Glory
I listened to some Sixpence recently, and one of their seasonal tracks played—Angels We Have Heard on High—and the refrain Gloria in excelsis Deo keeps resounding in my head. But what is this “glory” that one can give or possess? We can say that in one sense glory is action world, conveying the idea of praise. Hence, Gloria in excelsis Deo means “glory to God in the highest.” We can glorify God. Glory is also a quality that characterizes a person, place, or thing, which can be visible or invisible, and it sets the possessor apart as worthy of receiving adoration, honor, and praise. Scriptures especially highlight the glory of the Lord or the glory that God possesses. The most frequently used Hebrew word in the Old Testament translated “glory” is kavod, which conveys the idea of weight or worthiness. One can speak of the kavod of men and women with respect to their wealth, or reputation. But, there is also the glory of Yahweh, which is what He reveals to people about Himself ...