Just What Is God’s Glory? (Continued)

1.     Examples and References

a.      The Foremost Example

·         The foremost example is what is known in rabbinical literature as the Shekinah Glory, a phrase meaning the “dwelling glory.”

·         It refers primarily to the presence of God in the pillar of cloud and fire in the OT.

b.      The First Explicit Reference

·         The first explicit reference to the glory cloud is found in Exodus 13:21–22.

²¹ And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night. ²² He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people.

·         At the time of the exodus, the glory of God appeared in the pillar of cloud and fire to lead the people through the sea and wilderness

·         Nehemiah 9:11–12, 19

¹¹ And You divided the sea before them,
So that they went through the midst of the sea on the dry land; And their persecutors You threw into the deep, As a stone into the mighty waters.
¹² Moreover You led them by day with a cloudy pillar,
And by night with a pillar of fire,
To give them light on the road
Which they should travel.

¹⁹ Yet in Your manifold mercies
You did not forsake them in the wilderness.
The pillar of the cloud did not depart from them by day, To lead them on the road;
Nor the pillar of fire by night,
To show them light,
And the way they should go.

·         At Sinai, with Israel encamped around the mountain, the glory of God comes in the cloud and fire to speak with Moses in the sight of the people (Ex 19:9, 16–18; 24:15–18; Dt 5:5, 22–24).

·         When Moses is given a glimpse of that glory unconcealed by the cloud and fire, his own face becomes radiant and must be veiled because of the people’s fear (Ex 33:18–23; 34:29–35;

·         2 Corinthians 3:7–18

⁷ But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, ⁸ how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? ⁹ For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. ¹⁰ For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels. ¹¹ For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious.

¹² Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech— ¹³ unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. ¹⁴ But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. ¹⁵ But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. ¹⁶ Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. ¹⁷ Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. ¹⁸ But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

·         The picture of Israel encamped around the glory of God on Sinai portrays God dwelling in the midst of his people.

·         When the tabernacle is completed and the people set out on their march, the glory cloud of God’s presence dwells above them throughout their journey (Ex 40:34–38; Nm 10:11–12).

·         When they encamp, the tribes encircle the tabernacle (Nm 1:50–2:2), and the cloud reminds them of his presence in their midst.

·         Later, the same glory filled the new temple that Solomon builds (2 Chr 5:13–6:1; 7:1–3).

·         The psalmists celebrated Jerusalem and the temple as the place where his glory dwelt

·         Psalm 26:8

⁸ Lord, I have loved the habitation of Your house,
And the place where Your glory dwells.

·     Likewise in  (63:2; 85:9);

·         God was in their midst.

c.      The Departure of the Glory

·         Later in Israel’s history they denied God’s glorious presence (Is 3:8)

⁸ For Jerusalem stumbled,
And Judah is fallen,
Because their tongue and their doings
Are against the Lord,
To provoke the eyes of His glory.

·         They exchanged the glory of the Lord for idols made by human hands (Ps 106:20; Jer 2:10–11; cf. Rom 1:23).

²⁰ Thus they changed their glory
Into the image of an ox that eats grass. (Psalm 106:20)

¹⁰ For pass beyond the coasts of Cyprus and see,
Send to Kedar and consider diligently,
And see if there has been such a thing.
¹¹ Has a nation changed its gods,
Which are not gods?
But My people have changed their Glory
For what does not profit. (Jeremiah 2:10–11)

·         Exactly the description of what ALL unredeemed, unregenerate men do… in their refusal of General Revelation:

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, ²¹ because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. ²² Professing to be wise, they became fools, ²³ and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. (Romans 1:20–23)

·         Because of their disobedience, judgment came against Jerusalem;

·         The penalties of covenant violation were enforced.

·         God would no longer be the God of a disobedient people

·         Hosea 1:9

⁹ Then God said:
“Call his name Lo-Ammi,
For you are not My people,
And I will not be your God.

Continued Tomorrow