Glory
So you shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that you have seen; and you shall hurry and bring my father down here." (Genesis 45:13 NKJV)
Word Study
Glory usually has to do with splendor, or great beauty or with honor. The glory of the Lord is a vast subject in the Bible and while we frequently use the word, I wonder if we really know its meaning.
The Nation of Israel
The Glory of the Lord is closely associated with the Lord’s deliverance of the people of Israel from Egypt. His glory was seen in a cloud by day and by a fire at night during the journey through the wilderness. Sometimes His glory was seen in the cloud which would imply that the cloud in some way became very brilliant.
The Departure of the Glory from Israel
In the book of Ezekiel, it is instructive to note that because of the unfaithfulness of the nation of Israel, the glory of the Lord departed from the temple in stages. But we also find out that the glory of the Lord once again fills the temple when the Lord comes the second time. His presence will be obvious and glorious and there will be splendor associated with His return. The prophecy of Zechariah was fulfilled on Palm Sunday of the year of the Lord’s crucifixion. "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.” (Zechariah 9:9 NKJV)
There was no Kingly glory associated with his last entry into Jerusalem. He came on a donkey and not on a regal horse. He had a crowd with Him, but the crowd was likely the same crowd that later in the week wanted to crucify Him.
These are the verses from Ezekiel having to do with the departure of the Lord’s glory:
Then the glory of the LORD went up from the cherub, and paused over the threshold of the temple; and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the LORD’s glory. (Ezekiel 10:4 NKJV)
Then the glory of the LORD departed from the threshold of the temple and stood over the cherubim. And the cherubim lifted their wings and mounted up from the earth in my sight. When they went out, the wheels were beside them; and they stood at the door of the east gate of the LORD’s house, and the glory of the God of Israel was above them. (Ezekiel 10:18-19 NKJV)
And the glory of the LORD went up from the midst of the city and stood on the mountain, which is on the east side of the city. (Ezekiel 11:23 NKJV)
These are the verses that record the return of the Lord’s glory:
And behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east. His voice was like the sound of many waters; and the earth shone with His glory. (Ezekiel 43:2 NKJV)
The Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory of the LORD filled the temple. (Ezekiel 43:5 NKJV)
The Church
In the book of the Revelation, much is made of the glory of the Lord, in heaven and on earth. But in Chapters 2 and 3 where we see the messages to the seven churches of present-day Turkey, I cannot find one mention of the Lord’s glory. And it has caused me to wonder if the Lord’s glory is being reflected in our current local congregations that claim to have the Lord’s presence. Paul says the church is the temple of God (1 Corinthians 3:16). Surely the church should manifest His glory. I wonder if it does. How would we treat the Lord if He should show up for an unexpected visit? Would we give Him honor, would we listen to His teaching? Would we even recognize Him for Who He is?
I sometimes wonder if I really understand how to glorify Him, but this I know, it starts with honoring His Word and believing in or on (or trusting) Him when He says, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, HATH everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” (John 5:24 KJV)
Bruce Collins
Meditation for the week of December 28, 2019