Bible Discussion Thread

Verse 8 is symbolic, an expression of the relation between God and man. The Lord is the light of the world. In physics, Light cannot be absorbed without limit. To absorb the light without limit would be to BE the light. According to the principle of the conservation of Energy, energy cannot be created or destroyed it can only be converted from one type to another. Consequently, most objects that absorb visible light reemit it as heat. So, although an object may appear dark such as the cloud, it is likely bright at a frequency that humans cannot perceive. For more information see thermodynamics. So this verse may be speaking of the Lord dwelling in the intense energy the ark has created which is a dark cloud to the eyes of the priests. They can not perceive the power and energy of God, it is hidden from their eyes represented by the dark cloud.