God in Relation to His Glory

God’s glory in New Creation (Salvation)

Isaiah 43:7 Everyone who is called by My name, And whom I have created for My glory, Whom I have formed, even whom I have made."[1]

God’s glory in the Exodus

Ezekiel 20:9 "But I acted for the sake of My name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations among whom they lived, in whose sight I made Myself known to them by bringing them out of the land of Egypt.

Psalm 106:8 Nevertheless He saved them for the sake of His name, That He might make His power known.

Exodus 14:4 "Thus I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will chase after them; and I will be honored through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD." And they did so.

Exodus 14:18 "Then the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD, when I am honored through Pharaoh, through his chariots and his horsemen."

Isaiah 63:12 Who caused His glorious arm to go at the right hand of Moses, Who divided the waters before them to make for Himself an everlasting name,

Isaiah 63:14 As the cattle which go down into the valley, The Spirit of the LORD gave them rest. So didst Thou lead Thy people, To make for Thyself a glorious name.

God’s Glory in the Wilderness

Ezekiel 20:21 "But the children rebelled against Me; they did not walk in My statutes, nor were they careful to observe My ordinances, by which, if a man observes them, he will live; they profaned My sabbaths. So I resolved to pour out My wrath on them, to accomplish My anger against them in the wilderness. 22 "But I withdrew My hand and acted for the sake of My name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.

God’s Glory in His Faithfulness to His People

1 Samuel 12:22 "For the LORD will not abandon His people on account of His great name, because the LORD has been pleased to make you a people for Himself.

God’s Purpose to Fill the whole Earth with His Glory

Numbers 14:21 but indeed, as I live, all the earth will be filled with the glory of the LORD.

Habakkuk 2:14 "For the earth will be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, As the waters cover the sea.

Prayer that the earth be filled with His Glory

Psalm 72:19 And blessed be His glorious name forever; And may the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen, and Amen.

Assertion that the earth is full of His Glory

Isaiah 6:3 And one called out to another and said, "Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory."

God’s Glory in Prophesying Future Events

Isaiah 48:3 "I declared the former things long ago And they went forth from My mouth, and I proclaimed them. Suddenly I acted, and they came to pass. ... 5 Therefore I declared them to you long ago, Before they took place I proclaimed them to you, Lest you should say, 'My idol has done them, And my graven image and my molten image have commanded them.' ... 11 "For My own sake, for My own sake, I will act; For how can My name be profaned? And My glory I will not give to another.

God’s jealousy for His own glory

Isaiah 42:8 "I am the LORD, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another, Nor My praise to graven images.

Isaiah 48:11 "For My own sake, for My own sake, I will act; For how can My name be profaned? And My glory I will not give to another.

God’s glory in restraining His wrath

Isaiah 48:9 "For the sake of My name I delay My wrath, And for My praise I restrain it for you, In order not to cut you off.

NAS Exodus 32:12 "Why should the Egyptians speak, saying, 'With evil intent He brought them out to kill them in the mountains and to destroy them from the face of the earth '? Turn from Thy burning anger and change Thy mind about doing harm to Thy people.

NAS Numbers 14:15 "Now if Thou dost slay this people as one man, then the nations who have heard of Thy fame will say, 16 'Because the LORD could not bring this people into the land which He promised them by oath, therefore He slaughtered them in the wilderness.' Moses appealing to God not to destroy Israel for His reputation’s sake

God’s Glory in His Servant

Isaiah 49:3 And He said to Me, "You are My Servant, Israel, In Whom I will show My glory."

God’s Glory in Exalting Christ

Philippians 2:11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

God’s Glory in Defending Jerusalem from Sennacharib

2 Kings 19:34 'For I will defend this city to save it for My own sake and for My servant David's sake.'" (cf. 2 Kings 20:6; Isa. 37:35)

God’s Glory in Predestination

Ephesians 1:11 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, 12 to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.

God’s Glory in Election and Sanctification

NAS 1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies[2] of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

God’s Glory in Forgiving our sins

Isaiah 43:25 "I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins.

1 John 2:12 I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake.

Petition for forgiveness based in God’s Glory

Psalm 25:11 For Thy name's sake, O LORD, Pardon my iniquity, for it is great.

Psalm 79:9b ...And deliver us, and forgive our sins, for Thy name's sake.

