The ark of the covenant was placed in the Most Holy Place of the tabernacle or temple. On top of the ark of the covenant was the mercy seat. On the mercy seat were two cherubs facing inward. Moses wrote, “And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be.” (Exodus 25:20.) We are not given the reason for the cherubims having been placed inward, covering the mercy seat. However, in my opinion, these representatives of heavenly beings suggest an abiding interest in the salvation of man.
We are so very blessed to live, not in the starlight age of the patriarchs, nor the moonlight age of the Mosaic law; but we are blessed beyond words to live in the sunlight age of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus said to his apostles, “But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.” (Matt. 13:16-17.)
Peter wrote, “ Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.” (1 Peter 1:10-12.)
In the above text, we read of the searching prophets, the suffering Christ and the suspense of the angels concerning our salvation.
Peter tells his readers that the prophets had been searching. The American Standard Version says that the prophets “sought and searched diligently.” Just as Esau had sought for repentance on the part of his father, Isaac, regarding the blessing; that is, he sought for his father to change his mind (Heb. 12:17), so the prophets sought to know the details of the prophecies given. Just as King Saul sought out David in order to kill him (1 Sam. 23:23), so the prophets put forth the same mental effort to know the meaning of the prophecies. They were “searching what time or what manner of time” the events prophesied would be fulfilled. They wanted to know the specific time or the age in which the grace prophesied would come to pass. This grace refers to the gospel and the blessings therein.
The above text also tells us that the Spirit of Christ was in the prophets (Rom. 8:9; Gal. 4:6). Clearly, he was there by his words. Peter expresses similar words in 2 Peter 1:19-21. The Holy Spirit guided the prophets as to what to write, but the prophets did not understand fully. Daniel is a good example of this. He prophesied, but he did not understand. Read Daniel 7:28; 9:2-3, 25-27; 12:8. This is one of the great proofs of the verbal inspiration of the Bible. The prophets, as well as the apostles, were not given the thoughts, then allowed to put the divine thoughts into their own words. However, they were given the words to speak (2 Sam. 23:2; Acts 1:16; 1 Cor. 2:13). Words are vehicles of our thoughts. When God gave them the words, they would still need to understand what was spoken or written. However, if God had given them the thoughts (how can thoughts be expressed without words?), they would have understood the meaning. So, what were the prophets declaring?
The prophets of old were foretelling of the sufferings of Christ. The prophecies predicted the sufferings of Christ (Dan. 9:25-27; Isa. 53; Jer. 23:5-6; Psa. 16:8-11; Isa. 47:17-18). Jews today deny that Jesus Christ was both a suffering savior and a reigning monarch. Note too, they prophesied of the glory that should follow. Consider the order: First the suffering, then the glory. Jesus after he suffered entered into his glory. James and John, through their mother or vice-versa, wanted the right and left hand in the kingdom. Matthew’s account of their request says, “in thy kingdom,” but Mark’s account says, “in thy glory.” (Mat. 20:21; Mark 10:37). Jesus, in having discussed the recent events in Jerusalem to the two on the road to Emmaus said, “Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?” (Luke 24:25-26.) Hence, observe the order: first the suffering, then the glory. When Jesus went back into heaven he received glory and the kingdom (Dan. 7:13-14.) He did not have to wait until A.D. 70 to receive dominion (power), glory and the kingdom.
The text from Peter also tells us of the suspense of the angels. The gospel was preached, not for the time of the Old Testament prophets, but for the gospel age. The Holy Spirit predicted the events through the prophets; the same Spirit showed the fulfillment through the apostles. Peter tells us, “which things the angels desire to look into.” Jesus used the same word when he said that he desired to eat the Passover with his disciples (Luke 22:15). It is the same word which described the prodigal’s longing to satisfy is hunger (Luke 15:16). Paul used the word when he said that the flesh lusteth against the Spirit (Gal. 5:17). The words “look into” is a picturesque word, meaning to stoop sideways. It portrays one’s stooping and stretching the neck to gaze on some wonderful sight. We are encouraged, if you please, to stoop and stretch the neck to look into the perfect law of liberty (James 1:25). It is a word that was used with Mary, Peter and John as they stooped to look into the empty tomb of our Savior (Luke 24:12; John 20:5,11). Thus, the angels contemplate our salvation from without. They are very much interested in man’s salvation (Heb. 2:16; Eph. 3:10).
Is it any wonder that the cherubims on the mercy seat faced inward, symbolic of their having an interest in man’s salvation? This wonderful passage emphasizes the prophets’ interest in our salvation, the Savior’s investment in our salvation by his suffering and the angels’ intense desire to know of our salvation.
Since all of these are interested in our salvation, should not each of us be interested in our own salvation? This salvation is found in Christ. By hearing the gospel, believing it (Rom. 10:17), repenting of our sins (Acts 17:30), acknowledging Christ before men (Rom. 10:10) and being immersed into the body of Christ (Gal. 3:26-27) we can enjoy the forgiveness of sins and have the hope of eternal salvation.
The Informer
Vol. 68 No. 32
May 24, 2015