Each cherub had two faces: the face of a human being toward the palm tree on one side and the face of a lion toward the palm tree on the other. They were carved all around the whole temple. – Ezekiel 41:18b-19

Today's Scripture Reading (October 11, 2026): Ezekiel 41

Rudyard Kipling wrote

If you can walk with the crowd and keep your virtue, or walk with Kings-nor lose the common touch; If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you; If all men count with you, but none too much; If you can fill the unforgiving minute with 60 seconds worth of distance run- Yours is the earth and everything that's in it, And-which is more-you'll be a man my son.

If: A Father's Advice to His Son

The phrase "walk with kings, nor lose the common touch" seems to have captured our imagination. It has become the standard by which we judge people we encounter. We seem to want to connect with people who have the power to change our world yet have never lost sight of what it is like to walk among ordinary people. We have no time for the elitist who has lost touch with the common person. However, we want to follow the person in power who identifies with most of humanity, wherever they dare to lead.

Ezekiel once again has a vision of cherubim. This time, they are carved on the temple walls. The cherubim have two faces. One is the face of a man, and the other is the face of a lion. These faces are not accidental. These angels of the temple minister to man's plight, but to do so they must understand the problem; they must intimately know what it is to be weak and in need. They are the bearers of the gospel message to man. However, identifying and understanding man is not enough; the angels must also go boldly and with courage. They need to identify with man, but not fear him.

So the angels come equipped with two faces and two natures. That these cherubim face the palm trees indicates that, while they identify with humankind and come with courage, they also come with sincere hearts and honest conversations, with their eyes fixed on God's final victory, which was yet to come.

For the exiles, this was a message of hope: the God of Israel and this Temple still had his people's concerns on his heart, and he would still bring victory to Israel. He understood what they were going through and was already on his way, with courage and the power to change what was.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Ezekiel 42