaks of His esteem or His esteem in the saints. The preparation speaks of the dealings of Yahusha in the lives of His people.
In contrast to the Tabernacle of Moses, the main wood used there was the shittim or acacia wood, which was a desert wood and timber, flourishing in the desert by means of a tap-root deep down beneath the surface of the sand, yet also had a profuse amount of dry roots on the desert surface, speaking of Yahusha's humanity, the root out of dry ground, in whom there was no form or comeliness. His humanity was incorruptible. It is significant that THE ONLY PIECE OF ACACIA WOOD THAT WAS PLACED IN SOLOMON'S TEMPLE WAS THE ARK OF THE BLOOD-COVENANT, WHICH CAME FROM THE WILDERNESS WANDERINGS AND JOURNEYINGS. All this was a reminder of the journey to the land of rest, the land of promise.
So Messiah as the Ark of Yahuah has taken the "acacia wood of His incorruptible humanity" into Heaven's Temple, and there He is in His ascended, resurrected humanity, as a reminder of His pilgrimage days on earth when He came to redeem us.
The Temple, however, had the cedar wood, along with the fir, the algum, the palm and olive trees. The Temple was overlined with cedar as well as other beautifications and ornamentations. This spoke more of YAHUSHA'S HEAVENLY SERVICE, though it involved that which took place in earth. He came from Heaven to Earth to atone, and then returned from Earth to Heaven to intercede, becoming the open doorway between dimensions for us.
So now that we see the significance of the different kinds of trees used in the Temple's Interior Design, we turn our attention to the furniture, especially the massive Olive Cherubim that stood looming over the Ark as the only other piece of furniture in the Most Set-Apart Place (oracle). Let do a quick refresh on the Way of Approach as shadowed forth through Moses` Tabernacle . . .
One of the most marvellous sights in the Temple were the two Great Cherubim placed in the Set-Apart Place, overshadowing the Ark of the Blood-Covenant.
The word "Cherubim" means "those grasped, held fast" and there's a gradual revelation of the Cherubim in Scripture. The Cherubim are seen first in Eden, guarding the Tree of Eternal Life with the flaming sword. They are seen in the veil of the Tabernacle of Moses guarding the entrance to the Most Set-Apart Place. The Cherubim are seen overshadowing the blood-stained Mercy-Seat of the Ark of the Blood-Covenant. So the Cherubim are always associated with the throne of Yahuah and His perfect set-apartness. The vision of Ezekiel shows the Cherubim there with the four faces, as does John's Vision. The truth being shadowed is that Yahusha's blood is perfect for atonement.
Yahuah dwelt between the Cherubim on His Throne (Ark) which was a shadow "on Earth as it is in Heaven". The physical manifestation of the only Living Alahim was revealed in Yahusha Messiah and so the security and guardianship of the Cherubim in the courts of Yahuah's Throne is now seen in the power, security and protection of Yahusha's Spirit and Cherubim in Yahusha's House on earth.
THE TWO GREAT OLIVE CHERUBIM
The two great Cherubim were made of olive wood from the oil tree, the source of the anointing oil. The two witnesses in Zechariah and Revelation are likened to Olive Trees. In them is the fulness of the anointing of the Set-Apart Spirit, the Anointing oil through Yahusha the Messiah (anointed one).
How beautiful to see these two Great Olive Cherubim overshadowing the small Ark of the Blood-Covenant as it was placed in the Set-Apart Place after all the wilderness wanderings were over. The Father and the Heavenly Hosts overshadowed Yahusha during His whole earthly journey unto the entrance into the Heavenly Temple. Two is the number witness, which is also seen in the anointing Spirit of Yahusha, who witnesses and proves the truth of His Living Word in our lives.
The two Great Olive Cherubim were each TEN CUBITS HIGH since Ten is the number of law, of Divine order and responsibility. All was perfect Law and Order (unto death) in the Most Set-Apart Place. Yahusha also demonstrated Divine order in nature and behaviour.
In Revelation the Cherubim each had SIX WINGS, which speak of :
1. Flight, security and protection of the bird, so was the wings of the Almighty Yahuah to His own people as He brought them out of Egypt to Himself on eagle's wings. Yahuah also likens Himself to a great eagle stirring His nest for His own.
2. Ruth the Gentile came to trust under the shadow of the wings of Yahuah, and the Psalmist cries to Yahuah for the protection of His wings. Yahusha called to His people to come and trust under His wings but they would not.
3. The woman (Bride) in Revelation is given two wings of a great eagle to fly into her place of safety before Yahuah in the time of tribulation and persecution from the great red dragon.
4. The Tabernacle of Moses where the priests walked and served under the shadow of the wings of the cherubim interwoven in the linen ceiling curtains. T
5. The Temple, the priests also walked and served under the shadow of the wings of the Cherubim engraved and ornamented into the Temple walls. All spoke of security, safety, protection from Yahuah their Alahim.
6. YAHUSHA ... for the prophet Malachi, who said that the Sun of Righteousness would rise with healing in His wings .
The two Great Olive Cherubim here were overlaid with gold, which is in contrast to the two Cherubim on the Mercy-Seat of the Ark of the Blood-Covenant that were fashioned out of one piece of pure gold. Here the two cherubim are of olive wood overlaid with pure gold. The gold speaks of Deity, the Divine nature, the character and righteousness of Yahuah Alahim, as seen and manifest in Yahusha.
THE FEET OF THE CHERUBIM - The Cherubim stood upon their feet, speaking of the fact that Yahuah walks and talks with His own and has promised to walk with us and dwell in us as well as walk before us.
