The Glory of God

---

In the Strong's Concordance 3519 and 1391, the glory of God, represents His divine presence and authority. The Israelites understood God's glory as both a visible manifestation, such as the cloud and fire in the wilderness, and a deeply connected attribute of His nature.

In the context of God, "kabowd" refers to His majestic presence and the manifestation of His divine attributes. It can also imply the honor and respect of the significance of the presence of God.

God's glory includes his wisdom, love, power, sound mind, riches, creativity, beauty, strength, holiness, mercy, grace, and compassion. 

1 Corinthians 10:31

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Luke 2:14

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

As in the case of the Israelites journeying in the wilderness for 40 years, God displayed his glory two ways:

1) As a consuming fire to destroy the enemy or to show the light for the way to go in the wilderness.

2) As a cloud protecting his people and to lead the way.

Exodus 40:38

For the cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.

Nehemiah 9:19

Yet thou in thy manifold mercies forsook them not in the wilderness: the pillar of the cloud departed not from them by day, to lead them in the way; neither the pillar of fire by night, to shew them light, and the way wherein they should go.

Deuteronomy 9:3

Understand therefore this day, that the LORD thy God is he which goeth over before thee; as a consuming fire he shall destroy them, and he shall bring them down before thy face: so shalt thou drive them out, and destroy them quickly, as the LORD hath said unto thee.

The prophet Ezekiel described God in Ezekiel 8:2 as having "the likeness as the appearance of a man...as the color of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward...as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about".

When Moses was with the LORD forty days and forty nights, the brightness of the glory of God was shining on Moses' face sending out rays of light.

Exodus 34:28-30

28 And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.

29 And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses knew not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him.

30 And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him.

The three disciples, Peter, James, and John his brother experienced the glory of God during the transfiguration of Jesus Christ. The brightness of Jesus Christ was overshadowed by a bright cloud having the voice of the glory of God in it.

Matthew 17:1-8

1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,

2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.

4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

5 While he yet spoke, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.

7 And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.

8 And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.

Since we are not perfect like God, it is by the grace of God that we are saved but only if we believe that Jesus Christ is the true Son of God who paid the atonement for our sins through his blood on the cross and declare the resurrection of Jesus Christ to be true. 

Romans 3:24-26

24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

Yes. Every name that is written in the Lamb's book of life shall see the glory of God.

Revelation 21:9-11, 22-27

9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.

10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,

11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;

22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.

23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it.

25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.

26 And they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it.

27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

The glory of God is His ultimate gift to us in eternity. The promise is that all suffering, distress, and hardship is temporary and leads to God's eternal glory. The mystery of God is the plan of salvation that leads to Jesus Christ being King of kings and Lord of lords in the New Jerusalem of the eternal kingdom of God.

Romans 8:1

O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! Who hast set thy glory above the heavens.

Words of Wisdom

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

20 For ye are bought with a price (thirty pieces of silver): therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.