Exodus 40:35, commentary and pictures

When the tabernacle was finished and completed, the cloud covered and rested over the tent of meeting and the Lord's glory filled the tabernacle so fully that Moses was not able at first to enter. The brightness of the glory was so overwhelming that the cloud had to conceal it before Moses could go in. The glory was the holy shekinah, a cloud of glory and visible glory above the mercy seat and resting over the ark in the holy of holies, as a sign of God's presence and power, descending upon the mercy seat and visible in both apartments, though less clearly in the first.

An audible voice from the divine glory above the mercy seat spoke to Moses, told him to come near, and there gave him still further directions about the forms of worship to be carried on in the sanctuary. The cloud and glory marked God's presence in the tabernacle, showing that the Lord accepted the tabernacle and had come to dwell among Israel, filling and hallowing the sanctuary as the place where He had made Himself known to Israel. The glory filling the tabernacle was Christ Himself dwelling among Israel in the wilderness, continuing the same dwelling in the temple after their establishment in the promised land, as their instructor and teacher and guide, constantly manifesting in their behalf the riches of His love and patience.

The cloud of the Lord by day and fire by night stayed over the tabernacle in the sight of all Israel throughout their journeys to direct them and signify His will for their good and His glory. When the cloud lifted high above the tabernacle they went onward with the ark of the covenant borne before them, and when it rested low over the tabernacle they pitched their tents in that certain place and did not journey until it was taken up, with the tabernacle built to be taken apart and carried with them, requiring perfect order in all their encamping and journeying. The same sign of God's presence appeared when the cloud filled Solomon's temple, so that the priests could not stand to minister.

The glory so filled the tabernacle that the priest could not officiate and had to stand at its entrance, and because God's glory filled and hallowed the sanctuary the priests had to prepare before entering where His presence was revealed, leaving their shoes in the court so dust would not desecrate the sanctuary and washing their hands and feet at the laver to remove impurity, as required to keep them from dying. The priest's faith in the unseen mercy seat represents God's people directing their prayers by faith to Christ, their unseen Mediator in the heavenly sanctuary, and claiming the benefits of His mediation. This presence was given to make Israel a praise and a glory, granting every spiritual advantage and withholding nothing favorable to the formation of character so they would become His representatives, restore in man the moral image of God, and impart rich blessings and light to all peoples, a design that still shows His purpose for His institutions today.