MADE OF MOVEABLE WORK - We are told that the Cherubim were of image work, that is, of moveable work. In 1 Chronicles 28:18 it speaks of the "Chariot of the Cherubim" and the thought is linked here of the Chariot of the Cherubim with the Chariot Wheels on the Ten Brazen Lavers in the court of the priests.
In 2 Sam 22, David said, "He rode upon a cherub, and did fly." Elijah was translated supernaturally to Heaven in Chariots of Yahuah, chariots of fire.
The Psalmist speaks of the Chariots of Yahuah which are in the thousands. The Cherubim in Ezekiel's vision are seen to be involved in Divine Transport of the Throne of Yahuah. There are "wheels within wheels" and wherever the Spirit went, the spirit of the living creatures also went. There was such unity of movement and direction there in the Chariot of Yahuah's Throne in Ezekiel's Vision.
YAHUSHA IS ALWAYS ON THE MOVE, WALKING AND SHEPHERDING HIS PEOPLE, TRAINING AND PERFECTING THEM, NOT FROM AFAR BUT INTIMATELY CLOSE AND WITHIN ... AND HE WILL ULTIMATELY TRANSLATE AND TRANSFORM THEM TO ESTEEM AT HIS RETURN.
But here in the Temple the Cherubim looked toward the house. They would behold the priests in service in the Set-Apart Place and the daily administrations. They would behold the doors, and the inwrought veil. Yet together they overshadowed the humble Ark of the Blood-Covenant.
FACES OF THE CHERUBIM - The faces of the Cherubim were inward. That is, their faces were toward the House, which faced the east. In Ezekiel the living creatures also have wings, feet, faces and chariot wheels. In the Ark of the Blood-Covenant the Cherubim faces looked one toward another and yet toward the blood-stained mercy seat. They gaze with satisfaction upon the redemptive blood, and yet on mercy also.
Liewise Yahusha, through His Set-Apart Spirit looks toward His House, "whose house are we" (HEB 3) as we His Priests carry on our daily jobs and routines of behaviour on this earth, walking in the light of His lampstand and offering the daily incense at the golden altar (COMMUNICATION).
The Scripture speaks of Cain being driven out from the face of Yahuah because he was a liar and murderer and rejected the blood of the Lamb (HIS SACRIFICE HAD NO BLOOD). For those redeemed by the blood of the Lamb they shall eternally "see His face" ...
... and His name shall be in their forehead. The bread on the table of Yahuah was known as "the bread of His face", or "bread of the faces". In the coming of Yahusha we shall see Him face to face and not through a dark glass.
THE CHERUBIM & SHEPHERD
(PS 80:1, JN 10, HEB 13:20-21, 1 PET 5:1-5)
The Psalmist prays that the Shepherd of Yisharal who dwelt between the Cherubim would shine forth. He prays that there would be a manifestation of His esteem and that He would visit the vine brought out of Egypt. Surely we see here that Yahusha Messiah is the Shepherd of Yisharal. He shone forth in His `putting on flesh' to the vine of Yisharal. He is the one who leads His flock like a shepherd. He is the Good Shepherd, the Great Shepherd and the Chief Shepherd, having given His life for His sheep. He went through the sword of Calvary (CHERUBIM'S FIERY SWORD). He shed His blood (CHERUBIM WITNESSED THE SPRINKLED BLOOD ON THE ARK).
Yahusha's fleshly-veil was rent to make the way open into the presence of Yahuah (CHERUBIM ON THE VEIL CURTAINS).
He laid down His life for the sheep.
His blood is the evidence of death, that He went through the sword.
It is His blood of the New and Everlasting Blood-Covenant.
In Ezekiel's vision we see the four faces of the Cherubim. They represent the four standards (banners) under which the Twelve Tribes of Yisharal gathered. There was the face of the MAN, the LION, the OX and the EAGLE.
THE MAN IS THE KING OF CREATION,
THE LION IS THE KING OF THE BEASTS,
THE OX IS THE KING OF DOMESTIC ANIMALS,
THE EAGLE IS THE KING OF THE BIRDS OF THE AIR.
All shadow Yahusha Messiah then His Bride. In the midst of the four Cherubim was THE MAN in the throne, Yahusha Messiah, the Yahuah-Man in His Father's Throne, between the Cherubim.
In the TABERNACLE of Moses we saw the Cherubimed Ark of the Blood-Covenant as a shadow of Yahusha Messiah, in whom the fulness of Alahim dwelt bodily. This spoke of Messiah's earth walk.
In the TEMPLE of Solomon we see the Two Gold-Covered Olive Cherubim representing Yahusha in all His Ascended Esteem and accompanied by Divine Creatures - all overshadowing the Ark. This speaks of Messiah's Divine Heavenly servive as our Great High Priest. Both present different aspects of truth concerning Yahusha Messiah. One is the earthly, the other is the Heavenly.
THE ESTEEM OF YAHUAH IS SEEN UPON THE ARK EVEN AS THE ESTEEM OF YAHUAH IS SEEN IN THE FACE OF YAHUSHA MESSIAH. HE IS OUR HIGH PRIEST, OUR SACRIFICE, OUR REDEEMER, OUR NEW BLOOD-COVENANT, OUR ETERNAL YAHUAH-MAN WORSHIPPED BY ALL THE ANGELS AND CHERUBIM. HE LIVES IN THE POWER OF AN ENDLESS LIFE MAKING INTERCESSION FOR HIS OWN AND HE LOVES YOU SO VERY MUCH AND WANTS A RESPONSE FROM YOU ... HE'S KNOCKING ON THE PORTAL OF YOUR HEART, WANTING TO COME AND IN AND TRANSFORM YOU INTO A DWELLING OF HIS LOVE.