Divine Presence

God with the Israelites

The Hebrew Bible (Tenakh) describes many instances of when God's presence was experienced here on Earth. This is the 'Divine Presence'. The Hebrew word for this is Shekhinah.

After the Israelites (early Jews) escape from slavery in Egypt, God’s presence is experienced as a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, guiding them through the desert on their 40 year journey to Canaan (the land God promised to them in his covenant with Abraham).

This is described in the Book of Exodus (Chapter 13):

• And God 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 Tabernacle

During this time, the Israelites had no fixed place of worship because they had no permanent home. Instead, they had the Tabernacle, which was a large portable tent that they set up whenever they made camp to use as a place of worship. The tabernacle was considered a sacred space where they could meet with God. The tabernacle was divided into three main parts:

• The Outer Court: This was a large open area surrounded by a fence made of linen curtains. Inside this area, there was an altar for burnt offerings and a bronze basin for washing.

• The Holy Place: Inside the tent, this section contained three important items: (i) The Golden Menorah (a seven-branched lamp-stand); (ii) A table with twelve loaves of bread representing the twelve tribes of Israel; (iii) The Altar of Incense.

• The Holy of Holies: The innermost and most sacred part of the tabernacle, separated by a curtain. Inside this area was the Ark of the Covenant, a special chest that held the Ten Commandments. This was considered the very presence of God.

Solomon’s Temple

In the 10th century BCE, King Solomon ordered the First Temple to be built in Jerusalem for the worship of God. This would be a permanent place for God to live among his people. The innermost chamber (the Holy of Holies), housed the Ark of the Covenant and was regarded as the most sacred space, where the High Priest would enter once a year on Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement) to offer a sacrifice for people’s sins.

In 587 BCE the temple was destroyed by the Babylonians. This led Jews to worry that their close relationship with God had been broken as he no longer had a place to live on Earth. However, in time Jewish teachers realised that God’s presence could be felt in other ways.

Shekinah in the world today

Although there is nothing left of King Solomon’s Temple, there remains in Jerusalem a wall of the Second Temple. This is called the Western Wall, and is one of the Jew’s most holy sites in Jerusalem. Many Jews travel to Jerusalem to pray at the Wall as it is regarded as a place where God’s presence can be felt. Rabbi Jonathan Eybeschutz wrote about this:

After the destruction of the Temple, God removed His Presence from His sanctuary and placed it upon the Western Wall where it remains in its holiness and honour.

Many Jews experience God's presence in their daily lives through prayer, acts of kindness, and communal worship. The idea that God dwells among his people creates a sense of responsibility to live ethically and maintain a connection with God.