The path of the glory through Scripture may be easily tracked and has much moral value for us connected with it.
Exod. 13 It commences its journey in the cloud, on the deliverance of Israel from Egypt, when the paschal blood, in the grace of the God of their fathers, had sheltered them.
Exod. 14 In the moment of the great crisis, it stood separating between Israel and Egypt, or between judgment and salvation.
Exod. 16 It resented the murmurings of the camp.
Exod. 24 It connected itself with Mount Sinai, and was a devouring fire in the sight of the people.
Exod. 40 It leaves that mount for the tabernacle, the witness of mercy rejoicing against judgment, resuming also in the cloud its gracious services toward the camp.
Lev. 9 The priest being consecrated, and his services in the tabernacle being discharged, it shows itself to the people to their exceeding joy.
Numb. 9 Resuming their journey in company with the tabernacle, the congregation enjoys the guidance of the cloud, which now attends the tabernacle, while the glory fills it.
Numb. 16 In the hour of full apostasy, it shows itself in judicial terror in the sight of the rebellious people.
Deut. 21 In the cause of Joshua, an elect and faithful vessel, it reappears in the cloud.
2 Chron. 5 On the temple's being built, a new witness of grace, the glory and the cloud reappear, to the joy of Israel, as of old.
Eze. 1 to 11. Again, in another hour of full apostasy, the glory taking wings and wheels to itself, as it were, leaves the temple.
Acts 7. Stephen, an earth-rejected man, sees it in heaven in company with Jesus.
Rev. 21:99And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. (Revelation 21:9). In millennial days it descends from heaven in its new habitation, the holy Jerusalem, "the Lamb's wife," resting above in the air, from whence it shades and illumines the dwellings of Israel again (Isa. 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)), as it once did from the cloud in the wilderness; it will enter the temple again in the days of the Millennium (Eze. 435So the spirit took me up, and brought me into the inner court; and, behold, the glory of the Lord filled the house. (Ezekiel 43:5); Hag. 25According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not. (Haggai 2:5)).
Such is the path of the glory, the symbol of the divine presence. Its history, as thus traced, tells us that, if man be in company with grace, he can rejoice in it; but that it is devouring fire to all who stand under Mount Sinai. It tells us also that, while it cheers and guides them on their way, it resents the evil and withdraws from the apostasy of God's professing people.
It is very instructive and comforting to note these things in the history of the glory, which was the symbol of the divine presence.