Lesson for January 21, 2026
The Names and Titles of Jesus
Lesson 3
Shekinah Glory
Shekinah is a word related to the Hebrew word “shakan,” which means “to dwell” or “to reside.” In the Bible, the word is used for Jehovah/Jesus Christ dwelling with His people in the Tabernacle above the Ark of the Covenant, signifying that He was with them continually.
In the Age of Israel
Psalms 132:13-16, “For the Lord has chosen Zion (Israel); He has desired it as His dwelling place. This is My resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it. I will abundantly bless her food; I will satisfy her needy with bread. I will also clothe her priests with salvation, and her godly ones will sing aloud for joy.”
God promised to dwell among His people. The word “Shekinah Glory” is a way of describing God’s presence with His people.
Exodus 13:21, “And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light.”
The Shekinah Glory was in a cloud by day and fire at night, while Israel wandered in the wilderness after leaving captivity in Egypt.
Numbers 9:15-17, “Now on the day that the tabernacle was erected, the cloud covered the tabernacle, the tent of the testimony, and in the evening, it was like the appearance of fire over the tabernacle until morning. That is how it was continuously; the cloud would cover it by day, and the appearance of fire by night. Whenever the cloud was lifted from over the tent, afterward the sons of Israel would set out; and in the place where the cloud settled down, there the sons of Israel would camp.”
This describes how “the cloud” guided the Israelites.
Exodus 40:34, “Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle”
This same cloud signified God’s presence when the Tabernacle was constructed in the desert.
I Samuel 4:21, “The glory of the Lord has departed from Israel, because the ark of God has been taken.”
The Shekinah Glory also appeared above the Ark of the Covenant in the Most Holy Place/Holy of Holies in the sanctuary, and later in Solomon’s temple. When the Ark of the Covenant was captured by the Philistines in the time of Samuel, the Shekinah Glory was said to have departed from Israel.
Ezekiel 10:3-5, “Now the cherubim were standing on the right side of the Temple when the man entered, and the cloud filled the inner courtyard. Then the glory of the Lord went up from the cherub to the threshold of the Temple, and the Temple was filled with the cloud, and the courtyard was filled with the brightness of the glory of the Lord. Moreover, the sound of the wings of the cherubim was heard as far as the outer courtyard, like the voice of God Almighty when He speaks.”
During the time when Israel was taken captive by the Babylonians, Ezekiel said the brightness of the Shekinah Glory filled the Temple, signifying that the presence of the Lord was there with them.
In the Church Age
During the Church Age, the Shekinah Glory of God (Jesus Christ) indwells all believers, guaranteeing temporal and eternal blessings. It is no longer necessary for Christ to appear in a cloud or as a pillar of fire, since He has revealed Himself in the Person of Jesus. The Shekinah Glory of God “became flesh and dwelt among men.” (John 1:1-3; 14:18-21; II Corinthians 6:16; Ephesians 3:17; Colossians 3:17)
The Shekinah Glory continues to dwell with God’s people, but in a different way from the Age of Israel. In the Church Age, believers are the Temple of God and the Shekinah Glory dwells in them.
I Corinthians 3:17, “If anyone destroys the temple of God, God will destroy that person; for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.”
II Corinthians 6:16, “Or what agreement does the temple of God have with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, ‘I will dwell among them and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”
In the Church Age, every believer becomes permanently indwelt by Jesus Christ at the moment of salvation, for a specific purpose. Christ indwells believers in order to make evident His glory in them. This is accomplished in the life of the spiritually maturing believers as they exhibit the character of Jesus Christ. Our objective as Christians is to allow God the Father to glorify His Son by pouring out fantastic blessings upon us.
As we move through the spiritual life, on our way to spiritual maturity, our capacity to receive blessing from God increases. This increase in capacity sets up the potential for glorifying Christ. As the indwelling Christ, He provides encouragement, motivation, and confidence. (Ephesians 3:14-21; Colossians 1:27)
John 14:18-21, “I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you. After a little while, the world no longer is going to see Me, but you are going to see Me; because I live, you also will live. On that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I in you. The one who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and the one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will reveal Myself to him.”
Jesus Christ indwells believers in order to glorify Himself in their lives. As with the indwelling of the Father and the Holy Spirit, we must allow Christ to glorify Himself through our lives. We do this as we abide in Him (fellowship) and His Word abides in us. The word for abide in Greek is “meno” and means to dwell, to remain, to continue in, to tarry, or to be at home with. When Bible doctrine is in you and you are in fellowship with Christ, the potential exists for you to glorify Him through your life.
John 15:4-5, “Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself but must remain in the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; the one who remains in Me, and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.”
The indwelling of Christ also provides motivation for living the Christian life. Our personal love for Jesus Christ should motivate each of us to do our best to bring glory to Him. The unmotivated life dishonors Christ and brings “shame” to us at the Judgment Seat of Christ. (II Corinthians 10:17) There is no greater motivation than love. It was love that motivated the humanity of Jesus Christ to die in our place, paying the penalty for our sin. It was love that motivated God the Father to send Christ. It is love for God that should be our motivation for wanting to please Him. (John 3:16, 15:13; II Corinthians 5:14-15)
I Corinthians 6:19-20, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought for a price: therefore, glorify God in your body.”
The indwelling Christ “pours out” His love in our souls as we advance in our spiritual lives. Knowing and understanding the love of God, by means of study and application of accurate Bible doctrine should be our motivation for serving Him. Spiritual advance reflects the glory that dwells within us.