Psalm 78:14

Psalm 78:14

Guided by cloud and fire

The next parable that the Israelite parents must pass on to their children is the story of the cloud and the pillar of fire. “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.” Exodus 13:21. 

The cloud was present when Moses went into the Tent of Meeting and when he ascended Mount Sinai to meet with the Lord. The cloud surrounded the Tabernacle when it was built and enveloped the Holy of Holies to signify that God was present. He spoke out of the cloud and also used it to show the people when to move on and when to stay put.

We noted, in verse 2, that this Psalm is full of parables, “A parable is an earthly story that conceals a spiritual truth that can only be understood by revelation!” So, what is the Lord showing us here? What is the deeper revelation for us? Surely it is that, just as a physical representation of the presence of the Lord went before Israel, so a spiritual power goes before His people today. Angels surround us. The heroes of the past are our inspiring examples. (The great cloud of witnesses. Hebrews 12:1) The sanctifying presence of the Almighty shelters His people and we are “under His wings” as we journey on through our lives. But we have something the ancient people never knew, the pillar of fire and of cloud is within us! Occasionally one of them would enter His presence but He has entered us!  The Holy Spirit is the breath of God who guides us by day and by night so that we are never alone. We are divinely guided and protected every step of our journey. Hallelujah!

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