God’s Glory in Missions/the spread of the Gospel to Gentiles

Isaiah 66:18 "For I know their works and their thoughts; the time is coming to gather all nations and tongues. And they shall come and see My glory. 19 "And I will set a sign among them and will send survivors from them to the nations: Tarshish, Put, Lud, Meshech, Rosh, Tubal, and Javan, to the distant coastlands that have neither heard My fame nor seen My glory. And they will declare My glory among the nations.

Romans 1:5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles, for His name's sake,

God’s Glory in Christ’s acceptance of us

Romans 15:7 Wherefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.

God’s Glory in Restoring Israel from captivity

Ezekiel 20:44 "Then you will know that I am the LORD when I have dealt with you for My name's sake, not according to your evil ways or according to your corrupt deeds, O house of Israel," declares the Lord God.'"

Ezekiel 36:21 "But I had concern for My holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations where they went. 22 "Therefore, say to the house of Israel, 'Thus says the Lord God, "It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for My holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you went. 23 "And I will vindicate the holiness of My great name which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD," declares the Lord God, "when I prove Myself holy among you in their sight. 24 "For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands, and bring you into your own land.

God’s Glory in Shepherding Us/Leading Us

Psalm 23:3 He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake.

Psalm 31:3 For Thou art my rock and my fortress; For Thy name's sake Thou wilt lead me and guide me.

Man in Relation to God’s Glory

Petition for Deliverance based on God’s Glory

Psalm 79:9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Thy name;

Psalm 109:21 But Thou, O God, the Lord, deal kindly with me for Thy name's sake; Because Thy loving kindness is good, deliver me;

Jeremiah 14:7a "Although our iniquities testify against us, O LORD, act for Thy name's sake!

Jeremiah 14:21 Do not despise us, for Your own name's sake; Do not disgrace the throne of Your glory; Remember and do not annul Your covenant with us.

Commands to Pray based on God’s Glory

Psalm 50:15 And call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor [kabed] Me." KJV: and thou shalt glorify me

John 14:13 "And whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

God’s Glory as the motivation for all we do

1 Corinthians 6:20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.

1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

God’s Glory as the motivation for acknowledging our total dependence on Him through Christ

1 Peter 4:11 Whoever speaks, let him speak, as it were, the utterances of God; whoever serves, let him do so as by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

God’s Glory as the motivation for doing good works/bearing fruit

Matthew 5:16 "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

John 15:8 "By this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.

Philippians 1:10 so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; 11 having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

1 Peter 2:12 Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may on account of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.

God’s Glory as the purpose for unity among believers

Romans 15:5-6 Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus; that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Glory of the Lord

Manifestation and Response

  • cloud – Exo. 16:10; 24:16; 40:34, 35; Num. 16:42; 1 Kgs 8:11-12 (cf. 2 Chron. 5:14); Ezek. 10:4
  • brightness – Ezek. 10:4
  • glory of the Lord was like a consuming fire on Mt. Sinai Exo. 24:17
  • Moses unable to enter the tent of meeting because of the glory of the Lord filling the tabernacle Exo. 40:35
  • Lev. 9:23-24 glory of the Lord appeared, fire came out and consumed the sacrifice and the people shouted [in fear] and fell on their faces.
  • Num. 16:42ff -- the glory of the Lord appears in wrath; God is going to destroy the congregation
  • 1ki 8:11 the glory of the Lord fills the Solomonic temple and "the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud" (cf. 2 Chron. 5:14)
  • 2 Chronicles 7:3 And all the sons of Israel, seeing the fire come down and the glory of the LORD upon the house, bowed down on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave praise to the LORD, saying, "Truly He is good, truly His lovingkindness is everlasting."
  • Ezek. 1:28 – Ezekiel falls on his face upon see the glory of the Lord.
  • Ezek. 3:23 – Ezekiel again falls on his face at the glory of the Lord
  • Luk 2:9 – the glory of the Lord shines and they were filled with fear
  • Rev. 15:8 – smoke from the glory of the Lord fills the temple in Heaven and no one is able to enter until the seven plagues are done.
  • Rev. 21:23 – the glory of God illuminates the New Jerusalem.

