If Your Presence Go Not, Carry Us Not

A leader stood at the door of a tent as a cloud descended. Thousands of people watch from their tents as the march to a destination was suspended.

The leader refused to lead them forward without a guarantee of safety. The entire camp of the people was still while Moses anticipated the direction to lead the way through the wilderness.

The people waited in silence.

“And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.” EXODUS 33:15 (KJV)

Moses found grace in the sight of the Lord. He said, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way.

The Lord said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest. Moses said, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.

The Lord said, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight.

The presence of the Lord is the mark that separate the children of God from all the people that are upon the face of the earth. The presence of the Lord is rest to the faithful.

The Lord God is the light and salvation.

The Lord spake, saying, Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.

Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him.

If thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries.

Mine Angel shall go before thee, and bring thee in unto the Amorites, and the Hittites.

The Lord God would not go up in the midst of the people at the first, because the people were stiffnecked. When the people heard these tidings, they mourned.

The right hand of the Lord is glorious in power. Thy right hand, O Lord, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.

In the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee: thou send forth thy wrath, which consumed them.

The waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as an heap. Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed.

Thou hast guided them in thy power unto thy holy habitation.

Fear shall fall upon the heathen; by the greatness of the Hand of the Lord and they shall be as still as a stone.

Till the people pass over to a new land, a new season and a new year.

The Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them in the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light.

The pillar of the cloud departed not from them by day, nor the pillar of fire by night.

The cloud came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of the Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to adversary. But it gave light by night to the people.

The Lord God looked unto the host of the adversary through the pillar of fire and troubled the host of the adversary.

The Lord God is shepherd to the faithful, He leadeth beside still waters. He is a wall of fire round about and a shield.

The Lord is among the people, in the midst of the camp. He is mighty; He will save, He will restore, He will rejoice over the faithful with joy.

The Lord God bare as a man doth bear his son.

He shall fight for the people, and the people shall hold their peace. The presence of the Lord is refuge and sanctuary.

Moses entered into the midst of the cloud, and got up upon mount Sinai. The glory of the Lord abode there, and the cloud covered it six days.

The sight of the glory of the Lord was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel.

The Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering. Let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.

And He said, There I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat.

The Lord shall sanctify the tabernacle by his glory. He will dwell among his children, and will be their God.

They shall know that he is the Lord their God, that brought them forth out of the land of the heathen, that he may dwell among them.

The presence of the Lord is life to the people. The Lord is rock and fortress.

The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is saved. The Lord shall deliver the faithful from the snare of the fowler.

The lines are fallen unto the faithful in pleasant places. The presence of the Lord shall guide continually, and satisfy the soul in drought.

He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of waters.

And the Lord shall go before thee; and the glory of the Lord shall be a reward. The Lord God will wipe away tears.

The ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and joy upon their heads. Sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

The Lord shall be an everlasting light.

The morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy.

The Lord is shepherd to the faithful, He causeth to lie in green pastures. He leadeth beside still waters and restoreth the soul.

He leadeth in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though through the valley of the shadow of death, there shall be no fear of evil because of the presence of the Lord.

His rod and staff comfort. He preparest a table in the presence of enemies, and He anointest the head with oil.

Goodness and mercy (two angels) shall continue to follow in all the days of life.

The faithful shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Happy New Year! May the Lord God bless the meditation of the heart upon the Word as we enter this new season together.

LET US PRAY

O Lord, command your cloud to lead.

Go before the faithful.

Grant rest through thy presence.

Keep the soul steadfast in thy way of salvation.

Manifest thy Glory in this new season and throughout this year.

In Jesus name, Amen.