The cherubim had their wings spread upward, covering the mercy seat with their wings, with their faced toward each other; the faced of the cherubim were toward the mercy seat.Okay, I know I'm stretching here, but bear with me. It's honestly a dull chapter, saying "he built what he was told to build."
I never quite understood this description/arrangement of the cherubim. From how it's stated, I'm assuming that normally (a.k.a. pagan cultures) the mercy seat would be open, with the cherubim facing outwards. So if that assumption is correct, why are the cherubim facing inwards on the Ark?
Here's my theory: normally, there would be somebody or someone on the mercy seat. You don't build a seat that will never be sat upon. So normally, either an idol or some ruler/high priest equivalent would use such a seat as a throne, declaring his divinity. However, for the Ark, that is not possible. With the mercy seat covered, no one could sit on it. Not, that is, unless he were incorporeal, not restrained by physical limitations. My theory is that this is almost a "seat reserved" sign, that it's only possible for God to sit here. No imposters possible.
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