It’s a midweek Advent service; you adjust the weekly family schedule to attend. You’ve rushed to get after-school activities and homework done. You might have just cleaned up the church kitchen after serving Advent dinner, hands still damp from the dishwater. Or you have agreed to participate in a special music offering and just completed one last rehearsal. These things have consumed your mind until you sit in the pew and hear the familiar note or bell signaling the start of worship. The service proceeds with some familiar Scripture heard every Advent season: “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”

The pastor rises to begin his sermon. Ahhh, a few minutes to relax, take a breath, and meditate. But this sermon starts out differently. Tonight, the pastor stands casually on the floor in front of the pulpit, like he is engaging in conversation. He asks the congregation (named Immanuel Lutheran Church), “What does Immanuel mean?” Suddenly, you are jolted from your passivity as his gaze sweeps over the congregation, looking for a response. Uncomfortable silence ensues until a brave man speaks up: “God with us.” A clear sigh of relief, or nervous laughter, rumbles through the church in agreement, seemingly saying: “Of course, God with us!”

But what exactly is this sign, this child, a son, named Immanuel? And what does it mean?

Initially, in the Old Testament, God instructed Moses to “make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them” (Exodus 25:8). This sanctuary was a tabernacle, which means “dwelling place,” and contained an ark, the first throne of the Lord. “Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle” (Exodus 40:34). This cloud became a sign for the Israelites as they were led by Moses in their nomadic journey to the Promised Land. “In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out” (Exodus 40:36).

Hundreds of years later, under King David’s rule, the ark was brought to Jerusalem. David’s son, King Solomon, built a permanent temple for the ark, and the glory cloud returned. “The cloud filled the temple of the Lord. . . . the glory of the Lord filled his temple” (1 Kings 8:10,11). In God’s eternal plan, 350 years later, this temple and the city of Jerusalem were destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar in 587 b.c. At this time, two things seem to have disappeared: the ark and its overshadowing cloud (see Ezekiel 10:18-22; 11:22,23).

As the years passed, the faithful waited for the return of the ark and the glory cloud—for God to return and dwell with them.

Can you identify with these ancient, faithful sisters and brothers? Are there days when you don’t feel God is with you? Are you waiting for him to make his presence known like the glory cloud?

Enter King Jesus.

Join us tomorrow as we study how the promise of “God with us” is fulfilled forever in Jesus and by the grace he has freely given to us. Forever.