"Holy Overshadowing"

For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary; and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All, which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant; and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat.
[Hebrews 9:2-5 NKJV]

The only use of the word ‘overshadowing’ in the New King James translation is to be found in Hebrews 9, and shown in our verses above. Significantly, it is used to refer to the cherubim whose wings cover the mercy seat atop the ark of the testimony.

In Exodus 25:22 we read: And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the Testimony, about everything which I will give you in commandment to the children of Israel.

This place of Holy overshadowing is the precise place where The Almighty said that He would meet with Moses and converse with Him. Not only a covering and guarding, but the place of the most intimate relationship with Him. Hallelujah! May we forever be underneath the overshadowing wings of the cherubim of glory - on the mercy seat.

O spread Your wings of mercy over me
And guard my heart with true humility
No shadow of the darkness pressing in
Only the holy overshadowing
Underneath Your wings, overshadowing

No refuge will I seek but God alone
No hiding place save only at Your throne
Only the cross, the blood to wash my sin
Only the holy overshadowing
Underneath Your wings, overshadowing

You are my shield, and my glory
You are the lifter of my head
And though the storms may rage around me
I'll be safe within
Beneath the holy overshadowing

No burden on my back too hard to bear
Only the easy load You bid me wear
Until these troubles pass, my heart will sing
Praise for the holy overshadowing
Underneath Your wings, overshadowing

You are my shield, and my glory
You are the lifter of my head
And though the storms may rage around me
I'll be safe within
Beneath the holy overshadowing

You are my shield, and my glory
You are the lifter of my head
And though the storms may rage around me
I'll be safe within
Beneath the holy overshadowing

Underneath Your wings
Overshadowing, overshadowing

written by Graham Kendrick and Ben Trigg 2018
Said Kendrick, "I wrote 'Holy Overshadowing' with my friend Ben Trigg.
"It's about taking refuge in God when you feel like running away from God or the situation you find yourself in."

Thanks to Graham Sherry - one of the singers in the video - and to Stan Holloway for passing the video link on to us. Lovely also to know that a lot of the video was recorded in our home town of Uddingston in Lanarkshire. Well done.

---

A man can never be the same again, I don’t care who he is, after having heard Jesus Christ preached. He may say he pays no attention to it; he may appear to have forgotten all about it, but he is never quite the same, and at any moment truths may spring up into his consciousness that will destroy all his peace and happiness.

---