Tag: God’s Glory

My Glory

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jehovah kabodhiThis name of God is referred to in Psalm 3:3. “But you, O Lord, are a shield about me,  my glory, and the lifter of my head.”   The name O Lord  is YHWH and my glory is Jehovah-Kabodhi in Hebrew.   David describes God as Lord, the one of glory and the lifter of his head.  Have you ever thought about what God’s glory is?  The Old Testament describes the glory cloud that led them in the wilderness and the ‘Sheikinah’ glory that filled the tabernacle and later the temple as the presence of God on earth.  Moses asked to see God’s glory while on Mt Sinai but God told him he could not see His face and live.  But, God said hide in the cleft of the rock and I will pass by.  Exodus 33:20-22  But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.” 21 And the Lord said, “Behold, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock, 22 and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by.”  God in His grace allowed Moses to ezekiel 1 28catch a glimpse of His glory.  Ezekiel, the prophet,  saw a vision of the throne room of God in heaven.  Ezekiel 1:28 “Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around.   Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one speaking.”  

God’s glory is the sum total of all His attributes. He displays His glory in the beauty and wisdom of His creation. God reveals His glory to us through His power, mercy, love, grace, judgement, holiness and all his other attributes.  The Lord Jesus Christ is the complete revelation of God’s glory.  Hebrews 11:3 describes Jesus, ” He is the radiance Hebrews 1 3of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,”   Here is the first part of this verse in the Amplified, “The Son is the radiance and only expression of the glory of [our awesome] God [reflecting God’s Shekinah glory, the Light-being, the brilliant light of the divine], and the exact representation and perfect imprint of His [Father’s] essence, and upholding and maintaining and propelling all things [the entire physical and spiritual universe] by His powerful word [carrying the universe along to its predetermined goal].”

What does this mean for you and me?  My glory is a powerful name of God that reflects His holiness, goodness, light and power and is found fully in the Lord Jesus Christ.  We, as believers, have access to this power through the indwelling Holy Spirit.  We can see and experience God for ourselves through faith in Jesus.  Jesus brings all things to the light and we can bask in His glory and goodness each day.  We can soak in His light to revive and sustain us,  but shouldn’t we be reflectors of His light too?  God calls us to be lights in this world in the midst of the darkness of the sin all around us.  Seriously, ask God today how He can use you to be a reflector of His glory to those around you.  He will give you opportunities to shine for Him.

Linda

Have you ever thought about the Lord of hosts?

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Lord of hostsAs I have only a few days left in this month, I wanted to go back and pick up a few names of God I have not written about before.  The Lord of hosts is a name of God referred to in the Old Testament and first appears in 1 Samuel 1:3. “Now this man (Elkanah) used to go up year by year from his city to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of hosts at Shiloh, where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests of the Lord.”   This is the beginning of the story of Hannah, Elkanah’s wife who had no children. They went to Shiloh yearly to worship where the sanctuary to the Lord was erected.  It is a tender story that shows her dedication to the Lord, and how God,the Lord of hosts,  met her greatest desire.

So why this name for God?  Lord of hosts would suggest a realization by the people of Lord of ArmiesIsrael that God commanded many angelic beings and is similar to the reference to God as the God of Heaven’s armies. Jeremiah 15:16 NLT    Lord of hosts acknowledges that God is Almighty, powerful and can command and use a host of beings to aid His children.  I particularly love the story of Elisha in 2 Kings 6:15-17.  The king was after Elisha as he had been giving information to enemy as the Lord had directed him.  He and his servant had fled into the countryside to escape the king.   “When the servant of the man of God got up early the next morning and went outside, there were troops, horses, and chariots everywhere. “Oh, sir, what will we do now?” the fear not Eishayoung man cried to Elisha.   16 “Don’t be afraid!” Elisha told him. “For there are more on our side than on theirs!” 17 Then Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!” The Lord opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire.”    The servant was amazed at the army the Lord had sent to protect his servant Elisha.  God’s forces were present but unseen until God opened the servant’s eyes.  

David repeatedly referred to God as the Lord of hosts in the Psalms.  Psalm 24:10 Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory! Selah ,  Psalm 84:12  O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!   Isaiah records this phrase in his vision of God’s throne room.  The angelic beings were speaking, “And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!”    Isaiah 6:3

I love this name of God as it shows me that God is always more than I can ever imagine.  He has the heaven’s and the earth at His command.  His resources far exceed our needs.  That is why I can claim His promise to me in Philippians 4:19,  “And my God will supply philip 4 19every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”  I can depend upon Him to be with me and carry me in whatever circumstances I find myself.  Truly, He is the Lord of hosts the one who commands Heaven’s Armies and the whole earth is filled with His glory!

Linda

A Christmas Hallelujah to You!

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It is fitting today we will conclude Advent with the Hallelujah Chorus.  Tradition calls for standing during this chorus but no one really knows the reason for this.  Some say it was when the King stood upon hearing this glorious chorus in 1743 at it’s premier because he was so moved.  When the king or queen stand, etiquette requires that everyone else stand and so the tradition continues to this day.  What ever the reason, the music is glorious and pays tribute to our God who Reigns forever.  The words were taken from Revelation 19:6, 11:15 and 19:16.  The facts of these verses are gloriously woven into this Chorus.

Blessings to you this Christmas and thanks for going with me on this journey through the Messiah.  I have seen prophesies that I had not realized before and heard them put to song in a marvelous way.  I pray it was a blessing to you and to our Savior.  I truly believe the sentiment of my Christmas Greeting given in John 1:16 “For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.”  We are blessed by His marvelous Grace each day.  Hallelujah and Merry Christmas!

Linda

Revelation 19:6 speaks of the glorious gathering to celebrate the lamb of God, Jesus and His bride the church.  “Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God     the Almighty reigns.“

Revelation 11:15 “Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.”  This kingdom rule was foretold in Zechariah 14:9   “And the Lord will be king over all the earth. On that day the Lord will be one and his name one.”

Revelation 19:16  “On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of Kings and Lord of Lords.”

 

Christmas Blessings as you listen!