God's Presence in the Old Testament
The concept of God's presence is a pervasive theme throughout the Old Testament. The Hebrew Scriptures describe God's presence in various ways, often using different names and titles to convey the nature of this presence. One of the primary ways God's presence is described is through the use of specific names, such as "Jehovah-shammah," meaning "the Lord is there" [1].
In the Old Testament, God's presence is often associated with specific locations, such as the tabernacle or the temple. For example, in Exodus 3:16, God appears to Moses in a vision, saying, "The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared to me" [2]. Similarly, in Ezekiel 8:4, the prophet sees "the glory of the God of Israel" in a vision [3].
The Old Testament also describes God's presence in terms of his interactions with his people. In Genesis, God speaks to Israel in a vision, saying, "Jacob, Jacob!" and Israel responds, "Here I am" [4]. This dialogue illustrates the personal and relational nature of God's presence. Furthermore, God's presence is often linked to his power and ability to accomplish the impossible, as seen in passages like Genesis 18:14 and Jeremiah 32:17 [6].
The theme of God's presence is also closely tied to the concept of the Shekinah, or God's dwelling among his people. In the Old Testament, the Shekinah is often associated with the tabernacle and the temple, where God's presence is said to dwell. This concept is later fulfilled in the New Testament, where God is said to dwell among his people through the incarnation of Jesus Christ and the presence of the Holy Spirit [9].
The Old Testament writers often emphasized God's presence as a source of comfort, strength, and redemption for his people. For example, in Psalms 107:38, God's presence is linked to the abundance of his people's families and herds [8]. Similarly, in Zechariah 8:6, God's ability to do the impossible is highlighted as a demonstration of his presence and power [6].
The concept of God's presence in the Old Testament is also closely tied to the idea of visitation and redemption. In Luke 1:68, Zechariah praises God for visiting and redeeming his people, illustrating the connection between God's presence and his salvific work [7].
In the Old Testament, the presence of God is a multifaceted concept that encompasses his power, redemption, and relationship with his people. As seen in various passages, this presence is often associated with specific locations, interactions, and experiences, highlighting the complex and rich nature of God's presence in the Hebrew Scriptures. The theme continues into the New Testament, where it is fulfilled in Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit [5].
Sources
- Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Jehovah-shammah — the Lord is there”
- Exodus “Exodus 3:16 (DRC) — Go and gather together the ancients of Israel, and thou shalt say to them: The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared to me, saying: Visiting I have visited you; and I have seen all that hath befallen you in Egypt.”
- Ezekiel “Ezekiel 8:4 (LITV) — And, behold! The glory of the God of Israel was there, like the appearance which I saw in the plain.”
- Genesis “God spoke to Israel in the visions of the night, and said, “Jacob, Jacob!” He said, “Here I am.” -- Genesis 46:2”
- Jude (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Jude 13:19: 13:19-22 It is not possible for human beings to take in the full revelation of God’s holy presence and still live (cp. 6:20-24; Exod 19:21; 33:20). The Old Testament frequently reports divine visitations on earth in human form; these visitations foreshadow the full appearance of God on earth in the incarnation of Jesus.”
- Zechariah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Zechariah 8:6: 8:6 The Old Testament portrays God as able to do the impossible and the miraculous—nothing is too hard for the God who made the heavens and the earth (Gen 18:14; Jer 32:17, 27; see also Matt 19:26).”
- Luke (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Luke 1:68: There is not a word in this noble burst of divine song about his own child; like Elisabeth losing sight entirely of self, in the glory of a Greater than both. Lord God of Israel--the ancient covenant God of the peculiar people. visited and redeemed--that is, in order to redeem: returned after long absence, and broken His long silence (see Mat 15:31). In the Old Testament, God is said to "visit" chiefly for judgment, in the New Testament for mercy. Zacharias would, as yet, have but imperfect views of such "visiting and redeeming," "saving from and del”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 107:38: 107:38 God’s presence can be seen in the abundance of his people’s families and herds (127:3; 133:3; cp. 109:8).”
- Joel (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Joel 2:27: know that I am in the midst of Israel--As in the Old Testament dispensation God was present by the Shekinah, so in the New Testament first, for a brief time by the Word made flesh dwelling among us (Joh 1:14), and to the close of this dispensation by the Holy Spirit in the Church (Mat 28:20), and probably in a more perceptible manner with Israel when restored (Eze 37:26-28). never be ashamed--not an unmeaning repetition from Joe 2:26. The twice-asserted truth enforces its unfailing certainty. As the "shame" in Joe 2:26 refers to temporal blessings, so ”