Conclusions: the glory of the Lord invariably manifests itself as light and/or fire, associated with a cloud (probably not a white cloud but a dark/black cloud to cloak the radiance of God’s glory. See Solomon’s comment in 2 Chron. 5:14-6:1 and Deut. 5:23-24). There are no biblical examples in which men respond with exuberant joy when they are personally in the presence of God’s glory. There is one uniform response, and that is prostration and fear.

Isa. 44:23 commands the heavens and the earth to shout joyfully because God has manifested his glory in redeeming Israel.

Defining God’s Glory

Piper: the term ‘glory of God’ in the Bible generally refers to the visible splendor or moral beauty of God’s manifold perfections.[3]

Minnick: God’s glory is His unique excellence.

Philip Brown: ‘glory’ in reference to God has the following senses (1) God’s reputation or “name,” (2) the splendor of God’s uniquely excellent character, the visible manifestation of which usually appears as fire or brilliant light, (3) praise.

Verses Piper used I can’t justify:

God’s glory in dealing with Abraham

Romans 4:20 yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief, but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully assured that what He had promised, He was able also to perform.

Numbers 14:21 but indeed, as I live, all the earth will be filled with the glory of the LORD.

Piper: “Man is given the exalted status of image-bearer . . . so he would reflect the glory of his Maker whose image he bears. God’s purpose in creation was to fill the earth with his own glory.”This theological principle raises Paul’s discussion in 1 Cor. 11:2-16 far above the level of sociological or cultural glory and shame. The real issue is the glory of God in us.

Christ in Relation to the Father’s Glory

God’s Glory as the motivation for Christ condescension

Romans 15:8 For I say that Christ has become a servant to the circumcision on behalf of the truth of God to confirm the promises given to the fathers, 9 and for the Gentiles to glorify God for His mercy; as it is written, "Therefore I will give praise to Thee among the Gentiles, And I will sing to Thy name."

Christ’s focus was the glory of the Father

John 7:18 "He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who is seeking the glory of the One who sent Him, He is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.

John 8:49 Jesus answered, "I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. 50 "But I do not seek My glory; there is One who seeks and judges.

The Father glorifies Christ

John 8:54 Jesus answered, "If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing; it is My Father who glorifies Me, of whom you say, 'He is our God';

…This section needs further development. It appears that the ontological glory of God is equally shared by all members of the Trinity, while there is also an economic distribution of glory in which the Father is preeminent (1 Cor. 15:24-28).

Quotes from key lexical works on glory

Collins, NIDOTTE, s.v. dbk

Verb’s senses: (1) be heavy, (2) be unresponsive, (3) be honorable, q: be honored, pi. & hif: consider honorable, i.e., to honor; nif: be honored, get oneself honor

Noun’s senses: (1) dignity, high position, (2) respect, reverence, (3) object of respect, (4) t.t. for God’s manifest presence, (5) used as a means of self-reference cf. Gen. 49:6; Ps 7:5

Oswalt, TWOT, s.v. dbk

“the idea is of that which is weighty in the sense of being noteworthy or impressive. … The reputation of an individual is of central importance in these usages. … God's name is glorious in righteousness, faithfulness, judgment, and salvation (Psa 66:2; Psa 79:9; Isa 40:5). He is the king of glory (Psa 24:7-10), who has done gloriously. So he is not only to be honored because of his position as sovereign head of the universe, but because of his surpassing character in all realms. …Forty-five times this form of the root relates to a visible manifestation of God and whenever "the glory of God" is mentioned this usage must be taken account of. Its force is so compelling that it remolds the meaning of doxa from an opinion of men in the Greek classics to something absolutely objective in the LXX and NT.

The several references which speak of God's glory filling the earth and/or becoming evident are instructive. On the one hand they quite legitimately refer to that reputation for greatness which God alone deserves, not only because of his natural position as king, but because of his unsurpassed activity as deliverer and saviour. However, as the preceding discussion indicates, something more is intended here. It is not merely God's reputation which fills the earth, but it is the very reality of his presence. And his desire is that all persons may gladly recognize and own this. His first step toward the achievement of these goals was to fill the tabernacle with his presence and then the temple.”

1

[1] All Scripture taken from the NASB unless otherwise noted.

[2]taj aretaj. Note that this verse could be used as a basis for defining the glory of God as His unique excellence.

[3] Desiring God, 255.