What were the cherubim on top of the ark of the covenant, and what did their wings do?
The cherubim were two angelic-like beings, and their wings literally met over the middle of that little box of pure beaten gold. They indicated the mercy seat, a covering of God's mercy, because God's mercy alone could answer to the law contained in the box.
Les explains that the cherubim were two angelic-like beings, and their wings literally met over the middle of the little ark box, which was pure beaten gold. He says those cherubim indicated a covering of God's mercy—the mercy seat. The law inside the box was so demanding that only God's mercy could answer to it and bring anyone close to satisfying its demand. He also notes that the more one is interested in real Bible study, the more glorious the tabernacle becomes, and he connects this to Romans 3, where Paul says all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption in Christ Jesus.