The Clouds are the Dust of His Feet
By Jonathan Mitchell
This dependent clause comes at the end of Nahum 1:3, written by one of the "minor prophets" in the OT writings. We must first recognize two ancient literary devices that are used in this clause: metaphor and anthropomorphism. The clause just prior to this, in the same verse, tells us that,
"His (i.e., Yahweh's) Way (or: path) [is] in bringing ends together for a conclusion (or: [is] in union with a joined finishing of a goal, and in the sphere of close association in a combined and destined maturity), and in an earthquake or a whirlwind." (LXX, JM)
Both of these clauses picture Yahweh in close association with the earth (or: ground; land) and its atmosphere (the sky). This ancient world view sees God as present and involved with His creation. Nahum 1:4-7 expands upon this concept. Verse 1:5 informs us that,
"The mountains are made to shake and quake from Him (or: because of Him), and the hills are caused to rock and tremble, then the land (or: ground; earth) - the combined whole of it and all who normally inhabit it - is caused to draw back and recoil from His face and presence." (ibid)
Modern humans no longer hold such a world view. But Israel's history is full of God interacting with people and directly involved in events. Consider the story of Israel's exodus and the ensuing wilderness wanderings. In 1 Cor. 10, Paul informs us that those folks,
"all immersed themselves into Moses (or: got themselves baptized [other MSS: were baptized] unto Moses), within the cloud and within the sea," and, "they kept on drinking from out of a spiritual bedrock (or: cliff rock; rock mass) - one continually following along behind (or: progressively accompanying [them]). Now the bedrock (or: cliff rock) was the Christ" (verses 2 and 4).
Paul apparently held a similar world view as did Nahum, only Paul interprets this Exodus story allegorically, as he did with the story of Sarah and Hagar (Gal. 4:22-31).
Returning to Nah. 1:3b, the anthropomorphism of God having "feet" fits Nahum's metaphor for God "walking" through their atmosphere, and it calls to mind God walking in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:8). But what does Nahum mean by "the dust of His feet"? Again, return to the Genesis account, we recall that the human being was formed from the dust of the ground, and following the disobedience of Adam and Eve, God told them, "Dust you are and to dust you will return." (Gen. 3:19)
Feet can symbolize walking, and from this, a way of life... or, a following of a path. Feet are a part of the body. Joining the idea of dust being a figure of humanity, and feet being a part of the body, does this give another picture when we consider that Nahum enigmatically joins dust and feet to clouds?
The writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews lists people of faith in chapter 11. Then, in 12:1, we read:
"Consequently, and for this very reason, then (or: It follows that - well, let me tell you! - THEREFORE), we, ourselves, also - with continuously having such a big cloud-mass (figure for a dense throng) of witnesses environing us [cf Mk. 9:4-7; Lu. 9:32] (or: of spectators, folks bearing testimony, and people with evidence, lying around for us, and [they] themselves surrounding and encompassing us) ..."
Here, we observe people being described as a cloud. With this in mind, here is an excerpt from my "Observations on Acts," chapter 1:
9. Then, after saying these things - during their continued looking and uninterrupted seeing - He was suddenly exalted (or: raised upon [them]; lifted up to a higher status), and then a cloud from underneath [Him] took and received Him... away from their eyes.
This scene may be an allusion to Dan. 7:13-14,
'I was perceiving in [the] visions of the night, and behold, with clouds of the heavens (or: atmospheres) One like a son of a mortal (human being) was arriving; He came unto the Transferrer (or: Ancient) of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. To Him [was] granted jurisdiction (or: dominion) and esteem and a kingdom (or: kingship), that all the peoples, leagues (or: races) and language-groups shall serve Him; His jurisdiction (or: dominion) [is an] eonian jurisdiction (or: dominion) that shall not pass away, and His kingdom shall not be confined' (CVOT; parentheses added).
