Declare God’s Glory Over All the Earth
The mind of man can perhaps conceive of no greater thought and deliberate on no greater topic than the glory of God. The glory of God is a subject on which tomes could be written, yet the subject can hardly be exhausted. God's glory is such a rich subject that a short article like this one can hardly do justice.
What Does “Glory of God” Mean?
The original Hebrew and Greek words, which are translated "glory" in our Bibles, have a range of meaning. The English word "glory" is a translation of the Hebrew word "kabod" and of the Greek word "doxa." The word "kabod" is sometimes used to denote wealth and possessions. In Psalm 49:16, for example, the Psalmist instructed the people of God to "[b]e not afraid when a man becomes rich, when the glory [kabod] of his house increases." In this verse, the word "glory" is parallel to the word "rich."
At other times, the word is used to describe honor and respect. For instance, Job complained that God had stripped him of his glory (Job 19:9), and thus his brothers, relatives, and friends treated him with contempt (Job 19:13-16). Sometimes, the word is used to signify a king's splendor and majesty. God promised Solomon great wealth and glory (1 Kings. 3:13; “kabod”). Jesus said that this glory of Solomon faded in comparison to the lilies of field (Matt. 6:29; "doxa").
When the word "glory" is used to describe God, the word assumes a superlative significance. Since God is the owner of all the earth (Exodus 19:5) and all riches flow from him (1 Chronicles 29:12), his glory/wealth is supreme. Since God is greater than our fathers, mothers, teachers, and employers (Malachi 1:6; Isaiah 49:15; Matthew 23:8), his glory (or the respect and honor that he commands) is supreme. Since God is the one who sets up kings and deposes kings (Daniel 2:21), and is the great king over all the earth (Psalm 47:7), his glory (or splendor or majesty) is supreme. God's glory is the standard; all earthly things and people that exhibit glory are a faint reflection of God's great glory.
Thus, we can conclude that the glory of God is that attribute of God that moves us to treasure him above all earthly riches, motivates us to honor him above all earthly superiors, and causes us to ascribe majesty to him above all earthly kings.
The Glory of God is Revealed in His Works
It goes without saying that all three persons of the Godhead share this glory. The Bible refers to God the Father as "Father of glory" (Ephesians 1:17), God the Son as "Lord of glory" (1 Corinthians 2:8), and God the Spirit as "Spirit of glory" (1 Peter 4:14). All three persons of the Trinity are equal in glory. But not only do we see his glory revealed in his person, we also see his glory in his works, particularly in the work of creation. David declared, "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork" (Psalm 19:1). For David, all of creation so unmistakably witnessed to the glory of the Creator that this witness moved God's people to cry out in his temple, "Glory!" (Psalm 29:1-10). God expects the same kind of response not only from his own people, but also from the rest of the world. The world, however, refuses to give glory to God, not because creation's testimony is unclear, but because the world chooses to suppress this testimony in unrighteousness (Romans 1:19-23).
If the works of creation reveal the glory of God, the works of redemption reveal the glory of God even more. The greatest act of redemption in the Old Testament was God bringing Israel out of Egypt. God's great purpose in bringing Israel out of Egypt was to receive glory—both from Egypt and from Israel (Exodus 14:4-8; 15:11). In other words, Israel's national deliverance enhanced God's glory both in the eyes of the world and in the eyes of his people. But Israel's deliverance was merely a type which foreshadowed the salvation of God's people out of sin and misery through Jesus Christ. Hence Jesus's work of saving his people brings greater glory to God. For this reason, when Jesus prayed to his Father, he said, "I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do" (John 17:4). And the Apostle Paul calls the message of Jesus's person and work as "the gospel of glory of Christ" (2 Corinthians 4:4). As this gospel is embraced by more and more people, it results in thanksgiving which brings even greater glory to God (2 Corinthians 4:15).
Declaring God’s Glory Among the Nations
How can we apply the doctrine of the glory of God in our lives? The Psalmist gives us the answer: "Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!" (Psalm 96:3). What are these marvelous works that we are called to declare in order to spread God's glory among the nations?
Firstly, we are called to declare God's marvelous works in creation. God's glory must be a strong motivation for Christians to excel in the study of natural sciences (Psalm 111:2-3). We must not stop with mere study, however, but must use our study to confess our faith in the triune God before the unbelieving world. Only when we tell the world of our faith in Christ is our delighting in God's work of creation complete.
Secondly, we are called to declare God's marvelous works in redemption. As Christians, we must be eager to share the "gospel of the glory of Christ" (2 Corinthians 4:4). Our gospel witness should be individual as well as collective. As individuals, we must look for opportunities to share our testimony with others. We must be ready to give a reason for our hope in Christ whenever a need arises (1 Peter 3:15). And as a church, we must bear witness to the gospel by ascribing glory to God in our public worship (Psalm 29:2; 96:7). Our preparation for public worship must be diligent so that our singing, reading, and hearing of the preached Word is marked by reverence and awe (Hebrews 13:5). When our worship is reverent, our worship itself will be a testimony to the watching world.
Finally, we can apply the doctrine of the glory of God in our lives by making God's glory the regulative principle of our lives. Paul says, "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31). Therefore, in everything that we do in our daily lives, whether in thought, word, or deed, we must always ask the question, "Does my action glorify God?" When our lives are marked by such reverence, we can say with our Savior on the last day, "I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do."