The Shekinah Glory

(More from a discussion about the presence of God in the Temple)

The ancient Hebrews believed that the creator god was omnipresent. However, his omnipresence was distinguished from physical theophanies (Gen 18:1–3) and/or shekinah glories (Exod 19:16-18; 24:16-18; 40:34-38; 1 Kin 8:10-11; 2 Chron 7:1). It was the shekinah glory (perceived as a cloud) that resided in the Temple, which Ezekiel saw departing (Ezek 10), and which did not return. However, the shekinah glory did not have to be present to accept sacrifices (1 Kin 18:30-39; 1 Sam 7:9; Deut 27:4ff [Josh 8:30]; Judg 6:24). Naturally, this had to be the case when the kingdom was divided between northern Israel and southern Judah. But - and this is very important – it was Jesus himself who the ultimate shekinah glory and proper theophany.

This is why John says the Word became flesh, made his dwelling among us (literally, “tabernacled among us”), and they beheld his glory (John 1:14). When Jesus cleanses the Temple in John’s Gospel, he says that if they destroy this temple, he will rebuild it in 3 days (2:19). John notes that Jesus was referring to his own body (2:21). Jesus was literally the walking shekinah glory presence of God. He was the Temple of the God where the fullness of God dwelt. This is why Jesus can say, “something greater than the Temple is here” (Matt 12:6). If for no other reason, the presence of God was not in the Temple because it was Jesus.

Again, the presence of God left the Temple (Ezek 10). There is no indication that it ever returned. This is one reason the pagan Roman general Pompey could entered the Holy of Holies without harm (63 BCE). The rabbinic literature (such as the Babylonian Talmud) also state that the divine presence was not there. However, Malachi 3:1 predicted that God would one day return and reappear in his Temple. Mark begins his Gospel quoting the first half of this verse (1:2) and then Isaiah 40:3 (1:3). Mark attributes God coming to the appearance of Jesus. In Matthew 21:5, the author cites the Zechariah 9:9 prophecy about God returning when Jesus enters Jerusalem. When Jesus enters the Temple he fulfills the Malachi 3:1 prophecy.

So, no, the presence of God was not dwelling in the Second Temple, even though God was accepting its sacrifices. Rather, the presence was Jesus who was God returning to his people.

This is actually important stuff, involving incarnation, exile, the forgiveness of sins, the defeat of fallen Powers, and the setting up of God’s kingdom. And it’s all stuff that is historically grounded in the Old Testament and New writers, the Dead Sea Scrolls, the rabbinic literature, and even the Roman historians.