Week #3: Glory in the Midst
Blog Series Intention Recap
Holiness is not a distant concept—it is the defining characteristic of God and the central call for His people - both Israel and the Church. From the throne room of heaven to the burning bush, from the tabernacle to the trembling heart of a prophet, Scripture reveals that God’s holiness is not just something He has—it is who He is. This four-week series explores how holiness shapes heaven’s worship, how it demands reverence on earth, and how it transforms those who encounter it. As we listen to heaven’s song and trace God’s holiness through Scripture, we are invited to respond with awe, obedience, and lives that reflect His set-apart character.
This page is a post in the series “Holy, Holy Holy: Understanding Holiness According to Scripture.” Click here to see the rest of the posts.
Let’s jump into Week #3:
Camping in the Wilderness with the One who created it… God’s holiness doesn’t push Him away from His people—it moves Him toward them. From the burning bush to the tabernacle, and ultimately through Messiah Yeshua (Jesus), His presence enters human space with purpose and intention. He desires to dwell with us, not as a distant deity, but as a holy God who makes His people holy. Yet He never invites us to approach carelessly; His nearness is always on His terms, not ours. Holiness is both invitation and boundary—it welcomes us in by grace but reminds us that God is never common. To walk with Him is to live with reverence, joy, and obedience.
Why it Matters:
God chooses to dwell among His people: His holy presence fills the tabernacle, not from a distance but from within.
Holiness requires preparation: The tabernacle wasn’t thrown together—it was carefully made to reflect God’s glory.
Access is possible—but never assumed: God invites, but He also instructs.
We are now His dwelling: His Spirit lives in believers, making our lives sacred space.
Go Deeper:
Scripture Focus:
Exodus 40:17–38
God's House in the Wilderness
After the Exodus, God led His people to Mount Sinai and gave Moses blueprints—not for a throne room, but for a tent.
A tabernacle.
It was mobile. It moved with the people. But it was no ordinary tent. It was holy space—designed so that God could live in the center of His people.
“Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.” (Exodus 40:34, ESV)
That cloud wasn’t just weather. It was the visible sign of God’s holiness and presence. The same cloud that had led them out of Egypt now moved in.
God had a home. In the camp. In the middle. Among His people.
Every Detail Matters
The tabernacle was not designed by Moses or the people. It was given by divine instruction.
Specific materials.
Exact measurements.
Distinct roles for the priests.
Sacred objects: the Ark, the table, the lampstand, the altar.
Why such detail? Because God is holy, and holy things are not casual.
Every stitch and structure taught the people something about God:
The veil separated the holy place from the most holy place.
The ark of the covenant held the law, a symbol of God’s rule.
The altar provided atonement—a covering for sin.
Holiness does not mean God stays away. It means when He comes close, He defines the terms.
When Glory Fills the House
The moment Moses finished the work of building the tabernacle, something incredible happened:
“The glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.” (Exodus 40:34, ESV)
God’s presence came down. Tangible. Visible. Overwhelming.
Moses—who had spoken with God—couldn’t even enter.
“And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it…” (v. 35)
Even the leader wasn’t exempt from the awe of holiness. Access to God is always by invitation, never by entitlement.
A Holy God Who Leads
The final verses of Exodus say something extraordinary:
“Throughout all their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out… For the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night…” (vv. 36–38)
God’s holiness wasn’t just stationary. It led them. His presence guided their path and governed their pace.
The tabernacle wasn’t just a religious structure. It was a constant reminder:
We don’t move without God.
We don’t approach Him without care.
We don’t live as if He isn’t with us.
Holiness means God is near—but never ordinary.
From Tabernacle to Temple to You
The tabernacle was temporary. Later, Solomon built a permanent temple. It was grand. Fixed. Stone instead of cloth.
And just like the tabernacle, the glory of the Lord filled the temple (1 Kings 8:10–11).
But even that was not the final plan.
John writes:
“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us…” (John 1:14)
The word dwelt is literally tabernacled. Yeshua (Jesus) was the presence of God in person. Not behind a veil, but among the people.
He healed the unclean.
He touched the sick.
He forgave sinners.
He died as the final sacrifice.
Through Him, access to the holy God is now open—but still on God’s terms.
We Are Now His Dwelling
After Yeshua (Jesus) rose and ascended, the Spirit came. And now, something incredible is true:
“Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16, ESV)
You—if you belong to Messiah—are now holy ground.
Not because you’re perfect.
Not because you earned it.
But because God chose to dwell in you.
Just like the tabernacle, every detail of your life now matters.
Your words.
Your thoughts.
Your body.
Your worship.
You don’t become holy by effort. You become holy by presence—by God living in you, and you walking in step with Him.
Four Ways Holiness Dwells with Us
Holiness comes by God’s design, not ours
Moses didn’t invent the tabernacle. We don’t invent our own way to God. We come through Jesus—the true and living way (Hebrews 10:19–20).God’s nearness is always on His terms
His presence is a gift, but it’s not casual. We are called to approach with reverence, not entitlement.Our lives are now sacred space
We don’t visit holy places. We are holy places. God’s Spirit lives in us to guide, teach, and purify.Holiness shapes every part of our journey
Just as the cloud led Israel, God now leads His people by the Spirit. Holiness is not just for worship moments—it shapes your pace, your path, and your purpose.
Modern-Day Tabernacles
In a world that loves the casual and the instant, God still calls us to reverence.
We carry His presence—not in a box, but in our lives.
That means:
Worship matters.
Obedience matters.
Holiness matters.
God has not changed. His glory is still weighty. His nearness is still life-changing.
The question is: are we living like it?
How does this help me understand, “Holy, Holy Holy: Understanding Holiness According to Scripture?”
Make Room for Glory
Here’s how we respond to a holy God who chooses to dwell with His people—by preparing our lives as sacred space where His presence is welcome.:
Pause often: God’s presence isn’t found in constant motion. Like Israel, learn to stop when He stops.
Clean house: Not out of fear—but because He’s worthy. Remove what doesn’t honor His presence.
Follow closely: Let God set the pace. Let holiness shape your decisions.
Worship sincerely: He is with us. So don’t treat Him like a concept. Honor Him as the living God.
You are not empty. You are not ordinary. You are His dwelling place.
God’s holiness is not a barrier. It’s a blessing.
He comes near—but always with purpose and purity.
From the tabernacle to the temple, from Christ to the Church—God’s desire has always been the same:
To dwell with His people in holiness.
So build your life carefully.
Make room for His presence.
And let His glory fill the tent again.
