The propitiatory cover signifies Christ as the cover of God’s righteous law. It also signifies Him as the place where God speaks to His redeemed people in grace. Hence, the propitiatory cover equals God’s throne of grace (Heb. 4:16).
Verse 17 says that the propitiatory cover was made of pure gold. Gold here signifies Christ’s pure divine nature.
The size of the propitiatory cover was “two cubits and a half its length, and a cubit and a half its width.” The dimensions of the propitiatory cover signify a testimony.
Exodus 25:18 says, “And you shall make two cherubim of gold; of beaten work you shall make them, from the two ends of the propitiatory cover.” The cherubim signify God’s glory (Ezek. 10:18; Heb. 9:5). We do not know whether or not the cherubim are angels, but we do know that they are related to God’s glory. Hebrews 9:5 speaks of the cherubim of glory, and Ezekiel 10:18 says that God’s glory left the temple and stood above the cherubim. Thus, the cherubim are related to God’s glory and signify His glory. The cherubim on the propitiatory cover indicate that Christ expresses God’s glory, that God’s glory shines out from Him. The cherubim were on the cover, and the cover is Christ. This means that the glory of God shines out of Christ and upon Christ.
The cherubim were made of gold, of Christ’s divine nature, and they were made of beaten work, indicating Christ’s sufferings.
Verse 19 says, “And make one cherub from this end, and one cherub from that end; from the propitiatory cover you shall make the cherubim upon its two ends.” The cherubim on the two ends of the propitiatory cover signify testimony. The fact that the cherubim were one with the propitiatory cover indicates that God’s glory comes out of Christ being the propitiatory cover to be a testimony.
Verse 20 says, “And the cherubim shall spread out their wings above, covering over with their wings the propitiatory cover, with their faces each toward the other; toward the propitiatory cover the faces of the cherubim shall be.” The wings of the cherubim covered the propitiatory cover. This means that God’s glory is expressed in Christ to be a full testimony. The faces of the cherubim were toward each other and toward the propitiatory cover. This signifies that God’s glory watches over and observes what Christ has done.
Verse 21 says, “And you shall put the propitiatory cover upon the ark from above, and into the ark you shall put the testimony which I shall give you.” Here we are told that the propitiatory cover was put upon the ark from above. This signifies Christ as the propitiatory cover covering the law within the ark.
The first part of verse 22 says, “And I will meet with you there.” This indicates that God met with His people in the propitiating Christ.