What is Shekinah Glory?
The term ‘Shekinah Glory’ does not actually appear in the Bible. The Shekinah glory is simply a visible manifestation of God here in this world. The word, Shekinah, is drawn from the Hebrew word “shakan”, which means “to dwell” or “to reside” with the emphasis of being a permanent resident in a community, rather than a brief, personal visitation of the Lord. We see this word used in Exodus 25:8, “And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may DWELL (shakan) among them.” In the Bible, this display of God’s dwelling among human beings is described as His “glory.”
We see in Exodus 13:20-22 an example. That says, “And they took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness. And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.” Here, the Lord manifested His presence to His people in the form of a “pillar of the cloud by day” and a “pillar of fire by night.”
This ‘cloud’ representing the Lord’s presence is spoken of several times in the Old Testament. A few are:
- Exodus 40:34-35, “Then a CLOUD covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the CLOUD abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.”
- Leviticus 16:2, “And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the CLOUD upon the mercy seat.”
- Numbers 9:15, “And on the day that the tabernacle was reared up THE CLOUD covered the tabernacle, namely, the tent of the testimony: and at even there was upon the tabernacle as it were the appearance of fire, until the morning.”
The Lord Jesus Christ is the greatest manifestation of the ‘Shekinah Glory’ in the New Testament. We read in Matthew 1:23, “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, GOD WITH US.” Colossians 2:9-10 tells us, “For in him (Christ) dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.”
Today the Lord is a permanent resident with, and in, His people. We read in:
- John 14:23, “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.”
- 1 Corinthians 3:16, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”
- Romans 8:11, “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.”
How precious to know that believers are a sanctuary for the Lord, and He is pleased to dwell in and among us! (CC) (531.6)