But in the fourth watch of the night he went off to them, walking on the sea. And the disciples, seeing him walking on the sea, were troubled, saying, It is an apparition. And they cried out through fear. But Jesus immediately spoke to them, saying, Take courage; it is I: be not afraid. And Peter answering him said, Lord, if it be thou, command me to come to thee upon the waters. And he said, Come. And Peter, having descended from the ship, walked upon the waters to go to Jesus. But seeing the wind strong he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught hold of him, and says to him, O thou of little faith, why didst thou doubt? And when they had gone up into the ship, the wind fell. But those in the ship came and did homage to him, saying, Truly thou art God's Son.
Matt 14:25-33 (Darby)
Peter, in this passage reminds me of the seed sown among the thorns—this is he who hears the word, and the anxious care of this life, and the deceit of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.
Matt 13:22 (Darby)
Priest, while in service in the Holy Place, were surrounded by Cherubim. Cherubim were embroidered on the tabernacle proper and on the veil. Within the Holiest of Holiest, two Cherubim of solid gold sat on opposite ends of the mercy seat.
And thou shalt make two cherubim of gold; [of] beaten work shalt thou make them, at the two ends of the mercy-seat. And make one cherub at the end of the one side, and one cherub at the end of the other side; out of the mercy-seat shall ye make the cherubim at the two ends thereof. And the cherubim shall stretch out [their] wings over it, covering over with their wings the mercy-seat, and their faces opposite to one another: toward the mercy-seat shall the faces of the cherubim be [turned]. And thou shalt put the mercy-seat above on the ark, and shalt put in the ark the testimony that I shall give thee. And there will I meet with thee, and will speak with thee from above the mercy-seat, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony, everything that I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel. Exd 25:18-22
Two Cherubim: one on either side of the mercy seat, the solid gold slab that served as the lid to the ark of the testimony. The cherubim were positioned so that they faced each other, but they are looking down onto the mercy seat. God made His abode between these Cherubim. This is why it says in Psalm 99:1 Jehovah reigneth: let the peoples tremble. He sitteth [between the] cherubim: let the earth be moved.
The Cherubim had a view that no one else did. Not even the high priest on the Day of Atonement saw the view that the Cherubim had all the time.
On the Day of Atonement, God was manifested as a cloud (Lev. 16:2). Aaron was to take a censor and smoke out the Holiest of Holiest. Between the smoke and the cloud, I don’t think he could see. Lev. 16:13 . Blood from a number of animals were to on the mercy seat throughout the day . So the solid-gold mercy seat was stained with animal blood.
The golden cherubim that were one with the mercy seat, look continuously down, on the blood, the blood that was shed for atonement for the sins of the high priest...and the blood that was shed for the sins of the people. Their gaze was fixed upon the shed blood that stained the slab of gold that covered the ark of testimony.
The golden cherubim had stiff necks. They, obviously, could not move from their position. We, on the other hand, have necks that can move and we are free to look about.
Like Peter, we can be easily distracted. And when we take our eyes off the blood, the anxious care of this life, and the deceit of riches choke the word, and [we] become unfruitful.
Next time you bow down your head to pray, whether it be before a meal or during your devotions or bible study, or whatever, don’t close your eyes. Remember the Cherubim! Picture their view. Remember the blood. Remember the blood that was shed. Remember the blood that was shed, not to cover your sins, but to remove them to be remembered no more.
I can see the blood drops, red ’neath His thorny crown,
From the cruel nail wounds now they are falling down;
Lord, when I would wander from Thy love away,
Let me see those blood drops shed for me that day. -- Maud Frazer
