Village Schools of the Bible

Part 2

BEHOLDING GOD'S GLORY:
DEFINED: Exodus 33:17-23
by Max Frazier, Jr.

a short study in 10 parts

In our last time together, we began to give consideration to this great word, "glory." We considered Moses great request, voiced in verse 18 of Exodus 33: That he might see God's glory. His heart hungered for more of God as should our hearts.

How can we define God's glory? I believe that God shares a partial definition with us in his response to Moses in verse 19: And the Lord said, "I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence."

Theodore Epp, the late founder of Back to the Bible Ministries, said, "God's glory is seen in His goodness or it could be said that His glory is His goodness." So, if God's glory is what God is in himself, then how can we discover that glory? I believe that God reveals his glory to us in at least four ways.

First, God's glory is seen in his name. That is what God told Moses in the verse we have just read: I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. Time will not permit us today to share all that is revealed in God's name. But we can highlight just a few. God's name, the Lord, means that he is the eternal, self-existent one. God is ruler over all. He is the God above all gods.
He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the ending. He is the Resurrection and the Life. He is the Wonderful Counselor. He is the Mighty God. He is the Everlasting Father. He is the Prince of Peace. He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. We can sing with the hymnwriter: "Blessed be the name of the Lord."

Second, God's glory is seen in what he does. Listen to these words from Exodus 34, verses 6 and 7: And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, "The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin." God forgives our sins. God is full of lovingkindness and truth. God is slow to anger. God is compassionate and gracious. Whatever God does on your behalf, on my behalf, he does as an extension of his glory.

One of my favorite Christmas songs asks the question, "What child is this who laid to rest at Mary's lap is sleeping? Whom angels greet with anthems sweet, while shepherds watch are keeping?" Then comes that tremendous refrain which literally shouts out that great truth: "This, this is Christ the King whom shepherds guard and angels sing; This, this is Christ the King, the babe, the son of Mary."

May each of us rejoice this day in the glory of the name of the Lord. Take a few moments just to praise God for his wonderful name. I know your heart will be blessed.

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