Glory, glory Lord, love come down.
Look, my chillun, glory comin’
See that glory in the sky!
For other verses substitute Faith and Hope. --- Words and music by Joel Hayden
Do you feel it? Have you seen it? Have your eyes seen the glory of the Lord? This might seem like a strange question when our God is invisible. We just sang a few minutes ago that God is inaccessible in light and hid from our eyes. So what do we mean when we say we have seen the glory of the Lord? What is glory anyway?
Kevin and I asked that question at Bible study on Wednesday. Use of some study books helped to clarify that the Hebrew word for glory is דבכ – kabad. Its original meaning is surprising – it means heavy, or weighty. In the Bible Eli was a heavy man and Absalom had heavy hair. Kabad is often used with a negative connotation. Though I usually think of glory as shiny and wonderful, kabad can mean dull, or insensitive like when God called Moses at the burning bush and Moses was reluctant because his tongue was kabad – heavy – he was slow of speech. And Pharaoh’s heart is often described as kabad – heavy or hard. Kabad can also mean severe; like heavy the work given by Pharaoh to the Israelites. The seventh plague God sent to Egypt was heavy hail. Very difficult work like the yoke that oxen pull is kabad. Moses’ father-in-law was concerned that helping all the people settle their disputes was too kabad – too heavy for one person.
If something kabad is severe, it can also be too much, very weighty, or even impressive. Now we are getting closer to what scripture means when it talks about God’s kabad – God’s glory. When kings are described as kabad it is usually because of their social position and their wealth. They have an abundance of goods, a large treasury and they wear beautiful garments that reflect the honor that such impressive people receive. This is how kabad is used to refer to God – God is honorable, worthy of praise, the owner of great abundance who demands respect and reverence. Have you ever seen God’s kabad, God’s glory? Have your eyes beheld the glory of the Lord?
In Exodus 33, Moses asks God to show him his glory. Moses asks because God does not usually show his full weight, his full self to anyone, not even to the children of God. God’s glory is a threat to our very lives. The Lord tells Moses that, “no one shall see me and live.” Trying to look at God’s glory is like trying to stare at the sun – it is blinding. In comparison to our sinfulness, God’s glory is so powerful it could incinerate us. Remember last week when the Israelites worshiped an idol. God’s glory burned so hot that threatened to consume them.
At Camp Farthest Out one of our favorite songs is about God’s glorious power. All the men and boys go onto the stage and sing a great base part, “Now let us sing” while the women respond with enthusiasm, “sing till the power of the Lord comes down” - “Lift up your voice, be not afraid. Now let us sing till the power of the Lord comes down.” We sing it at the top of our lungs and usually have three pianists at the keyboard. When I was young my grandparents would often leave the room during the song – in part because we were so loud. But I still remember the comment my grandfather made – that we really wouldn’t like it very much if the full power of the Lord came down – because it is too glorious, too awesome to behold. My grandfather was remembering what the Lord told Moses, “No one shall see me and live.”
But even though it is risky to see the glory of the Lord, we still yearn for it. Moses continues to ask for it until God finally agrees to at least let Moses gaze on his holy backside from the safety of a crevice in the rock. What spurs us on to behold God’s glory? When we turn back to Chapter 33 of Exodus we see that Moses made this request as part of a more general desire that God make his presence known not only to him but to his people. Being able to see God’s glory is what helps the people of God know that God is with them.
In chapter 33 God is still angry with the people for their disloyalty of forging other gods and worshiping them. God was still angry and had withdrawn his presence from all the people. No more pillar of fire by night and pillar of cloud by day. God still wanted Moses to lead the people to the Promised Land, but now they would have to be content with following an angel, a messenger from God, rather than following the Lord God himself.
But Moses begs for God to make his presence known to the people once again. Remember that the only thing that made Israel a special people was their relationship to the Lord. “Once you were no people, but now, you are my people.” We need to have a sense of God’s presence with us as we journey through life, or we will loose our identity as children of God. Later on God concedes and makes his presence known by instructing the people to build a special tent, a tabernacle. And this tabernacle will be filled with God’s glory. Later the movable tabernacle was exchanged by king David for a Temple in Jerusalem. The splendor and honor of the Lord shone from it and like a king or queen, God’s train of glory will fill the temple.
As Christians we believe that God’s glory was most fully revealed, however, in Jesus Christ, Emmanuel – God present with us. Eugene Peterson translates the Gospel of John chapter one this way. “The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son.” We are reminded that Jesus is God’s glory made visible at Christmas. ”Gloria – in excelsis Deo!” Glory to God in the highest! As the people of God, even if we can’t look at God’s glory full on, we need to behold God’s glory every now and then. We need to be fully aware of God’s powerful presence or we will wither and die.
So I ask you again, have your eyes seen the glory of God? If you are not often aware of God’s glory are you bold enough to be like Moses and ask the Lord, “Show me your glory, I pray.” Are you eagerly looking for God’s power at work in the world? Are you aware of God’s abundant gifts of strength, and peace, hope and love available to you if you only ask? Let us pause now and ask God to reveal his glory, make his presence know to each and every one of us so that we may be strengthened to live as his children.
Sing glory, sing Hallelujah! Sing glory, sing Hallelujah! Sing glory, glory, Hallelujah! I know my Lord is here.
He calls me, to come and follow; He calls me to come and follow, he calls me, calls to come and follow; I know my Lord is here.
Christ Jesus, Your love surrounds me; Christ Jesus, Your love surrounds me; Christ Jesus, yes, Your love surrounds me; I know my Lord is here.
Lord Jesus, You live within me; Lord Jesus, You live within me; Lord Jesus, yes, You live within me; I know my Lord is here. --- Words and music by Joel Hayden
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