Clouds
“Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds.” (Psalm 36:5)
“I’ve looked at clouds from both sides now.”
Sang Joni Mitchell
“O the land of cloudless day. O, the land of an unclouded sky.”
Sang Rebekah while practicing the alto part for a choir special.
Joni and I were sharing, in song, about the mysteries of clouds in our lives.
I cannot speak for Joni, but I know the words I sang stopped in my mouth, and I spoke aloud,
“I like clouds, and I would like them in Heaven.”
I had to engage in a study of clouds in the Bible and why we sing of not having to see them in our Heavenly home. I am now a member of the “Cloud Appreciation Club,” and it is based on Scripture!
Think how often we use the word cloud or clouds in our daily life, both in positive and negative ways. We say things such as:
“She is on cloud nine.” (blissfully happy about something)
(FYI: This comes from the number 9 cloud, cumulonimbus,on the chart being one of the highest.)“She has a dark cloud over her head.” (depressed or worried)
“She has her head in the clouds.” (not realistic or practical)
The Bible references the cloud words around 162 times in 149 verses. Clouds are introduced in the physical sense in Genesis 9 and are always connected with God. In both the Old and New Testaments, clouds indicate God’s presence, guidance, covering, protection, and nurturing love. Clouds and the Scripture go hand in hand, but many Christian hymns have a bias against clouds.
There are five different Hebrew words used for clouds. The word most translated as cloud is ‘anan. The first mention of clouds is found in Genesis 9:13, which states:
“I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for token of COVENANT between Me and the earth.”
We focus on the rainbow, but the cloud is often ignored. Both were given as tokens or symbols.
I must remind you that God established the “Water-Cycle” at this time in History. My research into the word ‘anan revealed that it literally means – that which speaks of time.
Clouds are God’s created visible imagery of His very presence with us.
The Bible is replete with cloud imagery concerning God and Jesus Christ.
In Exodus, the symbolic meaning changes as God guides His people in the Wilderness.
Exodus 13: 21 states:
“By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night.” NIV
Do you see guidance, provision, protection, and love in this verse?
This cloud is seen as supernatural, and the Israelites looked upon it as the very Shekinah Glory of God. This word is not found in the Bible but was traditionally taught as the “divine presence of God.” It is the feminine (nurturing) form of the word shekan which means to reside or permanently dwell. This will become clearly evident when Pentecost happens, and the Holy Spirit is given to each person that professes faith in Jesus Christ. He comes to permanently live in our hearts and minds.
In the Psalms, there are many references to ‘anan or cloud and is most often symbolic of His love, mercy, and grace toward us.
Psalm 36:5 is a favorite verse that David penned and helps me understand how great God in His faithfulness to me is. It reads:
“Your mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens, Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.” NKJV
His faithfulness has no limit toward us. No one or anything can reach this level of faithfulness as God shows us every day.
The Hebrew root word used here can also mean miracle worker. The word ‘anan is spelled AyinNunNun, and this means spiritual insight through faith. The use of Nun(faith) is doubled and means faith alone.
Does this sound like New Testament teaching? David had an intimacy that we should desire to imitate. David was in love with his Elohim (creator), and he told Him often of his faith, his love, and his willingness to just be in His Presence.
The Psalmist also declares, in figurative language, that God “makes the clouds His chariot” (Psalm 104:3). Nahum tells us that “the clouds are the dust of His feet.” (Nahum 1:3). Clouds serve as the best picture in creation of the imminent presence of the transcendent God. One of the ways that believers are to comfort one another in this life while we await the Parousia (full revelation) of Christ is to remind each other that when Jesus comes again,
“Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up (rapture) together with them [i.e., believers who have already died] in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.” (1 Thess. 4:7 NASB)
From the post-diluvian covenant to the revelation of the Parousia, Scripture utilizes clouds to symbolize the presence of God. They speak to us of mysteries, of not fully understanding or seeing everything clearly on this side of Heaven. Obviously, our Father, God, wants us to dwell in His Shekinah Glory and to rest assured in His faithfulness to us.
The next time you are tempted to complain about it being a cloudy day, pause, lean into Jesus, and consider how He uses clouds to remind us of the promise of His coming again. Maranatha!
My Prayer
Dear Jesus,
I long for a life filled with clouds of Your glory. When I face dark clouds in my life, help me remember Your authority. When I look at the clouds, let me recall that they are testimony of Your presence, Your care, Your love, and Your faithfulness over all things on earth. As I do, may I not only endure but may I also rejoice in the certain and coming reign of You, Jesus.
In the name of Christ,
Amen!
Rebekah Marsh
Lean into Jesus Ministries
#rebekahmarshblogs