Glory

Introduction

The word glory is one often used but rarely defined.

Amy and I were discussing it a few weeks ago and I decided to add it to the list of word studies I have been doing over the last several months.

It proved to be more than we could possibly cover and so we are sort of covering a slice of the word as it is used in the Bible.

There are two primary words translated as glory (one Hebrew and one Greek)

Hebrew is kabod (Ichabod).

The Greek is doxa (doxology)

Glory Defined

It is a distinctly relative term (Psa. 49:16-17; 138:5; cf. Gen. 31:1).

It is a characteristic that can be witnessed and described (Psa. 97:6; Hab. 2:14).

It is something that can be given (Psa. 115:1; 8:5).

It has to do with weight (Job 6:3; Ex. 5:9; 8:15).

It carries the idea of honor (Ex. 20:12; Prov. 3:35).

This is particularly when it is applied to men.

It is connected to works (Psa. 19:1; 96:3; 104:31).

God’s glory is compared to light (Rev. 21:23; 2 Cor. 3:7-11).

Glory Applied

Desiring glory is a tricky thing (Rom. 2:5-10; Prov. 25:27).

It starts with understanding what is glorious (Matt. 6:28-29; 1 Pet. 1:24, 6-7).

There is vain glory (Ecclesiastes)

There is true glory (the very presence of God)

But there is a sort of weighty glory that is offered by the devil (Matt. 4:8).

And so the solution to vain glory seeking is to set our sights higher, not lower (Phil. 3:19-21).

“Our Lord finds our desires, not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.” - C. S. Lewis “The Weight of Glory”

Our glory is tied up in His glory (Psa. 3:3; 16:9; 30:12; 106:20; Acts 2:26).

He is our glory.

Our tongue are made to glorify Him.

It is His image that makes us glorious.

So we are most glorious when we are reflecting our creator (1 Cor. 11:7; Matt. 5:16; Rom. 3:23).

The woman illustrates this that by bringing glory to her husband, she is glorified (Prov. 31).

Conclusion

One day, I want to walk into the presence of the glory of God that will be so bright and glorious that the brightest glory this world has to offer will be dimmed by comparison.

I want to be glorified. And so I strive to bring God the thing that I want from Him. He is the only one that can give it to me.

Are you striving for His glory and therefore your own ultimate glory or are you satisfied with counterfeits that will fade like the grass?