With the sky clouded over and the evidence of heavy rainfall to be seen everywhere in the sky and on the roads, pavements and gutters, one hesitates to speak of ‘glory’. Glory bespeaks light, radiance, illumination, brightness and effulgence. It is the very antithesis of clouds and darkness, rain and puddles.The RSV Handy concordance begins its listing of ‘glory’ references at Exodus 16 and ends (a lot later) at Revelation ch 14 verse 7.
You can’t escape ‘glory’ when you turn the pages of Scripture.Where do we actually see ‘glory’ ?There is glory in creation (Psalm 19 v 1) even with dark skies and downpours. Farmers and gardeners all need rain just as much as they need sunshine.Think of the landscape with all its variety of fields, trees, mountains, rivers, streams and oceans.Think of the enormous variety of plant life and animals. Think of the amazing diversity of human beings, all made in the image and likeness of God, not two the same.Looking further than creation we can behold glory as we see the Almighty through his Word which reveals him to us.
‘Shekinah’, a Hebrew word meaning the radiance, glory or presence of God, does not occur in the Bible but you might catch a glimpse of God’s glory in the story of Moses and the burning bush or Moses’ encounter with the Almighty on Mt Sinai.Add Jesus to the growing picture and we see more glory (Hebrews ch 1 : 3).
The scene of the Transfiguration (Luke 9 or Matthew 17) is a signal witness to the glory of Jesus.There is so much glory, we can exalt in it.
Yet there is more to be said.What, if anything, diminishes ‘glory’