The visible, weighty presence of God among his people. The Hebrew kavod carries the sense of heaviness or significance. In Exodus, God’s glory filled the tabernacle (Exodus 40:34). Solomon saw it fill the temple (1 Kings 8:10-11). Ezekiel watched it leave (Ezekiel 10:18-19) and later return to a restored temple (Ezekiel 43:1-5). The New Testament transfers this presence to Jesus (John 1:14) and to the church as God’s dwelling (2 Corinthians 3:18, Ephesians 2:21-22).
The departure-and-return arc in Ezekiel is one of Scripture’s most striking narrative threads. God’s glory leaves because of Israel’s idolatry, but God promises to dwell again among a people given a new heart. Revelation closes the story: the New Jerusalem needs no temple because God himself is its light (Revelation 21:22-23).
Key Passages
Exodus 33:18-23, Exodus 40:34, 1 Kings 8:10-11, Ezekiel 10:18-19, Ezekiel 43:1-5, Habakkuk 2:14, John 1:14, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Revelation 21:22-23
Vault Notes
- 2020-11-24 Glory of the Lord Leaves the Temple — Ezekiel 10
- 2020-11-24 Ezekiel 10 Glory Departing the Temple
- 2020-12-12 Glory of the Lord Returns to the Temple — Ezekiel 43
- 2020-12-12 New Jerusalem Named The Lord Is There — the final destination of God’s presence
- 2020-12-12 River from the Temple Brings Healing — life flows from where God dwells
- 2020-12-08 Church-Future-Temple-Ez-1Pe — the church as the new locus of God’s presence
- 2019-10-20 Meditating on Attributes of God
- 2021-11-25 Beale - we are the new temple
References
- The temple and the church’s mission — traces the temple/glory theme from Eden to Revelation
- God dwells among us — the storyline of God dwelling with his people
- Biblical theology — the glory theme in OT redemptive history