Please understand that God is holy. That means He is different from us, and that difference separates us. But God in His love provided a Savior from our condition. Jesus Christ the righteous took on our sin and infirmity and nailed them to the cross. He became our Kinsman Redeemer (Ruth 4:1-11). He passed the blessing of the Only Begotten Firstborn onto us (Genesis 48) so that we might be clothed in His righteousness. All of this was done for us that we might never be separated from Him.

Yet most of the time we travel in a fog, not seeing God, not feeling His presence. I think there is a clue to that reality in our title scripture. I often wonder why God led the children of Israel with a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night. The scripture itself holds at least one clue, “so as to go by day and night.” When God called His people to move, provision was made. They could go any time, day or night. They knew which way; there was no doubt. By day the cloud guided them when they moved, even shielding them from the heat of the sun. By night the pillar of fire illuminated their world. Not only would they not stumble as they walked, but what predator or foe would try to raid a camp whose security light was a fire pillar reaching into the heavens? There are well over forty references to the cloud in the Books of Moses. At the dedication of the tabernacle, the cloud descended, and overwhelmed, all present. (Numbers 15:15-16)

But there is another factor here, call it a personal interpretation. God appeared as a cloud when the people had the light of day. When their focus was on the things of this world, God was obscured. But at night, in the darkness, the glory of God shone all around them. When the world was obscured, God was visible. Take that idea and meditate on this lovely chorus taken from an old hymn.

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

(Michael W. Smith)

There is one more idea I want you to grasp. It is manifest presence. That is the theological concept we have been dancing around for the last several weeks. To know in theory that God is always present is one thing. To experience Him in a way that is tangible to us personally is another. At the dedication of the tabernacle, the cloud descended and overwhelmed all present. (Numbers 15:15-16)

When Solomon dedicated the Temple in Jerusalem, again the presence of God filled the entire temple to the point that the priests could not minister. (I Kings 8:10-11) The Jewish tradition developed a word for this phenomenon. It is שכינה, transliteratedshekinah. The original word means the dwelling or settling, and denotes the dwelling or settling of the divine presence of God, especially in the Temple in Jerusalem.1 Charismatic Christians have used the term to denote the manifest presence of God, especially in worship experiences.

While we each have the indwelling Spirit, feeling His presence in worship or in prayer is exciting, comforting, and/or overwhelming. He may be perceived by any or all of our senses and manifested in various emotional responses. I have seen or experienced all of the following: unexplained tears, uncontrolled laughter, smelling sweet aromas, falling under the weight of His power/presence, inability to move for a period, inexplicable sense of peace or wellbeing. All this and more can happen in the shekinah.

My father reported to me that a halo of light surrounded the roof of his church for hours one night after particularly anointed worship. There were multiple witnesses, but I was not present. All of this is to say we should seek the presence of God. Manifestation is wonderful and faith building, but the central issue is seeking God’s presence. Remember Elijah. There was wind. But God was not there. There was earthquake. But God was not there. There was fire. But God was not there. There was a still, small voice and God was there. Seek presence. Seek shekinah. But seek God above all.

Here is another musical meditation. Pray “Shekinah Glory Come,” not for the experience but for the presence.

We Wait for You (Shekinah Glory Come)