Notice that, here in vs. 9, 'a cloud from underneath [Him] took and received Him.' It does not say that He left their atmosphere - He was only gone from sight, 'away from their eyes!' And thus, in chapter 9, below, we will find Him speaking to Saul who was on the way to Damascus. And in Rev. 2:1, He speaks of Himself as, 'the One continuously walking about within the midst of the seven golden lampstands (i.e., the covenant communities - Rev. 1:20).' It also explains why, in Rev. 2 and 3, He warned them of His coming to them to make adjustments among them. This also gives the geographical setting for 1 Thes. 4:17,
'Thereupon (or: After that) we, the presently living folks, the ones continuing left around will - at the same time, together with them - continue being seized and snatched away within clouds (or: carried off by force, in union with, and among, clouds,) into the midst of [the] air (air that we breathe in; mist; haze; [the] atmosphere around us; [note: located in the earth's lower atmosphere, the place where there is air]) - into the Lord's away-meeting (an escorting-off, from the Lord; a face-to-face encountering which is the Lord). And thus (in this way and such a manner) shall we always continue being (or: continue existing at all times) together with [the] Lord.' [cf 2 Cor. 5:6]
As our friend John Gavazzoni posits, 'He never left!' This is how we can now, presently, be seated together with Him in the heavenly spheres of His Spirit (Eph. 2:6). And this is how the writer of the book of Hebrews announced (2000 years ago), in Heb. 12:
22. But to the contrary, you folks have approached so that you are now at Mount Zion - even in a city of a continuously living God; in "Jerusalem upon heaven"
(or: in a Jerusalem pertaining to and having the character and qualities of a superior, or added, heaven and atmosphere;
or: in Jerusalem [situated] upon, and comparable to, the atmosphere; centered in a heavenly-imposed Jerusalem) - also among ten-thousands (or: myriads) of agents and messengers (people with a/the message):
23. [that is] in (or: to) an assembly of an entire people (or: an assembly of all; a universal convocation) and in (or: to) a summoning forth (or: a called-out and gathered community) of firstborn folks having been copied (from-written, as from a pattern; or: enrolled; registered) within [the; or: various] atmospheres (or: heavens), and in (or: to; with) God, a Judge (an Evaluator and Decider) of all mankind, even (or: that is,) among (or: to; with) spirits of just folks (or: breath-effects from those who are fair and equitable and in right relationship within the Way pointed out) having been brought to the destined goal (perfected; finished; matured; made complete), [cf Rev. 3:12; 21:1-2; Eph. 2:6; Phil. 3:20; Rev. 14:1-5; Ex. 4:22; Gal. 3:19]
24. and in (or: to) Jesus, a Medium (or: an agency; an intervening substance; a middle state; one in a middle position; a go-between; an Umpire; a Mediator) of a new and fresh (young; recently-born) arrangement (covenant; settlement; a deposit throughout, in every direction; a placing through the midst; a will and testament), and to and in blood of sprinkling, and to One continuously speaking something superior to (or: stronger and better than) Abel. [cf Mat. 17:1-5; Gal. 4:22-26; Rev. 21:1-2; 9b-22:5; Jn. 4:21; Ps. 46:4; 132:13; Isa. 28:16; 33:5]
This is where we presently are, folks!And now, back to Acts 1:
10. Next, as they were continuing in staring intently, straining and stretching with a fixed gaze into the sky (or: the atmosphere) during His progressively going on His way - and now look and consider! - two adult men (males of the human race) had taken a position and now stand beside them in bright white garments,
Observe that Jesus was simply 'progressively going on His way.' He had things to do; places to go. Take note of how these two 'messengers' are described. This reveals a great deal of information concerning those in our atmosphere, who are dressed in 'bright white garments.' They happened to be 'males of the human race.' (from: Observations on The Gospel of Mark, on Acts, on Philemon, with Comments on the Sermon on the Mount, Investigating the Doctrine of the Trinity, and The Parable of the Pharisee and the Publican)
So, "the clouds are the dust of His feet." God is seen as being presently involved with human lives, as we can observe from Revelation, as He wrote to those seven churches:
