Revelations 22:12-21

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Read Revelations 22:12-21 Verses for meditation: Revelations 22:12-13, 16, 20-21 ESV: 12 "Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” 16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” 20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! 21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen. Reflect How does it feel to be reading the very last few verses of the bible? What do the proclamations, the last few of them, say about Christ? Come, Lord Jesus! Does this really express our desire? How does the greatest book end, and on what note? But is this really the end? Relate With mixed feelings, I'm writing this last devotion based on the final ten verses of the greatest book, the bible. What a journe...
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2 Chronicles 5:2-6:42 "His Shekinah Glory"

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READ: 2 Chronicles 5:2 - 6:42

Verses chosen for meditation: 2 Chronicles 5:13b - 14.

13 … Then the temple of the Lord was filled with the cloud, 14 and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the temple of God.

 

REFLECT

During the Temple’s dedication, the Levites and priests celebrated in praise and worship and exuded a glorious moment. A visible manifestation of God’s glory filled the temple in response to their worship. This manifestation of His glory and presence was known in the later Judaism as the “Shekinah”.

This “Shekinah Glory” is the tangible presence of God (meaning “dwelling’). The word “Shekinah” is not in the Bible, but the description is. The rabbis used the term “Shekinah” to describe the presence of God amongst His people (Exodus 19:16-18, Exodus 33:7-11; 40: 34-38, I Kings 6:13) to the Jewish people and the glory of God dwelling in the Temple (2 Chron 7:1).

The first biblical account of Shekinah Glory is recorded in Exodus after the Israelites had left their slavery in Egypt. God appeared to them as a pillar of cloud and fire as they camped at Etham (Exodus 13:20-22). In another account, God has denied Moses’ request to see Him face to face because the glory of God was too great for human eyes to gaze upon and survive. Later, Moses was allowed to see God, but only a glimpse of His back, Exodus 33:20-23.


RELATE

Jesus is the manifestation of Shekinah Glory in the New Testament (NT). This “Shekinah” provides the background to John’s comment about the incarnate Son, “we have seen His glory”, John 1:14. Other NT accounts as in Luke 21:27, Acts 1:9 and Rev 1:7, largely point to the cloud of glory that received Jesus into heaven at His ascension or when Jesus returns in triumph to this earth.

Jesus’ ministry is the ultimate encounter of Shekinah Glory that God has ever had with man on earth, Col 2: 9-10. Furthermore, Jesus was made to be both God and man in one person, to act as our High Priest, so that He could be the embodiment of the redemption of our sins (Hebrews 2:17). We are able to experience Shekinah Glory today as we abide eternally in God’s presence through a new covenant, with His Holy Spirit residing in us.

Some suggestions to welcome the Glory of God:

a.  As Jesus is the manifestation of Shekinah Glory, He must be the centre of our worship. We worship Him for Who He is (His Glory is in His Son, John 1:14) in every way and every day, not just during Sunday services. The Levites and priests remembered the Lord's covenant (I Chron 17:13), constant mercy, love, and faithfulness throughout Israel’s history. In keeping His covenant, the Lord Jesus came as both a man and God to reveal the Father’s Glory in the NT (Matt 16:27).

 

b. With Jesus being our High Priest, we affirm and exercise our positions as priests (priesthood of all believers). We gather to worship and serve God in Jesus’ Name because we are chosen by His grace (grafted into Jesus’ family tree) and are empowered to do so.


c. Praise and worship through our voices and music. Note that the great outpouring of the glory and presence of God came in the context of intense and dedicated praise, 5:13-14. As a bearer of prayer and praise, the Levites used music to invoke the Divine Presence. Aware that some conservatives do not agree to the use of music in worship. Contrary, music does have its role, for example in the worship before the Ark (2 Chron 5:11-13).


May we so desire His “Shekinah Glory” to visit and fill us in our everyday lives.

 

REST

Sharing this song: “Shekinah Glory”, that I have learned some years ago.  https://youtu.be/SCf2lRg3HIM

Vincent  

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