“Veilings” of God
Monday, December 18th, 2006Quoting from LeRoy again,
“Scripture records many of the “veilings” of God. Let us note several examples. God appeared in Angel\human form to Abraham (Genesis 18) Abraham talked and related to God as to a fellow man. God veiled Himself with human form. The most Holy Place (God’s room) in the Tabernacle was veiled. It was illuminated with the very presence of God. When man (the High Priest) entered into the Holy of Holies, he needed to burn insense to “cloud” the glory of God lest he would die. That room was veiled and the High Priest’s eyes were “veiled” to sheild them from the “glory of God.
When Jesus was born, Mary was told to call Him ‘Emmanuel’ God with us. Jesus was truly God. If Jesus would not have been veiled in human flesh, man would have died in His presence! The veil, His flesh (Hebrews 10:20) spared man in His presence and was the ‘tool’ that enabled Him to die and provide eternal life for us! Jesus, after the resurrection , ascended back to heaven. Revelation chapter one gives us a glimpse of the totally unveilded Jesus again!
Jesus said it was good that He would go back to the Father (John16:6-15). Jesus did go back so that He might send the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit being truly God needed to be veiled. Therefore God planned that the Church would veil Himself, the Holy Spirit! (I Corinthians 3:16,17) The Church is made up of people who are redeemed and as individuals we “veil” God the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 6:19,20).
‘Nevertheless I tell you the truth, it is expedient for you that I go away;
for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you;
but if I depart I will send Him unto you.’ John 16:7
‘What? Know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body?
For two saith He, shall be one flesh.
But he that is joined to the Lord is one spirit. I Corinthians 6:16,17
‘What know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost?
Which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
For ye are bought with a price;
Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit,
which are God’s. I Corinthians 6:19,20
The glory of God has been veiled, to some degree, ever since sin entered the human race. Glory on earth totally and constantly unveiled loses its glory and becomes common place and even a curse. In the Old Testament and in creation, glory is constantly fading (IICorinthians 3). In the New Testament, however, God has made provision for an everlasting glory! The indwelling, veiled Holy Spirit is the key to an ever increasing experience of glory for the believer! (II Corinthians 3:18)
‘But we all,
with an open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord,
are changed into the same image
from glory to glory,
even as by the Spirit of the Lord.’ II Corinthians 3:18
The Bible says ‘In the beginning God created . . .’ (Genesis1:1) He also said, ‘Let us make man . . . (Genesis 1:26). The Scripture further says, ‘Male and female created He them.’ (Genesis 1:27). They were ‘created in His own image’. They were glory within and glory without! Within was the glory of God as they were created sinless and in His image. Without they were clothed in light (glory). The glory of man and woman differ according to their designated and assigned roles. The glory of man is expressed by his unveiled head as he assumes his role under Christ. The glory of the woman is expressed in her veilded head assuming her role under man.
In First Corinthians eleven fifteen it indicates that the woman’s hair is given to her for her glory. If she cuts her hair she removes her divinely designed ‘glory’, and if she doesn’t veil her hair the ‘glory” will fade. Therefore, the woman should be veiled. Her glory (hair) shall be reserved for display (unveiling) for her husband.
The Jewish practice of the veiled woman includes some interesting insights. The Jewish girl\woman would veil herself in public and in the presence of men including her bethrothed husband. When the bethrothed husband came to get his wife for the marriage feast she would remain veiled until she went unto her Bridegroom into the bed chamber for the final consummation of the marriage at which time she removed her veil for her husband.
The Church is the bride ( Ephesians 5:22-32) and Christ is the Bridegroom. We, the bride, are betrothed to the Bridegroom. The Church is “veiling” God. God dwells within the body, the Church. She, the Church, shall continue to “veil” God until Jesus returns and we shall join Him in the great marriage supper of the Lamb (!) and at that time the Bride (Church) will remove Her veil and enter into an eternal ‘glory’ relationship with the Bridegroom!
Until then, ‘Let her be veiled’.” - LeRoy Yoder
This is what we discussed and more at the girls dorm. Thank-you, LeRoy for sharing this writing with us!