Images Associated with the Manifestation of the Holy

The awesome experience of God cannot be reduced to scientific or even to conceptual language; it can only be suggested by word pictures. In Scripture the imagery of light, fire, earthquake, and storm are often associated with the manifestation of the holy. These are characteristic biblical features of divine "theophanies," or appearances of God. Images of Light and the Holy Light is a favorite biblical image of the presence of the Lord. The Psalms, for example, are filled with expressions such as "the Lord is my light" (Ps. 27:1),"in your light we see light" (Ps. 36:9), and "God make his face shine upon us" (Ps. 67:1). Celebrating the covenant judgment of the Lord, the psalmist Asaph declares,"From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth. a fire devours before him" (Ps. 50:23). Such symbolism pervades the Old Testament. Expelling Adam from the garden, Yahweh stations a twisting, flaming sword to guard the way to the tree of life (Gen. 3:24). Making a covenant with Abraham, God ap…