What should happen when we come face-to-face with the glory of God?
In today’s Bible Study, I want to discuss the glory of God. I shall do three things: define the glory of the Lord God and show how King Herod didn’t glorify Him and how we should.
Subsequently, to ingratiate himself with them King Herod made a big speech as all famous politicians do at one time or the other. And it worked!
King Herod’s in all his Glory
“And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus the king’s chamberlain their friend, desired peace; because their country was nourished by the king’s country,” (Acts 12:20).
All the pomp and circumstances were right for the occasion. Therefore, King Herod was wearing his royal clothes and he was sitting on his throne.
Then he made his big speech. The people were ecstatic over it.
“And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them,” (Acts 12:21).
When they heard his speech they did something that angered God.
As a result they “…. gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man,” (Acts 12:22).
The shouting didn’t do it. They misdirected their worship.
What is the Glory of God?
Whenever we discuss the glory of God we’re not debating what we think it is but what the Bible declares it to be.
Observe the majestic power of God at work on King Herod. Have you ever seen worms devouring a living man? Or even consuming flesh that’s not decaying and putrid?
“And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost,” (Acts 12:23).
The Lord reversed the normal order of things in the case of Herod, for the Scripture above tells us that worms ate him before he died. That’s very unusual.
They devoured his flesh while he was still alive; then, he died for later he “gave up the ghost”, (Acts 12:23).
Therefore, The New Jerusalem, “Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal,” (Revelation 21:11).
Without it, this new city wouldn’t worth talking about. It was “her light” which made her majestic, (Revelation 21:11).
So, Scriptures refer to this light of God as the glory of God. Because the glory of God is His celestial light; therefore, the New Jerusalem didn’t need lesser lights like those we enjoy now.
What Should the Creation of the Lord do When Confronted by His Glory?
“And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof,” (Revelation 21:23).
This city had no need for the sun, nor the moon because the glory of God was the light of it. This light is Jesus Christ. He’s the Lamb, (John 1:29; 36).
Saul of Tarsus had an unforgettable experience with the glory of God. First, it was the brightest light he had ever seen. It was even brighter than the noon-day sun, (Acts 22:6; 26:13).
Second, the brilliance of that light blinded Saul, (Acts 9:8). That’s why wherever the Word of God is there is no darkness. No ignorance!
Finally, the glory of God is a person. He’s Jesus Christ. Therefore, he tells us that he’s the light of the world because he’s the glory of God, (John 8:12; 9:5).
In some respects, the prophet Ezekiel had a similar experience to Saul. Observe his description of his encounter with that radiant light.
Where is the Glory of God?
“As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake,” (Ezekiel 1:28).
Therefore, in Scriptures when the Fathers of old encountered the glory of God they saw a heavenly light.
So, the glory of the Lord represents the light of God. However, there was no light for King Herod to see. No, but let the Bible explain.
No man has ever seen the face of God. His face represents His glory and light.
For that reason, the only man who came the closest to seeing the face of God is Moses. But he didn’t, (Exodus 33:18-23).
Because no man can see the glory or face of God, and live we bow before His face or glory. This is literally going down on your knees with your face horizontally above the ground.
Now that’s worship!
As a result, in Scriptures, whenever the prophets had an experience with the glory of the Lord the first thing they did is to bow or worship Him.
CONCLUSION
That’s exactly what Ezekiel did when he saw it. He described it as “I fell upon my face” (Ezekiel 1:28).
After King Herod gave his marvelous speech and the people “… gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man,” (Acts 12:22), he should’ve glorified God or worshipped Him.
The way to do that would be to reply with a worship of God.
“And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark,” (Acts 12:25).
If The Glory of God is His Light How Do We Glorify Him?
The glory of God is the celestial radiance of God. It’s the light of God. However, to give glory to God really means to do what all the other people in Scriptures did when they confronted it.
They bow. Some fell on their faces. But they all worshipped God. They spoke wonderfully of His name and His mighty powers.
Therefore, to glorify God is to worship Him. Consequently, the “glory of God” means the worship of God.
In the history of humanity have you ever heard or read or seen such a thing? Worms consuming a living person?
This incident separates it from all others to demonstrate the involvement of the Lord God. He must receive the glory from this incident. This is the hand of God.
Who is the King of Gory?
Moreover, what is the one universal sign of worship of kings? Bowing with your face to the ground.
And the Lord is the King of Glory. The King of worship, (Psalm 24:8). Everybody should and will worship the Lord Jesus Christ, (Isaiah 45:23; Romans 14:11; Philippians 2:10).
That’s how Daniel, Job, Abraham, and Isaacs worship or glorify God. As a matter of fact, He created us for that one purpose.
“Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory [or worship], I have formed him; yea, I have made him,” (Isaiah 43:7).
The goal of our existence is for the glory of God. When we worship Him we glorify Him. That’s what all of heaven is doing right now.
All the angels and other spirit-beings are vociferously worshipping God in heaven right now. Heaven is not a quiet place, (Revelation 8:1).
Is the Glory of God the Beauty of His Spirit?
If the glory of God is the “beauty of His spirit” how would humanity glorify Him? We couldn’t.
Could someone demonstrate this, using relevant Scriptures, please? This is someone’s opinion. It’s not the Word of God.
The glory of God is a noun but to glorify Him is a verb. God killed Herod because he didn’t glorify Him as Lord.
Nevertheless, the glory of God is not divorced from His power. So, when we speak of it, keep in mind, His light, power, and beauty.
Consequently, we will realize that the glory of God is the illumination of God. His celestial light shining into our hearts. Therefore, with this realization, we will bow down and worship Him.
And because it resides in them we will speak of the greatness of His name. We will demonstrate His power.
We give glory to God with our words and behavior. This is what’s happening in heaven now.
One Way to Glorify God
“And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God,” (Revelation 19:1).
Similarly, with our words, we worship and give glory to the King of Glory. King Herod didn’t do that, but we mustn’t follow him. Give God the praise for the great things that He has done in your life.
Leroy A. Daley is an author, blogger, YouTuber, and Bible teacher. Globally, he's helped hundreds of Christians understand the Bible better. He has been studying and teaching the Bible for more than forty years. He is passionate about the Lord and spends quality time with the Word of God every day.
His Books are available for purchase wherever books are sold.
