As you consider
Shekinah Bible College, you may be wondering, “why did
they choose the name Shekinah?” Our name (pronounced,
shuh-KI –nuh) means: “A visible manifestation of
the Divine presence…” (American Heritage Dictionary).
During the period between the Old and New Testament, Rabbis
began to use this word in reference to the presence of God as
a physical manifestation. The root of the word, “shakan”
(literally “to dwell”) is used several times in
the Old Testament. The word “glory” (greek: doxa
and Hebrew: kabad) is the equivalent of shekinah. It is closely
related to the Holy of Holies, the place where God dwelled in
His glory (Psalm 26:8). The glory of God appeared as a cloud
and fire (Ex. 40:34 & 38) and led the Israelites in the
wilderness for 40 years. “Shekinah” emphasizes an
extended dwelling in the midst of a community. Today God no
longer dwells in temples made with hands. He lives in those
who have become temples of the living God, a dwelling place
in which He abides.
Shekinah also refers to the supernatural emanation of light
that radiates from God’s presence. New Jerusalem, the
city of God (Rev. 21:23), has one source of illumination: God
Himself and Jesus is His Lamp. Moses’ face radiated with
the shekinah after he had been in God’s presence (Ex.
34:33-35).
In his vision, Ezekiel saw the glory (shekinah) fill the temple
(Ez. 43) and a river flowing east from God’s presence
into the desert. Where the river flowed, fresh waters brought
cleansing, life, healing, and provision. Shekinah Bible College
is a place where the manifest presence of God matures men and
women of God into servants and leaders shining with His glory
and equipped for ministry. From His in-dwelling presence, living
waters flow from us to touch, change and bless those to whom
we minister.
Our logo is closely tied with our name. It has two main elements,
the temple pillar and the flame. The pillar represents us as
the Lord’s temple. The flame represents the manifest presence
of God, the shekinah, burning brightly around, in, and through
us. The gold color is representative of God’s presence
and of the refinement we undergo as a result of experiencing
the shekinah in our lives.
