What is the Shechinah glory?

Short Answer

The Shechinah glory is the visible manifestation of God, in the form of light, fire (or its light), or a cloud (or a combination). Essentially it is the manifestation of the hHoliness of God.

Theophany

The appearance of God in a visible form is called a theophany. In the Old Testament God uses two forms of theophanies – the most common being the Shechinah Glory.[1] We can first find the Shechinah Glory in: Exodus 13:20, 21; 16:10, 40:34, 38 etc.

Cloud can be used symbolically in the OT, and typically it represents the Shechinah Glory; e.g. Exodus 16:10, 40:34-37; 1 King 8:10, 11; Matthew 26:4.

Representations in Scripture

Original arrival of the Shechinah Glory

The Mosaic Covenant, being the Law comprising 613 ordinances, was signed and sealed by the Shechinah Glory, Exodus 24:1-11, noting the method employed ensured the Covenant was conditional: obey the law and be blessed, disobey and be cursed.

The Holy Of Holies contained the Shechinah Glory which was seen by one man once a year – the High Priest under very stringent rules: Leviticus 16:15-17.

From that moment on, until the time of Ezekiel, the Shechinah Glory dwelt in the Holy of Holies; first, in the Tabernacle, and later in Solomon's Temple. Although at one point, when the Philistines captured the Ark of the Covenant in 1 Samuel 4, there was the fear that the Jews had lost the Shechinah Glory; this was definitely wrong.

The Shechinah Glory, the visible manifestation of the presence of God, came to live among the people of Israel when the Tabernacle was finished in Exodus 40.

Departure of the Shechinah Glory

Ezekiel prophesied about the departure of the Shechinah Glory 8:1-11:25 and when the destruction of the Temple. After King Manasseh’s idolatry (King of Judah) came Josiah’s great reformation – the rediscovery of the Law (Book of the Covenant) and the reinstatement of Passover. After his death, Judah plunged into even greater wickedness under the reign of wicked kings all who revived idolatry. At this point YHWH intervened. Israel – the Northern Tribes and much of Judah had been taken into captivity. Now Jerusalem including the Temple was to be destroyed.

Return of the Shechinah Glory

When the remnant of Israel has been restored after they confess their sin of killing their Messiah (Jeremiah 3:11-18; Zechariah 12:10; Hosea 5:15, Matt. 23:37-39 etc.) they will be saved. These believers will rebuild the Temple, prophesied by Ezekiel 43:1-12 and 44:1-8 in a manner and likeness that history has never seen before. When complete Shechinah Glory of God will return to the Temple and fill it.

Jesus’ Transfiguration

The Shechinah glory was shown to three disciples of Jesus: Peter, James and John, the brother of James. The three Gospel accounts of the Transfiguration read as follows:

Matthew 17:2: ... and he was transfigured before them; and his face did shine as the sun, and his garments became white as the light.

Mark 9:3: ... and his garments became glistering, exceeding white, so as no fuller on earth can whiten them.

Luke 9:29: And as he was praying, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment became white and dazzling.

The event occurred on top of a “high mountain”, most likely Mount Hermon, in the north of Israel. A very bright light penetrated through the body of Jesus, lighting his body and clothes as a white and bright light. This manifestation represented the glory Jesus had before he emptied himself (Philippians 2:6, 7) and came to earth, incarnate (or with the form of a human body). Jesus body behaved as a veil, allowing the disciples to see his glory which out going blind or dying (see Exodus 33:12-23).