Lord Of The Cloud
There are obviously the clouds that have to do with the weather. Clouds bringing the promise of rain, and giving shade.
After the flood of Noah's day, the LORD made a covenant with man, to no more cut man off by waters. God established His covenant when He said,
Gen.9:13-14, "I set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth."
Ps.36:5, "Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds."
There are also many references to clouds in a metaphoric and figurative sense. They symbolize transitoriness, meaning temporal or a short time. God said of Judah's goodness,
Hos.6:4, "For your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away."
Job compares his prosperity to the passing clouds,
Job 30:15, "Terrors are turned upon me: they pursue my soul as the wind: and my welfare passeth away as a cloud."
There are clouds without water. This symbolizing a man who promises much, but performs and gives little.
Prov.16:15, "In the light of the king's countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain." As a rain that has come and gone.
Prov.25:14, "Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain."
Those who promise something knowing they cannot, or will not fulfill that promise.
Jude 12, "These are -- clouds they are without water, carried about of winds."
2 Pet.2:17, "These are well without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist (gloom) of darkness is reserved for ever."
The darkness of clouds is the symbol of mystery, especially the creation.
Job 3:5, "Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it; let a cloud dwell (settle) upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it."
Job 38:9, "When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it."
Ps.97:2, "Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of His (God's) throne.
In Scriptures, the distance from the earth to the clouds is made to typify, or represents their unattainableness.
Isa.14:14, "I (the words of Lucifer) will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High." But God said of Lucifers boasting, Ver.15, "Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit."
Job 20:6-7, "Though His (mans') excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds; Yet he shall perish for ever."
Ps.147:8, is speaking of the LORD, "Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains."
A frequent and suggestive use of the figure of clouds is in connection with the presence of God. Clouds both veil and reveal the presence of God. He rides upon the clouds,
Isa.19:1, "Behold, the LORD rideth upon a swift cloud."
Neh.1:3, "The LORD hath His way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of His feet."
We find the presence of the LORD in the clouds.
Exod.19:9, "The LORD said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud."
Exod. 24:16, "The glory of the LORD abode upon mount Si-nai, and the cloud covered it six days."
Exod.34:5, "The LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there (Mt. Si-nai.)"
When the Jews' had left Egypt, God gave them a pillar of cloud to direct their march. Note singular cloud. This pillar of cloud was also a barrier against the Egyptian army as they approached the fleeing Jews' from behind.
Exod.14:19-20, "The angel of God -- went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them (the fleeing Jews'.) It (the cloud) came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel: and it was a cloud and darkness to them (the Egyptians,) but it gave light by night to these (the Jews.) so that the one came NOT near the other all the night."
It can be seen that the cloud and the angel of the Lord made the same motion, the same move, they becoming as one.
As the Jewish nation passed over the sea, following them was the cloud. The Egyptians were then drowned.
Exod.13:21, "The LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, and let them the way."
Exod.40:36, "When the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys."
Ps.78:14, "In the daytime also He (God) led them with a cloud."
Clouds appeared at Jesus transfiguration,
Matt.17:5, "While He (Jesus) yet spake, behold a bright cloud overshadowed them (the apostiles.) and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him."
Clouds appeared at His ascension,
Acts 1:9, "And when He (Jesus) had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight."
A cloud is seen in the revelation of Jesus soon return.
Matt.24:30, "They shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory."
The following promise is still with the church today.
Isa.4:5, "The LORD will create upon every (Note, EVERY) dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence.
This overshadowing may not be visible today as it was in the days of old, yet the presence of the "Lord of the cloud" is equally great.
Hope you enjoyed this.
Phil LaSpino www.seekfirstwisdom.com