It’s a not-my-will-but-thine morning! Well, it was. It’s now afternoon! Still fighting through the last vestiges of this cold that caught me. I sang Psalms 8:1 and 16:2. Rather got caught up in thought, contemplating the line in Psalm 8:1, “Thou hast set thy glory above the heavens.” I considered the use of the word “glory” in connection with God.
Since my Shepherd seemed pleased to draw me into communion with His Spirit on this thought, I gladly fed there this morning.
Along the still waters, I thought how interesting it is that God would take His glory and place it “above the heavens.”
The most often used word is transliterated kavod. It comes from a root meaning “heavy.” The sheer magnitude of His power demands reverence and inspires awe. This refers to the ubiquitous, invisible presence of God’s power throughout His creation.
The word used in Psalm 8:1 is transliterated hod, meaning praiseworthy, majestic, emphasizing the visible splendor inspiring honor.
David observed that GOD set His visible glory above the heavens, beyond our sight or touch.
True it is that the Bible teaches God hides His visible Person. The full weight of His glory is felt when one considers His substantive works —Creation. But He set His “visible beauty” above the heavens, beyond the reach of Hubble’s traveling lens. Not even Moses saw the hod but did see a greater measure of the kavod than any other man living (Exodus 33:22—the word used is kavod).
There is a prophecy concerning Christ in which it is said the coming Christ will “bear the glory” (hod) (Zechariah 6:13). Jesus is the Christ, “the image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:12-17, see v. 15). Indeed, in Him the Godhead dwells: “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily” (Colossians 2:9)). Another place the word hod is used confirms its connection with the visible manifestation of His Person: “Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour [hod] and majesty. Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment (Psalm 104:1-2a; see Luke 9:29; and Revelation 1:12-18).
Our GOD, who hid His glory (hod) above the heavens, has sent it to earth to be revealed to us in His Son. He manifested it in a body not particularly appealing to the eyes of men: “For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him” (Isaiah 53:2). He came humbly presented (Philippians 2:5-11).
In the valley, I thought about the “mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh” (1 Timothy 3:16). And I pondered the mystification that accosts me every time I think of what Paul, by the Spirit, said to us: “For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh” (2 Corinthians 4:11).
Show the hidden glory! Be filled with His Spirit (Ephesians 5:18-21), and let the “rivers of living waters” (speaking of the Holy Ghost) flow through your belly (John 7:38-39). Think not that your physical presence is weak or strong, plain or pleasant, it’s His glory that manifests through you. The important thing is for each of us to “possess his vessel [the body] in sanctification and honour” (1 Thessalonians 4:4—not conformed to this world, but transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:1-2)), which is in part accomplished by studying to show ourselves approved of God, and separating ourselves from those who teach and/or live error (2 Timothy 2:21, see the context: 2:14-21). Then we may present this body to Him “a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God” which is our “reasonable service” (Romans 12:1-2).
Only then can we show the hidden glory He intended to reveal through the incarnation —God made flesh! His hidden glory manifested in the world of men who bear His image, but obscure His glory, and even defile it.
As I paused over that last thought and felt somewhat the sting of it, the pricking of my conscience called for honest confession, deepening my humility and challenging me to a greater show of His holiness: “Show the hidden glory!” Then I heard His words in my heart: Jesus’ call to discipleship: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23).
At the table, we comisserated for a while, then He anointed my head with His oil and filled my cup with His grace. Goodness and mercy were waiting patiently at my chair, and followed me close as I followed my Shepherd into harvest.
Praying for revival! 🙏
Going live asap:
What a blessing! Praying for your cold and the Lord’s mighty hand on your life and work.!