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?
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 in words, deeds, and visible manifestations.
Sometime around the second century B.C. when Greek became the lingua franca, the Jewish Bible translators produced the Septuagint versions of the Old Testament, and Greek word doxa was used to translate kavod. Doxa also appears extensively throughout the New Testament, and it too refers to the honor of human, i.e. Solomon’s glory (Matt. 6:29). But, the New Testament writers used doxa with respect to the glory possessed by Jesus Christ, who displayed through His words and deeds His true divine nature, and those around Him experienced the very presence of God.
The glory of God was visibly displayed in the pillar of cloud and fire that led the Israelites through the wilderness, the parting of the Red Sea, and the smoke or Shekinah that filled Solomon’s Temple. It may very well have been the visible manifestation of God’s Shekinah glory that led the magi to the Child. But, the quintessential expression of God’s visible glory was the incarnation of Jesus Christ. Hence, John writes, “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory [doxa], glory [doxa] as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).
I think we all possess some kavod, which comes in all shapes, sizes, and packages. And those things can never be ignored. Still, there is something about God’s kavod that must be kept separate from the rest—sanctified so to speak. The kavod possessed by God is quality possessed which makes Him worthy of worship. This divine kavod was visibly manifested in the context of Old Testament worship, and Jesus Christ was the quintessential visible manifestation of divine kavod. Our own kavod can be removed, lost, or stolen in a split second. It is always fleeting. God’s kavod endures forever, and it is the one constant in life we are wise to recognize.
~ WGN
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 in words, deeds, and visible manifestations.
Sometime around the second century B.C. when Greek became the lingua franca, the Jewish Bible translators produced the Septuagint versions of the Old Testament, and Greek word doxa was used to translate kavod. Doxa also appears extensively throughout the New Testament, and it too refers to the honor of human, i.e. Solomon’s glory (Matt. 6:29). But, the New Testament writers used doxa with respect to the glory possessed by Jesus Christ, who displayed through His words and deeds His true divine nature, and those around Him experienced the very presence of God.
The glory of God was visibly displayed in the pillar of cloud and fire that led the Israelites through the wilderness, the parting of the Red Sea, and the smoke or Shekinah that filled Solomon’s Temple. It may very well have been the visible manifestation of God’s Shekinah glory that led the magi to the Child. But, the quintessential expression of God’s visible glory was the incarnation of Jesus Christ. Hence, John writes, “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory [doxa], glory [doxa] as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).
I think we all possess some kavod, which comes in all shapes, sizes, and packages. And those things can never be ignored. Still, there is something about God’s kavod that must be kept separate from the rest—sanctified so to speak. The kavod possessed by God is quality possessed which makes Him worthy of worship. This divine kavod was visibly manifested in the context of Old Testament worship, and Jesus Christ was the quintessential visible manifestation of divine kavod. Our own kavod can be removed, lost, or stolen in a split second. It is always fleeting. God’s kavod endures forever, and it is the one constant in life we are wise to recognize.
~ WGN
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