"the One continuously walking around within the midst of, and in the sphere of, the seven golden lampstands (i.e., the 7 churches: Rev. 1:20b)." (Rev. 2:1b)
"Yet if not, I am continuously (repeatedly; habitually) coming to you [as a group], and I will proceed removing (or: moving) your lampstand out of its place, if ever you [as a group] may not change your way of thinking (your mind-set, paradigm and state of consciousness)." (Rev. 2:5)
"Yet if not, I am repeatedly (habitually) coming swiftly in you (or: going to you) [again: 'you,' singular], and I will proceed waging war (doing battle) with THEM within the broadsword of (or: from; which is) My mouth." (Rev. 2:16b)
"Consider: I am presently casting her into a bed, and those habitually committing adultery with her into great pressure (tribulation; squeezing) if ever they may not change their minds (state of consciousness) out of her works (activities; deeds).And I will proceed killing her children within death, and all the called-out assemblies shall know that I am the One continuously searching the kidneys and hearts, and I will continue giving to each one of you down from (in accord to; in the sphere of; to the level of) your [plural] actions (deeds; works)." (Rev. 2:22-23)
"If ever, then, you should not be watching, I will proceed arriving (or: may arrive) upon you as a thief, and under no circumstances would you know what hour I will (or: might) be arriving upon you." (Rev. 3:3b)
"Consider! I will continue forming, constructing and making them so that they will proceed arriving, and then they will proceed worshiping in front of your feet and can know that I, Myself, love and accept you!" (Rev. 3:9b)
"I am repeatedly (habitually; constantly) coming and going swiftly (or: progressively coming soon)!" (Rev. 3:11)
"Consider! I have stood, and continue standing, upon the door (at the entrance), and I am constantly knocking; if ever anyone may (or: can) hear My voice (or: sound) and would open the door, I will proceed entering (coming, or going, in) toward him, and then I will continue eating the evening meal with him, and he with Me." (Rev. 3:20)
Our Lord is continuously involved with His covenant communities.
God manifested Himself as a Cloud mingled with Fire when He led Isreal out of Egypt and on through the wilderness. His presence on Mt. Sinai was manifested by a thick Cloud. He manifested Himself as a Cloud filling the Tabernacle, at its dedication.
Clouds are a part of the earth's atmosphere... the first heaven. We have reviewed some special manifestations of God in Israel's story. But Nahum seems to speak of God's appearance in clouds as a normal event, just like storms and earthquakes periodically happen. The point is that these events are influences and activities of God. He journeys through our areas, and His "feet" kick up dust (both literally and figuratively) as He moves along. But more than this, a figurative reading of Nah. 1:3 tells us that as the body of Christ follows Him on the Way and in the Truth, its movement creates a Cloud of His presence. Let us be aware, and take notice.
In the metaphor of Israel's olive tree (Rom. 11: 16-26), Paul points out that the root (Israel's position in God's tree that produces the anointing oil) bears and gives life to the branches (the body of Christ that now produces His fruit - olives). Can we apply this metaphor to the ancient (literal) and the new creation (spiritual) world views, that the two are joined to make a whole Tree of Life? Can we discern the truth of the new while we also experience the literal of the old? Personally, I do.
Jonathan
PS:
"Because, forth from out of the midst of Him, then through the midst of Him (or: through means of Him), and into the midst of Him, [is] the whole of created existence." (Rom. 11:36)
"For you see, within the midst of, and in union with, Him we continuously live (or, as a subjunctive: could be constantly living), and are constantly moved about and put into motion, and continue existing (experiencing Being)." (Acts 17:28)
PPS: John Gavazzoni adds this insight: "God's utter solidarity with His creation, which this study powerfully asserts, stands in contrast to how orthodoxy insists on a complete separation between God and His creation, leading, it would seem, to that nonsensical doctrine of creatio ex nihilo."
Nothing comes from nothing. Everything comes from out of God.
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