So, if the Second Commandment so clearly tells us not to make carved images, why did God turn right around and tell Moses to make an ark and to put two solid gold cherubim on it? Are we supposed to use visual images in worship or not?

Well, what are cherubs? Not the chubby-cheeked children so popular in Renaissance art, but rather the unimaginably powerful, multi-winged and multi-faced creatures that Ezekiel described as carrying the throne of God (Ezekiel 1:5-12; 10:1-8, 18-22). The presence of the cherubim on the ark thus underscored the main point it was trying to make: it was a throne without an image of the God Who sits upon it (see also I Samuel 4:4, Psalm 80:1, Psalm 99:1, Isaiah 37:16).

Moreover, we need to remember that the ark was completely hidden from view. No one except the priests were ever allowed to go into the Tabernacle which housed it. But the priests couldn’t see it either, hidden as it was behind a veil (Exodus 26:31-33). No, only the high priest could go behind the veil – but only once a year, and only after burning so much incense that the smoke obscured it from view (see Leviticus 16:12-13).

In short, there was no image of God, and no one was allowed to get a clear view even of the throne on which He sat. It’s hard to imagine a clearer expression of the main point of the Second Commandment: don’t use images in worship.

But the ark also carried a positive meaning, the promise God had made to be with His people (see Exodus 25:8). After all, God told Moses that the ark would be the place where He would give His instructions to His people (verse 22). And since the veil was torn from top to bottom at the time Jesus was crucified (see Matthew 27:51), we know that by His sacrifice Jesus has removed all the barriers between God and His people.

So the good news is that all those who trust in Christ as Savior can come boldly into the very throne room of God, “that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). Let’s go into His presence in prayer today.

Exodus 25:10-22 (NASB)

10 “And they shall construct an ark of acacia wood two and a half cubits long, and one and a half cubits wide, and one and a half cubits high.
11 “And you shall overlay it with pure gold, inside and out you shall overlay it, and you shall make a gold molding around it.
12 “And you shall cast four gold rings for it, and fasten them on its four feet, and two rings shall be on one side of it and two rings on the other side of it.
13 “And you shall make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold.
14 “And you shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, to carry the ark with them.
15 “The poles shall remain in the rings of the ark; they shall not be removed from it.
16 “And you shall put into the ark the testimony which I shall give you.
17 “And you shall make a mercy seat of pure gold, two and a half cubits long and one and a half cubits wide.
18 “And you shall make two cherubim of gold, make them of hammered work at the two ends of the mercy seat.
19 “And make one cherub at one end and one cherub at the other end; you shall make the cherubim of one piece with the mercy seat at its two ends.
20 “And the cherubim shall have their wings spread upward, covering the mercy seat with their wings and facing one another; the faces of the cherubim are to be turned toward the mercy seat.
21 “And you shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the testimony which I shall give to you.
22 “And there I will meet with you; and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony, I will speak to you about all that I will give you in commandment for the sons of Israel.