I) SEEING THE GLORY OF GOD

I)  SEEING THE GLORY OF GOD
The Scripture makes clear that it is possible for every true follower of Jesus to see and understand the glory of God.  “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12: 14)  “Blessed are the pure in heart:  for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5: 8)  Apparently the 2 verses about seeing God really mean seeing the glory of God.

There are 2 aspects of God’s glory:

A.   Who He is?  His Person
First and foremost the glory of God points to the nature and attributes of God
1.    Oftentimes in the biblical benediction we read:
“To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.” (Jude 24, 25)

“Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.” “1 Tim 1: 17)

In these benedictions we see that the glory of God is closely identified with God’s nature and attributes like majesty, dominion, power, eternal, immortal, invisible, wisdom (only wise God) and honour.

There is one word that is used correlatively to God’s glory – holiness.  In the dedication of the temple built by Solomon we read that the house of God was filled with a cloud and with the glory of the Lord. (2 Chronicles 5: 13, 14)  Later in chapter 7 we read that fire and glory of the Lord came down upon the temple.  The cloud and the fire are used metaphorically to refer to the holiness of God.  Therefore it is like saying that the holiness of God filled the temple.

2.    God sent Moses to deliver Israel without giving him a full revelation of who He was.  He merely told Moses, “I AM THAT I AM.” (Ex 3: 14)  He was told to inform the children of Israel that “I AM hath sent me unto you.”

In Ex 33: 18, Moses prayed to God, “I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.”  Moses had a gnawing hunger and thirst to know who the great I AM was, to know his nature and attributes. Therefore, when we pray, “Lord, show us your glory,” we are actually praying to God to reveal Himself to us.  God reveals His nature and attributes in His Word.  How much we know God is measured by how much we know His Word.

B.   What He has done?  His Power
The 2nd aspect of God’s glory is seen in His work.  His work manifests His power. 
1.    Exodus 16: 7 The glory of God is seen in the provision of manna and quails for the children of Israel.

2.    In John 11: 40, Jesus said to Martha, “if thou would believe, thou shalt see the glory of God?”  God’s glory is seen in the resurrection of Lazarus.