Then the 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.
(Ver. 34, 35.) The external and internal manifestation of the Divine presence, protection, and glory: Divine and Almighty protection above, and Divine glory within. For “he that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” God himself is “a wall of fire round about his people, and the glory in the midst.” The Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon them. “The eternal God is their refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.”
This overshadowing cloud and this indwelling glory was a prefiguring of what took place at Pentecost, when the Church of God first commenced its history and its course, and when believers were first builded together for an habitation of God, through the Spirit. “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues, like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts 2:1-41And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:1‑4).) And again (Acts 4:3131And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:31)): “And when they had prayed, the house was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.”
What external and internal manifestations have we here of the presence and power of the Spirit of God! And what a Divine glory shines forth from all!
So also the inspired prayer of the apostle in Ephesians 3:14-1914For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. (Ephesians 3:14‑19): “For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith.... that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.”
When Christ first foretells the setting up of his own Church, in Matthew 16, he says, “And the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” This is the external protection. And he adds, in Matthew 18:2020For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20), “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” This is the internal glory.
But what is the principle of all this, and the secret of its enjoyment? Obedience, implicit obedience.
Seven times the word of God had testified that Moses, the servant of the Lord, had done each particular “as the Lord commanded.” And at Pentecost the disciples were assembled in willing-hearted and united obedience to the command of the Lord Jesus. And the Lord Jesus testifies also concerning the Church in Philadelphia: “Thou hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.” (Revelation 3:88I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. (Revelation 3:8).) “Then,” when all was in accordance with the word and will of God, and not till then, “the cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.”
“Lord, how is it,” says Jude, “that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?” “Jesus answered and said unto him, if a man love me, he will keep my word (not words): and my Father will love him, and we will conic unto him, and make our abode with him.” (John 14:2323Jesus 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. (John 14:23).) This is a principle of the utmost importance, and throws a Divine light on many a perplexing question.
When Solomon had finished the house of Jehovah, according to the Divine will and pattern, then “the cloud filled the house of the Lord, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of the Lord.” (1 Kings 8:10,1110And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the Lord, 11So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of the Lord. (1 Kings 8:10‑11).) The cloud, and the indwelling glory is here seen again.
Isaiah prophesies of the time of future blessing to Israel, when “the Lord will create upon every dwelling-place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defense.” (Isaiah 4:55And the Lord will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence. (Isaiah 4:5).) Here again is “the overshadowing protection.”
Ezekiel, who saw in vision the glory taking its gradual departure from the first temple (Ezekiel 10 and 11.), afterward also in vision saw the glory returning to the millennial temple. “And, behold, the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord.” (Ezekiel 44:44Then brought he me the way of the north gate before the house: and I looked, and, behold, the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord: and I fell upon my face. (Ezekiel 44:4).) This again is the internal glory.
John, in the apocalyptic vision of the Church’s future blessedness, saw that great city, the holy Jerusalem, but “saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.” (Revelation 21,22, 23.)
“There no temple rose before him, —
There no glory shone above;
All was temple, all was glory,
All in all was God and love.”
The saints in glory will dwell in God, and God in them. His glory is their overshadowing cloud; his presence is their indwelling glory.
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.
So also, in the temple of Solomon, “the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of the Lord.” (1 Kings 8:1111So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of the Lord. (1 Kings 8:11).)
And so on the mount of transfiguration, when Moses and Elias appeared with Jesus in glory, “there came a bright cloud and overshadowed them: and the disciples feared as they entered into the cloud. And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, this is my beloved Son: hear him. And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone.” (Luke 9:34-3634While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud. 35And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him. 36And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen. (Luke 9:34‑36).) Thus, whether it be Moses, the servant of God, or the priests in their priestly ministry, or the two men on the mount of transfiguration, all give place to the glory of God and of the Lamb.
The Guidance of the Cloud.
And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys: but if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of the Lord was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys. Ver. 36-38.) The people of God are a journeying people, yet he will never leave them, nor forsake them. The great thing is to walk with God, so as ever to enjoy the light and guidance of his presence.
“If thy presence go not with us,” says Moses, “carry us not up hence.” And who that values that presence but will often be presenting the same petition?
This presence of God with us—how seasonable! how suitable Shade in sunshine. Light in darkness. Abiding with us while we tarry. Going before us when we move.
But there is one thing of all-importance taught us here. God’s guidance of his people, and the manifestation of his presence with them, is connected with the tabernacle, his dwelling-place among them. It was “when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle that the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys.” Their individual movements were controlled by God’s acting in connection with the tabernacle.
And so with us: if our individual actions are not influenced by the manifestation of God’s presence and actings with the assembly, no wonder if we miss his guidance, and walk in darkness.
Not only were the children of Israel to pitch round about the tabernacle, having it as their center, the very place of their tents being regulated by the position of the tabernacle, because it was God’s dwelling-place; but their every movement was to harmonize with God’s movements in connection with it.
Oh, for grace ever to remember and to act on this! We are so prone to make self our center, and our individual interests and comforts, temporal or spiritual, the guides of our actions, that we need every now and then to be broken off from them, and to be brought back to God, and to the things of God.
May we value the presence of God with us in our individual pathway, and the unclouded sunshine of his smile on our private path. But may we also value the manifestation of his presence in the assembly of his saints, so as ever to “see his power and his glory as we have seen it in the sanctuary.” And may the chill and the darkness, occasioned by the loss of his smile, be to us a warning of our wandering, if we turn aside to the right hand or to the left; whether it be in our individual course, or in our church associations. flay; we walk, O God, in the light of thy countenance, the confident language of our hearts being this, “Thou shalt guide us with thy counsel, and afterward receive us to glory.”