The Holy Presence of God

By Danny Saavedra

“But God struck down some of the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh, putting seventy of them to death because they looked into the ark of the Lord. The people mourned because of the heavy blow the Lord had dealt them. And the people of Beth Shemesh asked, ‘Who can stand in the presence of the Lord, this holy God? To whom will the ark go up from here?’ Then they sent messengers to the people of Kiriath Jearim, saying, ‘The Philistines have returned the ark of the Lord. Come down and take it up to your town.’ So the men of Kiriath Jearim came and took up the ark of the Lord. They brought it to Abinadab’s house on the hill and consecrated Eleazar his son to guard the ark of the Lord. The ark remained at Kiriath Jearim a long time—twenty years in all. Then all the people of Israel turned back to the Lord.”—1 Samuel 6:19–7:2 (NIV)

Have you ever seen a solar eclipse? To do so, you must put on these funny little glasses before looking up into the sun. And there’s always a warning that’s issued that pretty much says, “Don’t ever look directly at the sun because it can cause serious, permanent damage to your eyes. But with these glasses, which are designed to allow you to safely look at the sun without damaging your eyes, you’re safe.”

Now, you may be wondering where I’m going with this! Stay with me . . .

If you recall, the Israelites lost the battle with the Philistines as well as the ark of the covenant, the earthly dwelling place of God’s presence. They lost the ark because they treated it like a lucky sock or rabbit’s foot, a talisman that would guarantee success. They didn’t respect it for what it was and so the Lord allowed it to be captured by the Philistines.

But the ark didn’t last long with the Philistines because God will not be mocked or put next to false idols. Eventually, the Philistines returned the ark with a generous offering. It came to Beth Shemesh, and we’re told, “When they looked up and saw the ark, they rejoiced at the sight” (1 Samuel 6:13 NIV). But then they did something they shouldn’t have done, so “God struck down some of the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh, putting seventy of them to death because they looked into the ark of the Lord” (1 Samuel 6:19 NIV, emphasis added).

Why did this happen? Well, as we learned earlier, the ark was the literal earthly dwelling place of the presence of God—the Shekinah glory (Shekinah means dwelling), thus making this the dwelling of God’s glory. And because the Lord’s so glorious, perfect, holy, sinless, all powerful, all good, and so far above and beyond us, that to truly see God as He is, in the fullness of His glory, is more than any mortal man can tolerate. Even Moses was told, “You cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live” (Exodus 33:20 NIV). Not only that, but because we’re sinners, looking into the ark was a direct violation of the boundary between the holy and the sinful. It also showed a lack of fear or reverence and respect for who God is.

But dan I share something beautiful with you? John 3:16 (NIV) says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son.” And Colossians 2:9 (NIV) says, “In Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form.” Incredible right? So then, how was anyone able to look at Him and be in His presence? Philippians 2:7 (NIV) tells us, “He made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness,” and John 1:14 (NIV, emphasis added) explains that the eternal, glorious, perfect “Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Consider Jesus’ words to Philip in John 14:9 (NIV): “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.” Jesus veiled His glory so we could look Him in the face and be in His presence. And because of Jesus, we can now “with confidence draw near to the throne of grace” (Hebrews 4:16 ESV), we can “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to [us]” (James 4:8 ESV) because “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV), “he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9 ESV), and “all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure” (1 John 3:3 NIV).

Through tears of joy, I wrote these words to you... Like solar glasses during an eclipse allow us to see the sun, mankind no longer dies when we see God for who He really is. Instead, we’re brought to life because "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV).

Pause: Why was the ark of the covenant so important?

Practice: Re-read today’s devotional and literally sit in silence with it. Consider and reflect deeply on the implication of the truth revealed here.

Pray: Father, I know on my own, I’m not in any way, shape, or form—regardless of whatever “good” I do—worthy to stand in Your presence. I know You’re holy and perfect and so far above and beyond anything my eyes, mind, and heart can comprehend, and I’m a wretched, imperfect sinner. And despite this, You sent Jesus to save me, to cleanse me, to purify me, to make me not only able to come before You, but to be a vessel where Your presence resides. Thank You, dear Father, for the love of Jesus Christ and the fellowship with the Spirit that enables me to come before You, to stand in Your presence, to sit with You, to hear Your voice, and to one day live forever with You in paradise. Thank You! In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.