Revelation 4:6b- 8 – In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. 7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. 8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying: “‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come.”
“8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying: “‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come.” These four angelic beings are also noted as seraphim in Isaiah 6:2 “Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying.” The literal translation for seraphim is “burning ones.” Fire is the chief symbol of the holiness of God (Exodus 3:2-5, 19:18). Being in the proximity of the holiness of God, they are referred to as the “burning ones.” It is interesting that they cover their eyes. Some believe it is because even they could not gaze into the intense holiness of God, even while being consumed in His holiness. But, being servants of God, their ears were always open, always tuned to His bidding. In this we may find confirmation how, as we learn more of God and increasingly desire to dwell, and do dwell in His presence, that our eyes do not strain for proof of God. God need provide no proof or reason for us because we know Him and who He is greater than our thoughts and understanding. We need no proof, we have known His presence and need to see nothing. In fact, Jesus said we are blessed because we believe though we have not seen (John 20:29). The reality and proof of God lives within us (John 16:13). The holiness, the purity of God burns within us. Although we long to see God, and we will at the appointed time, the position of our hearts is to hear God. We long to be as the seraphim and cherubim are. To be burning with His presence and listening for the instant He calls us to service and we immediately are off to do all He asks us to. We, like the angels, are servants of God. We are the redeemed of God who love Him with a fire that consumes us. We desire to hear from Him. We read His Word that His Holy Spirit might make it explode with fire within us, bringing us into His throne room, into His fiery presence, and we will move forward, from glory to glory (2 Corinthians 3:18), in our knowledge and love of Him. We see and know Him in Spirit. What we see becomes to us, reality. We understand that what we see with our physical eyes is temporary, but what we see in our spirits is eternal (2 Corinthians 4:18). May we all be as the seraphim and cherubim are, always living in God’s presence and forever, in every moment, desiring to do His will. To live in His will. To be so one with God that we are an integral part and effect of His will. As a leaf is irresistibly blown along by the wind, it has no control over its own travel, nor does it desire to and sit idly on the earth. It desires to be swept up and dance in the wind that carries it along. So may we be.
The living creatures are covered with eyes, front and back. They represent that God is always looking and always seeing all. Yet we remember that that God is omnipresent (Jeremiah 23:24, Proverbs 15:3). He is everywhere. He is the witness to all. There is no hiding from God. For the unredeemed this is a fearsome thing. From those who run to Him, through Jesus, this is a most comforting truth. His eyes are always on us, His love and protection is with us always, because He is with us always. Always is always.
It is interesting that after noting that they are covered with eyes all around, it is then noted that they even have eyes under their wings. Why that notation? Perhaps it indicates that when they are busy, when they take flight, they are not distracted. In fact, as they fly, as they do the will of God, they do not know and see less, but their vision of the beauty and will of God is increased. Praise God, may we be busy in the works of God that we may know Him, and His will, ever more.
Being in God’s presence, the four creatures cannot stop praising God. When we have set aside the concerns of the world and are focused with heart and mind only on God, what do we do? We praise the Lord. We cannot help it. We are overwhelmed by His presence. Jesus said that if the children did not praise Him then the rocks would cry out . It is not because of God’s ego that His very presence demands praise. It is because of His holy and completely separate and superior being that all must cry out (Luke 19:40). It is not so much a demand from God, but an irresistible response to our God who is pure holiness, absolute love and beauty beyond imagination. If we see someone or something beautiful in this world, it is said that in amazement we look at the jaw dropping beauty. Well in God’s presence, the jaw doesn’t just drop, it keeps moving and praise flows from us. It is the appropriate and irresistible response to God. For those who are “dumber than a box of rocks” and will not praise God, well then, the rocks themselves will acknowledge what the fool will not.
In Isaiah’s vision we see the angelic saying that God is holy. In the Old Testament Hebrew the superlative is expressed by saying a word twice. For example in 2 Kings 25:15 what is translated “pure gold” is said in the original language “gold gold.” Here the way of expressing the superlative by saying it twice is not sufficient to describe the holiness of God. So, the holiness of God is expressed three times. It is the only time in Hebrew bible that a quality is raised to the power of three. Praise God! People, take off your sandals as we consider what the holiness of God.
Additionally, holy expressed three times is said to be indicative that it is the triune God being referred to, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Family, let us start every day at the place where these cherubim and seraphim live. May we learn, in ever increasing measure to live there! Oh, let us fix our gaze upon God, let our ears be listening for His voice speaking to us from within. There is no better blessing than to be in, and to continuously live, in His presence. Praise our God who, purely because He loves us, has called and blessed us so. Wow! Just wow!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.