the Glory of the LORD

My husband told me recently how Roman soldiers would chant “Ad maiorem Romae gloriam” (“For the greater glory of Rome)” as they were going to battle. This meant the soldiers were willing to sacrifice and do whatever it took to bring victory for Rome. They desired to bring honor to Rome.

We often think of glory in that way – ourselves or someone else receiving honor for an achievement. In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word kavod can mean exactly that (Genesis 45:13; Esther 5:11). Kavod literally means heavy or weighty like Moses’ hands feeling heavy as he held up the staff of God in battle (Exodus 17:12). It can also mean “to be filled with a particular quality or trait” (i.e., reflecting a defining moral quality).

This week we will consider a different and surpassing aspect of glory – God’s glory as revealed in Jesus.

And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,

and all flesh shall see it together,

for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”[1]

Isaiah 40:5

To put this verse in context, Isaiah spent chapters 1-35 primarily speaking of God’s judgment on the Jewish people and the surrounding nations. There are glimpses of comfort, but the overall message is judgment. In chapters 36-39, Isaiah provides the historical setting, ending with a prophecy about Judah’s exile to Babylon. Then, beginning in chapter 40, Isaiah’s message shifts to comfort, rooted in the coming Messiah (vs 1-2). Verses 3-4 are a prophecy concerning John the Baptist preparing the way for the Messiah. Verse 5 is the game changer: “And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed.”

God’s glory is throughout Scripture including the books written before Isaiah’s time. God’s glory is in creation.

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.

Psalm 19:11

And one [seraphim] called to another and said: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!

Isaiah 6:3

Even in this fallen world, we have glimpses of God’s glory in creation, but we also read of God’s glory in personal encounters with people. Probably the most well-known of such encounters is the account of Moses interceding for the Israelites while wandering in the wilderness.

18 Moses said, “Please show me your glory.” 19 And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The Lord.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. 20 But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.” 21 And the Lord said, “Behold, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock, 22 and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen.” [2]

Exodus 33:18-23

John MacArthur stated: “The glory of the Lord is the expression of God’s person.  It is any manifestation of God’s character, any manifestation of His attributes in the world, in the universe, is His glory…  In other words, it is the emanation, it is the effulgence, it is the brightness, it is the product of His presence, it is the revelation of Himself.  Anytime God discloses Himself, it is the manifestation of His glory.  That really refers to His presence.”[3]

And John Currid wrote: “Because the word glory defines the very essence of God's being, it came to be used of the very presence of God among His people.”[4]

The specific name for God’s glory was shekinah. Shekinah glory filled the tabernacle (Exodus 40:34) and the temple (1 Kings 5:11) signifying God’s presence. It was on Mount Sinai when Moses met God (Exodus 24:15, 17). God’s glory appeared as a cloud, pillar of fire, devouring fire, and blazing light. In Ezekiel’s vision of God’s glory (Ezekiel 1:4-28), we have amazing descriptions as Ezekiel tried to put into words what he witnessed.

Yet, even with creation and the personal encounters in the Old Testament, we are like Moses in the cleft, perceiving only a partial picture of God’s glory. There is still mystery surrounding God’s glory until Isaiah’s words: “And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed.” A fuller revelation of God’s glory was coming, and His name was Jesus.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:14

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.

Hebrews 1:1-3a (emphasis added)

If we go back to the quotes by John Currid and John MacArthur, in Jesus, we have God’s presence – Immanuel, God with us. Jesus took on flesh to dwell among man. In Jesus, we have the exact imprint of God’s nature, the fullness of God’s character and attributes. Jesus is the perfect and complete expression of God’s person because He is God. God’s glory that was partial and veiled in some mystery in the Old Testament is now more fully revealed in Jesus.

Paul writes: “Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it” (2 Corinthians 3:10. In other words, yes, God’s glory had been evident throughout history and in creation, but now Jesus is the glory that surpasses all those other instances of God’s glory.

I think we often miss how astounding this really is. The glory of the Lord has been revealed. His name is Jesus. Where we often fail to be in awe, the angels at Jesus’ birth were not.

And an angel of the Lord appeared to them [the shepherds], and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

Luke 2:9-14

Glory characterized the Glory of the Lord’s birth. Jesus, fully God, took on flesh in the form of a baby to live in perfect obedience, suffer, die, and rise to life to save us. The Glory of the Lord dwelt among men, and now His Spirit indwells us. The Glory of the Lord is revealed, and His name is Jesus.

Reflection

1.     How does knowing Jesus as the Glory of the Lord impact you? How does it bring you comfort? Remember that God’s glory meant His presence, and the manifestation of His character and attributes which were then revealed more fully in Jesus.

2.     How does knowing Jesus as the Glory of the Lord give you hope? Consider your own future glorification as one way that gives hope.

3.     How does knowing Jesus as the Glory of the Lord instill joy in you?

4.     Although we will not fully, perfectly know God’s glory until we are eternally in His presence, how can you worship God now for the Glory of the Lord who has been revealed?

[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Is 40:5.

[2] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ex 33:18–23.

[3] MacArthur, John. “The Glory of the Lord.” Grace to You Sermons Library, 14 December 1980, https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/2002/the-glory-of-the-lord. Accessed 12 December 2023.

[4] Currid, John. “Glory.” Ligonier Articles, 1 November 2011, https://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/glory. Accessed 12 December 2023.