I have no problem with the poetic nature of the song about a “land of cloudless day” as it contrasts the dark “clouds” of trouble that seemingly surround us on this ball of clay. However, there is another aspect of the clouds emphasized in the Bible and how they are so often associated with the presence of God and His glory. Take time to look at this aspect.
Before the Jews even arrived at Mt. Sinai God lead them with His presence in His cloud (Ex. 13:17-18, 21). When they murmured against God because there was no food, He gave them manna and quails, but first “…they looked toward the wilderness, and behold, the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud” (Ex. 16:10).
When they came to Mt. Sinai God covered the mountain with His cloud. “Now the glory of the Lord rested on Mt. Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. And on the seventh day He called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud. The sight of the glory of the Lord was like a consuming fire on the top of the mountain in the eyes of the children of Israel. So Moses went into the midst of the cloud…and Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights” (Ex. 24:16-18).
God manifested His glory in the cloud which descended on Moses’ personal tent, and then when the tabernacle was built God showed His presence in His cloud which came to that greater tabernacle (Ex. 33:9; 40:34-35).
Hundreds of years later Solomon built a permanent temple. Read the words about what happened as it was dedicated. “When the priests came out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the Lord, so that the priest could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord” (1 Kings 8:10-11).
Hear the words of the psalmist which show that His glory is seen in His clouds. “Sing to God, sing praises to His name; extol Him who rides on the clouds” (Psa. 68:4). Later the psalmist says that God is One “…who makes the clouds His chariot, who walks on the wings of the wind” (104:3).
So, the next time you look at the clouds see in them the manifestation of His glory. He placed the clouds in the firmament and that firmament shows His hand at work and His glory (Gen. 9:13-14; Psa. 19:1).
There is so much more. Use your concordance to read every mention of the clouds. Where would we be without seeing His clouds manifesting His glory in His every sunrise and every sunset? The book of Job says that the lightning coming from the clouds and the crashing thunder which follows “…declare His presence” (Job 36:32-33). Some day we shall see His glory in a land where there may or may not be clouds!