Chapter Sixteen: The Lord, The Lord

If someone to ask you, “What is the glory of the Lord?” how would you respond?

These answers spur us into more questions, though, important questions worthy of our consideration. For example,

How do we come to know God’s glory?

There are several clues in Scriptures. Perhaps the easiest to observe is creation itself. Psalm 19:1-6 covers the whole of creation and leaves everyone breathless in His creativity and power. This is a positive feature of what we call “general revelation.” We will deal with that more in a moment, but let’s consider one other passage, one from a negative point of view.

Romans 1:18-20 presents to us this negative view. Creation plainly demonstrates that God exists. Paul mentions two specific things: “his eternal power” and his “divine nature.”

From these we can, with Petrus Van Mastricht, see that we learn much about God from creation:

1. Entirely independent

2. Omnipotent

3. Wise

4. Good

5. Eternal

6. Perfect and all-sufficient

7. Blessed (Van Mastricht, Theoretical-Practical Theology, III:119)

By the way, if you were to continue reading through Romans chapter 1 you would see the phrase “the glory of God” or something similar frequently. But this leads to another question:

How does creation point us to God?

It points us beyond ourselves to something greater. Isaiah 40:26 “Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name; by the greatness of his might and because he is strong in power, not one is missing.”

We call it general revelation because everyone has access to it. Whether you are in the streets of New York City, the jungles of the Congo, the plains in Africa, the coasts of China, or anywhere on planet earth, you have access to general revelation (i.e., creation). They demonstrate the glory of God.

It’s like a picture frame. The frame can be ornate and beautiful, a remarkable work of craftsmanship. But it is not the painting. It frames the painting. It displays the painting.

Likewise, creation displays the Painter: God. But it is limited. General revelation is limited. We can see glimpses into God’s glory, but it is only through special revelation that we can understand the Painter.

I asked for your definitions of the glory of God, here is one that I really liked:

John Piper, “The glory of God is the infinite beauty and greatness of God’s manifold perfections.”

This is where Ortlund comes into the discussion. God has revealed Himself (through both general and special revelation), but it is through special revelation that we truly come to know the LORD, and in particularly, Exodus 34:6-7.

Ortlund says, “Short of the incarnation itself, this is perhaps the high point of divine revelation in all the Bible.” (146) By the way, as a side note, Peter compares God’s Word with the baptism and transfiguration of Christ and tells us that we have a more sure word of prophecy (i.e., God’s Word) in 2 Pet. 1:16-21.

What we will see tonight is an extension of a sermon a few weeks ago (God the Father of Mercies). It is this: Jesus is the incarnation of God. Se we see no disconnect between the two: they are One (Deut. 6:4).

Ex. 34:6-7

I. The Lord is merciful and gracious

We see two traits: mercy and grace. Mercy is a tenderness, compassion, softness. The idea is gentle (ironic, especially in Matt. 11:28-30). He is not harsh. He is tender. We see a glimpse of this in Isaiah 40:11 “He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.” It is the withholding of punishment even when it is deserved.

He is also gracious. He is kind. We see this displayed in the parable of the unforgiving servant (Matt. 18:21-35). The master simply forgives the astronomical debt owed by his servants. He does not respond in anger, he pities the servant.

II. The Lord is slow to anger

We talked about this a few weeks ago in our study of the book of Exodus. Pharaoh experiences the slowness of God to anger. We all do, too.

God does not have a short fuse. We have all been around someone like that. God is slow to anger.

III. The Lord is abounds in covenant love and faithfulness

The next description is that God displays His covenant love and faithfulness. But God qualifies it with the additional word “abounds.”

IV. The Lord is generous with grace

V. The Lord is righteous

VI. Why this matters- 2 Pet. 1:3-11.

“The Christian life, from one angle, is the long journey of letting our natural assumption about who God is, over many decades, fall away, being slowly replaced with God’s own insistence on who he is.” Ortlund, 151