The Glory of God

The phrase "the glory of God" is used several ways in the Bible. Sometimes it describes God's splendor, magnificence and majesty. But no human language can fully describe God's highest glory, which is so supernaturally supreme that no human can experience it firsthand. We can only bear to see an "appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord" (Ezekiel 1:26-28). The glory of God reveals to us the fullness of His uniqueness  and His holiness and His transcendence. Peter uses the term "the majestic Glory" as a name for God.

The glory of God can also refer to God's visible presence among His people. This is sometimes called the "shekinah" glory. Shekinah is a Hebrew word meaning "dwelling of God", and it is used to describe a visible appearance of God's presence and glory. Moses and the Israelites saw a form of God's shekinah glory in the pillars of cloud and fire that guided them day and night. She shekinah covered Mount Sinai when God gave His law to Moses; it filled the tabernacle when it was completed; it guided Israel in the desert; and it later filled Solomon's temple  during the dedication ceremony. Ezekiel saw the glory of the Lord rise and leave the temple because of widespread idolatry. The New Testament equal to the shekinah glory is the presence of Jesus Christ - the glory of God in human flesh. The shepherds of Bethlehem saw the glory of the Lord at Jesus' birth; the disciples saw it at Christ's transfiguration and Stephen saw it as he was being killed for his faith in Christ.

The glory of God is also expressed in the Bible as His holy presence and power, as well as th effects of that presence and power in individual lives. The fullness of God's greatness and majesty is yet to be revealed. For this reason, people often fail to recognize God's greatness; and, as a result, they often take His presence for granted. However, Christ's followers experience God's glory and presence in many ways, including His nearness, guidance, love, strength, wisdom, answers to prayer and the spiritual gifts.

Finally, the Old Testament warns that any kind of idolatry pushes God's glory back or to the side as though He were not present. Idolatry dishonors His name. Christ's entire ministry on earth brought glory and honor to God.

How does God's glory affect His followers and apply to their lives personally? God reveals His glory for humankind to see in two ways: "in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever" (Eph. 3:21). That is to say, God shows Himself and reveals His works through His Son, Jesus, and through the lives of His faithful followers who serve His purposes. That is because His Holy Spirit lives in them and is active in their lives.

In our present time, followers of Jesus experience God's presence through the power and work of the Holy Spirit, which brings the presence of God and the Lord Jesus near to them. When the Spirit becomes powerfully active in the church, God's glory is seen and experienced by people in such a way that it cannot be denied.

Peter says to the individual who boldly identifies with Christ and suffers insults for his or her faith in Him: "the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you" (1 Peter 4:14). As One reason Jesus came into the world was to reveal His glory to people (Luke 29:32). As followers of Jesus, we must live our entire lives for the glory of God so that He is honored and glorified in and through us.