Lesson 1 (part 4): SHEKINAH GLORY and the HOLY SPIRIT

When God sent Moses to deliver His people from the bondage of slavery to the Egyptians and lead them into the land of promise, he manifested His Shekinah Glory in their midst as a self-reveltion of His presence. "And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light ..." Exodus 13:21

When the tabernacle was built according to the specific instructions of Almighty God, "then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle." "Whenever the cloud was taken up from above the tabernacle, the children of Israel would go onward in all their journeys." Exodus 40:34, 36

The Shekinah Glory of God led the Israelites throughout their journeys. It also offered them protection. Exodus 14:19-20 tells us that when Pharoah's army had hemmed the Israelites in at the Red Sea as they left Egypt, the cloud "moved and went behind them ... so it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel. Thus it was a cloud and darkness to the one, and it gave light by night to the other, so that the one did not come near the other all that night."

The Holy Spirit is associated with the Shekinah Glory when He is identified as

• the Glory of the Lord in 2 Cor. 3:18


• the Spirit of Glory in 1 Pet. 4:14

Other references (like the following) are also related to manifestations of the Shekinah Glory

• the Seven Lamps of Fire Burning Before the Throne in Rev. 4:5


• the Spirit of Burning in Isa. 4:4


• the Voice of Your Thunder in Ps. 77:18


• tongues of fire in Acts 2:3

How wonderful to know the Holy Spirit today who continues to lead God's children in both big and small ways! How precious to know the sound of His voice as He reveals the path God has chosen for us to our spirit!

What a priceless treasure His presence in our lives is to not only guide us, but also protect us. Would it sound like an oxymoron to you if I told you that one of the most significant times the Holy Spirit protected me was when He allowed me to cut my finger rather badly a few years ago? That small incident sent me for medical help which initiated a chain of events that resulted in God delivering me from the depression that had invaded my life for nearly five years. Without that simple little accident, I might have continued my descent into the pit of despair to an end I shudder to think of.

I'm so thankful for the ways the Spirit of Glory leads us and protects us! I'm grateful for the glimpses of glory He brings into our lives. Throughout history, the great revivals of the church have been described as God manifesting His glory among His people. Personal and corporate revival only comes when we recognize the Holy Spirit as God, repent of the sins He brings to our attention, and yield to His leading by obeying the known will of God.

Ask Him to lead you a place of personal revival today that you might rejoice in Him. (Psalm 85:6)