The Presence (Paniym) of God

The first mention of the word, ”presence” in the Bible is found in Gen. 3:8 when Adam and Eve heard the presence of God walking in the Garden of Eden. I can imagine that the Lord regularly visited them and communed with them face to face. Adam and Eve hid from the presence of God because they had sinned, and they knew that the Lord would know the extent of their brokenness as soon as they came before His face. The face is the place of intimate knowing.

Some translations say that they hid from His “eyes” or “face” because the Hebrew word for “presence,” paniym also means “face,” or, more accurately, “faces” as it is plural – revealing the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Lord’s face or presence first brooded over the earth in Gen. 1:2, and He formed the earth from His face. This is the first time that the Hebrew word, paniym is found in the Bible. He continues to call us to His face today:

As for me, I will behold Your face (paniym) in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, in Your likeness. (Psalms 17:15 NKJV)

Now we must lift the veils from our faces so that we can be fully in His presence before His face – the place where we are changed into His image from glory to glory:

2Cor. 3:18 (NKJV) But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Adam and Eve lost their intimacy with God and the glory that they shared with Him. Now we must come boldly to His face and be changed so that we can be restored to His glory and intimate fellowship. Just as sin was the thing that separated mankind from God, now holiness restores us to His face where we see Him as He is:

1Jn. 3:2-3 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure

Here are 12 of the most pivotal verses in the Bible about the presence of God, and what we find in His presence. “Eat” them as if they have come from the Table of Showbread, or more accurately, the table of the “Presence Bread” or “Bread of the Faces of God,” and make them a part of your life – it is as if these 12 Scriptures are like the 12 loaves on the table in the Tabernacle – this “presence bread” sat in the presence of God for 6 days and was then eaten on the 7th day. The 12 loaves represent all the tribes of Israel – everyone is equal in His presence and entitled to intimate communion with Him.

These verses will nourish and encourage you. Pick one or two to meditate on throughout this week.

God’s presence is with you always – it is here that He gives us rest:

Ex. 33:14 And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”  (Judges 18:6)

God’s presence is a mighty delivering power in your life:

Deut. 4:37 And because He loved your fathers, therefore He chose their descendants after them; and He brought you out of Egypt with His Presence, with His mighty power

God’s presence is the place to run to – no matter what you are going through:

2Chr. 20:9 “If disaster comes upon us—sword, judgment, pestilence, or famine—we will stand before this temple and in Your presence (for Your name is in this temple), and cry out to You in our affliction, and You will hear and save.’

God’s presence is dangerous for your enemies:

Psa. 9:3 When my enemies turn back, they shall fall and perish at Your presence. Also: Ps. 68:2

God’s presence is the place to find the fullness of joy:

Psa. 16:11 You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy;

At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

God’s presence is the place to be cleared from blame and exonerated:

Psa. 17:2 Let my vindication come from Your presence; let Your eyes look on the things that are upright.

God’s presence is the safest place to hide from man’s injustice:

Psa. 31:20 You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence. From the plots of man; You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.

God’s presence is a place of joy, singing and thankfulness:

Psa. 95:2 Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.

Psa. 100:2 Serve the LORD with gladness; come before His presence with singing.

God’s presence is our true home:

Psa. 140:13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks to Your name; the upright shall dwell in Your presence.

God’s presence is a place to find renewal and refreshing:

Acts 3:19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord

God’s presence is our greatest source of joy

1Th. 2:19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?

God, alone, is able to bring you into His presence as a spotless overcomer:

Jude 24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy

Whatever we eat becomes a part of us – we are inspired to come into his presence and eat His Divine nature (John 6:48-56)