Shekinah Page 1 of 2
In developing another article, that being “Light by God’s Design,” which we will get to in a future presentation, the “Shekinah” or “Shekinah Glory” was brought in as a consideration. It is a term used in a number of ways, but forgotten in messages today.
As we look at this term, stay mindful that it is a non-scriptural word in this form, but may explain the missing light of Genesis 1:2. I do believe it is the presence of God. So let’s explore it for a moment and then you make your own decision.
Judaic theologians of Hebrew “Bible” studies developed the word “Shekinah.” I see a proper secondary use of the word to be the “Shekinah Glory.” It is the Christian extension of their work.
It seems that Christians see this Shekinah to be “light” where as the Hebrew studies seem to lean more toward the “dwelling” or “presence” of God. However, one might say that where God dwells there is light, and this is true because He is light, 1st John 1:5. But where there is light does not mean God dwells there. And though each relates to the other, it seems the “dwelling” of Hebrew is more a positional issue relating to God, light expresses an attribute of God.
Now stick with me on this statement. The use of the terms, when properly applied shows the Hebrew meaning to be more restricted while the Christian meaning is without restrictions. The content in which we see these two, presence and/or light, sets the context of meaning. So in each scriptural situation in which we may see this “Shekinah” addressed, we may set the context. Is it God’s “dwelling presence” or “light presence?” In any case, both seem to have been lacking on the Earth, the world which we now occupy, as stated in the first part of Genesis 1:2:
“Genesis 1:2a; And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep.”
Then in the second part of the verse we see God is there:
“Genesis 1:2b; And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.”
Light is brought to be in verse 3:
“Genesis 1:3; And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.”
Both are found in Genesis 1:2b with 1:3. God made His presence known to the world, our world by His spirit. Yet His ever present light before we or the world existed.
When you hear these words, “Shekinah” or “Shekinah Glory,” be aware that it only by application and for the purposes of explanation of the presence of God in the form of illumination given a person, either exterior or internal. Again, the word(s) are not found in the Bible.
Shekinah was developed and is used in the Judaic rabbinical books and vocabularies to explain the presence of the Lord. It is a take off of the Hebrew word “shakan” (7931) meaning to “dwell” which is used some 92 times, depending on the Bible version, to describe or relate to the presence of God. Their studies conclude and present the thoughts that “If God is present, there is light. If there is light God is “dwelling” there. These are arbitrarily true statements as neither addresses the omnipresence of God. God is always present.
For now, in this article, we look past this conundrum of His “spiritual” omnipresence and look at His “physical” presence as indicated by the “light,” in the next offering.