Just What Is God’s Glory?

1.      Glory’s Definition

·    God’s Glory can be defined as “The singular splendor of God and the consequences for humanity.”

·    The Glory of God The glory of God can be described in two senses:

·    (1) as a general category or attribute, and

·    (2) as a specific category referring to particular historical manifestations of his presence.

2.      Glory’s Description

a.    As an Attribute

·    God’s glory refers primarily to

·    His majestic beauty and splendor; it also refers to the expression of God’s character (Rom 3:23).

²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

·         The Scriptures record praise to his glorious name (Neh 9:5),

⁵ And the Levites, Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabniah, Sherebiah, Hodijah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said:
“Stand up and bless the Lord your God
Forever and ever!
“Blessed be Your glorious name,
Which is exalted above all blessing and praise!

·    It describes Him as the glorious Father (Eph 1:17)

¹⁷ that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,

·    And even as the King of glory (Ps 24);

⁷ Lift up your heads, O you gates!
And be lifted up, you everlasting doors!
And the King of glory shall come in.
⁸ Who is this King of glory?
The Lord strong and mighty,
The Lord mighty in battle.
⁹ Lift up your heads, O you gates!
Lift up, you everlasting doors!
And the King of glory shall come in.
¹⁰ Who is this King of glory?
The Lord of hosts,
He is the King of glory. Selah

·    He is exalted above the heavens, and his glory is over all the earth; 

⁵ Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
Let Your glory be above all the earth.
¹¹ Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
Let Your glory be above all the earth. (Pss 57:5, 11)

⁵ Be exalted, O God, above the heavens,
And Your glory above all the earth; (Psalm 108:5)

⁴ The Lord is high above all nations,
His glory above the heavens. (Psalm 113:4)

·    He is the God of glory who appeared to the patriarchs of the OT (Acts 7:2).

² And he said, “Brethren and fathers, listen: The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran,

·    He is jealous to maintain his glory and unwilling that it be given to another (Is 42:8);

⁸ I am the Lord, that is My name;
And My glory I will not give to another,
Nor My praise to carved images.

·    He acts to bring glory to himself.

⁹ Help us, O God of our salvation,
For the glory of Your name;
And deliver us, and provide atonement for our sins,
For Your name’s sake! (Psalm 79:9)

¹¹ For My own sake, for My own sake, I will do it;
For how should My name be profaned?
And I will not give My glory to another. (Isaiah 48:11)

b.    The glory of God is

·     Proclaimed by the Creation

¹ The heavens declare the glory of God;
And the firmament shows His handiwork. (Psalm 19:1)

⁶ The heavens declare His righteousness,
And all the peoples see His glory. (Psalm 97:6)

²⁰ For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, (Romans 1:20)

·      It is revealed by his mighty acts of salvation and deliverance

²⁴ Declare His glory among the nations,
His wonders among all peoples. (1 Chronicles 16:24)

¹⁸ Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel,
Who only does wondrous things!

¹⁹ And blessed be His glorious name forever!
And let the whole earth be filled with His glory.
Amen and Amen. (Psalm 72:18–19)

³ Declare His glory among the nations,
His wonders among all peoples. (Psalm 96:3)

¹⁰ All Your works shall praise You, O Lord,
And Your saints shall bless You.
¹¹ They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom,
And talk of Your power,
¹² To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts,
And the glorious majesty of His kingdom. (Psalm 145:10–12 )

⁴ When Jesus heard that, He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

⁴⁰ Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” (John 11:4, 40)

·     His glory is the theme of the praise.

²⁴ Declare His glory among the nations,
His wonders among all peoples.
²⁵ For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised;
He is also to be feared above all gods.
²⁶ For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
But the Lord made the heavens.
²⁷ Honor and majesty are before Him;
Strength and gladness are in His place.
²⁸ Give to the Lord, O families of the peoples,
Give to the Lord glory and strength.
²⁹ Give to the Lord the glory due His name;
Bring an offering, and come before Him.
Oh, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness! (1 Chronicles 16:24–29)

¹ Give unto the Lord, O you mighty ones,
Give unto the Lord glory and strength.
² Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name;
Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. (Psalm 29:1–2)

¹ Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth!
² Sing out the honor of His name;
Make His praise glorious. (Psalm 66:1–2)

²⁰ He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, (Romans 4:20)

⁹ Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, ¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, ¹¹ and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9–11)

·      So His GLORY, not what He has done or what we feel, is the THEME of all praise…

c.       As His Presence

·         References to the glory of the Lord are often to particular historical manifestations of his presence;

·         Images of light and fire are prominently associated with these occurrences.