What is God’s Glory?

·         What do we mean when we pray and sing for God to show us His glory?

·         What does it mean to when way we say, “Glory to God”?

·         How does an experience of the Glory of God change one’s life?

So often we use expressions that our understanding of is limited, or that we may not have any real understanding. Sometimes I’ve heard people pray things, or sing phrases in songs and asked myself if those saying what they say have any understanding of what they are asking for, could they stand the answer to those prayers? Perhaps the lack of apparent answers is due to lack of readiness for the answer. To deal with these questions I decided it is time to do an in depth word study on “glory.” In Biblical context, I believe before even starting to dig, that this is a big, multi-faceted topic, similar to “grace.”

The intent is not to write a lengthy dissertation, but to wet appetites for more. You will find links to some great writings on the topic at the end of this blog.

Much of what I have always clung to about God’s glory is from Exodus 33:18 where Moses asks God to show him HIS glory. Moses uses the Hebrew word, “kabod.” This is the word used most often in the scriptures of glory. In this verse it is translated with the two words that are most often translated in reference to, weight and honor. This Hebrew word is used 120 times in the Old Testament. It is used in reference to weight and heaviness 20 times and in reference to honor 45 times. Some say that in ancient Hebrew culture, reference to weight had to do with having a lot of, such as a rich man being heavy in wealth, or as we might say today, “so and so is loaded.”

What the Lord is “loaded” with is revealed in His response to Moses in Ex. 33:19 the Lord tells Moses, “I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee.” That word “goodness” is not synonymous with glory; He just says that Moses will experience God’s goodness in a supernatural way. The Lord gets a bit more specific,

19    The Lord replied, “I will make all my goodness pass before you, and I will call out my name, Yahweh, before you. For I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose. (emphasis added)

I would have to say based on that that mercy and compassion are very high up on God’s list of what He wants men to know about His character. Jesus said it clearly,

Matt. 5:16    "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father who is in heaven"

As you study the Gospels, take note of what Jesus did and realize that everyone in the body of Christ is called to be doing,

Jn.14:12   I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.

There is another side to the experience of God’s glory. The vision of God’s glory is something human flesh cannot handle in its fullness. I think the Lord was cautioning Moses about what was about to transpire. Two verses later God uses the word “kabod” and does some very special things to protect Moses from it:

Exodus 33:22    As my glorious presence passes by, I will hide you in the crevice of the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by.

23    Then I will remove my hand and let you see me from behind. But my face will not be seen.” (NLT)

Look at Isaiah’s vision of the Glory in chapter 6. Take heed to Isaiah’s reaction to what he experiences in reference to the “kabod”

Isaiah 6:1    It was in the year King Uzziah died that I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple.

2    Attending him were mighty seraphim, each having six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew.

3    They were calling out to each other,

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies!

    The whole earth is filled with his glory!”

4   Their voices shook the Temple to its foundations, and the entire building was filled with smoke.

5   Then I said, “It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.” (NLT)

Ezekiel also had a vision of the Glory,

Ezek. 10:4   Then the glory of the Lord rose up from above the cherubim and went over to the door of the Temple. The Temple was filled with this cloud of glory, and the courtyard glowed brightly with the glory of the Lord.

5    The moving wings of the cherubim sounded like the voice of God Almighty and could be heard even in the outer courtyard.

Perhaps the most striking reaction to God’s glory was at the dedication of the Temple Solomon built,

2 Chronicles 7:1    When Solomon finished praying, fire flashed down from heaven and burned up the burnt offerings and sacrifices, and the glorious presence of the Lord filled the Temple.

2   The priests could not enter the Temple of the Lord because the glorious presence of the Lord filled it.

3  When all the people of Israel saw the fire coming down and the glorious presence of the Lord filling the Temple, they fell face down on the ground and worshiped and praised the Lord, saying,

    “He is good!

    His faithful love endures forever!”

A most wonderful and well known experience of the glory in this supernatural form was the “transfiguration.” The Disciples that Jesus took with Him up the mountain had a very definite, life changing experience and received a supernatural Word from the Father,

Mark 9:2-4   Six days later, three of them did see it. Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain. His appearance changed from the inside out, right before their eyes. His clothes shimmered, glistening white, whiter than any bleach could make them. Elijah, along with Moses, came into view, in deep conversation with Jesus.

5-6   Peter interrupted, “Rabbi, this is a great moment! Let’s build three memorials—one for you, one for Moses, one for Elijah.” He blurted this out without thinking, stunned as they all were by what they were seeing.

7    Just then a light-radiant cloud enveloped them, and from deep in the cloud, a voice: “This is my Son, marked by my love. Listen to him.”

Many of God’s people have experience a measure of the “kabod,” especially in an anointed time of worship in the corporate setting. We’ve experienced such intensity of this Manifestation of His Presence that standing, or sitting, erect are not options, we find ourselves on the floor or at least bending over with little to say except, “Praise you Jesus” and words spoken in tongues – English just don’t say what is going on in the heart. These are incredible experiences but they beg the question, “What’s different when you get up?” What was different for Moses was that he knew another name of the Lord and that the Lord is compassionate and merciful with those He chooses to be. Thank God for John 3:16 where we see that He loved the world (all the people in it) so much.  Amen

I have written extensively on this topic in the blog called Life Lessons from Revelation - http://andy-levine.blogspot.com/ ). You will find practical, down to earth, applications of the revelations John had in the heavenly realms.

Links to additional articles on this topic

http://www.gospeltruth.net/1843OE/431220_gods_glory.htm This sermon by the great 19^th century evangelist & teacher, Charles Finney is “loaded”. It will change your life if you take the time to think about what Finney says. Read his biography to understand what real revival is all about.

http://www.thehighcalling.org/reflection/what-gods-glory#.U4oj8_ldVPc  Mark D. Roberts  draws attention to Ezekiel 10 were the prophet saw God’s glory in a very overwhelming way. He then provides some great definitions of glory that provoke one to be more like that by apprehending God in our lives.

http://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/what-is-gods-glory  John Piper talks about making God’s glory public so as to bring Him glory. He sums up his brief comments with, “So God's glory is the radiance of his holiness, the radiance of his manifold, infinitely worthy and valuable perfections.”    (©2014 Desiring God Foundation. Website: desiringGod.org)

http://www.wadetaylor.org   Most of the articles by Wade Taylor or in the button on the left of the home page, “Articles by Others” are about the presence of God and His Glory. I love especially the series of articles by Walther Beutler on the Manifest Presence of God.