Topical Bible: Glorifying God: Heavenly Hosts Engaged In

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The concept of glorifying God is a central theme throughout the Bible, and the heavenly hosts—comprising angels and other celestial beings—are depicted as actively engaged in this divine activity. The glorification of God by the heavenly hosts underscores the majesty and holiness of God, serving as a model for earthly worship.

Biblical References

1. Isaiah's Vision: In Isaiah 6:1-3, the prophet Isaiah describes a vision of the Lord seated on a high and exalted throne, with seraphim attending Him. The seraphim call out to one another, saying, "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Hosts; His glory fills the whole earth." This passage highlights the continuous praise and glorification of God by the heavenly beings, emphasizing His holiness and the pervasive nature of His glory.

2. The Birth of Christ: The Gospel of Luke records the announcement of Jesus' birth to the shepherds by an angel, followed by a multitude of the heavenly host praising God. Luke 2:13-14 states, "And suddenly there appeared with the angel a great multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying: 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests!'" This event illustrates the heavenly hosts' role in glorifying God during significant moments in salvation history.

3. Revelation's Heavenly Worship: The Book of Revelation provides vivid imagery of heavenly worship. In Revelation 4:8-11, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders are depicted as continually worshiping God, saying, "Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created." This scene portrays the heavenly hosts as eternally engaged in glorifying God, acknowledging His sovereignty and creative power.

4. The Angelic Proclamation: In Revelation 5:11-12, John describes a vision of countless angels around the throne, along with the living creatures and the elders, proclaiming with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing!" This passage highlights the centrality of Christ's redemptive work as a focal point for the glorification offered by the heavenly hosts.

Theological Significance

The engagement of the heavenly hosts in glorifying God serves as a testament to His supreme worthiness and the rightful response of all creation to His majesty. The continuous praise offered by these celestial beings reflects the eternal nature of God's glory and the unceasing acknowledgment of His attributes—holiness, power, wisdom, and love. The heavenly hosts' worship provides a pattern for believers, encouraging them to join in the chorus of praise that transcends time and space.

Implications for Believers

The depiction of heavenly hosts glorifying God invites believers to participate in this divine activity. It serves as a reminder of the ultimate purpose of worship and the call to live lives that reflect God's glory. As the heavenly hosts glorify God in His presence, believers are encouraged to glorify Him in their daily lives, acknowledging His sovereignty and grace. The heavenly worship scenes in Scripture inspire a deeper understanding of the nature of God and the appropriate response of reverence, adoration, and obedience.

Nave's Topical Index

Revelation 4:11
You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for you have created all things, and for your pleasure they are and were created.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

Religious Joy.
... was with the Angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising ... to His glory is His
power of glorifying; so that ... already the first-fruits of our race, God and man ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol viii/sermon xvii religious joy.htm

Against the Heresy of one Noetus.
... omitted any one of these, failed in glorifying God perfectly ... man; for in that He
had the heavenly (nature) of ... formerly was honoured by him as God, is contemned ...
/.../the extant works and fragments of hippolytus/against the heresy of one.htm

Twelfth Day. The Thrice Holy One.
... fire of Holy Love, destroying all that resists, glorifying into its ... Children of God! ...
that inner stillness, in which the worship of the heavenly Sanctuary alone ...
//christianbookshelf.org/murray/holy in christ/twelfth day the thrice holy.htm

Covenanting a Duty.
... will receive accessions of rich illustration; but, like these heavenly
doctrines"beyond ... If every spiritual act of worship is glorifying to God, then all ...
/.../cunningham/the ordinance of covenanting/chapter iii covenanting a duty.htm

Songs of Deliverance
... by an act of faith in our heavenly Father, to be ... When will the church of God be inflamed
by the ... glorious position of saved souls, are you glorifying Christ and ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 13 1867/songs of deliverance.htm

The Mystery
... This indicates the voice and song of the heavenly angels, glorifying the Father,
and ... of the Levite choristers, sounding forth the praises of God with the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mede/a key to the apocalypse/the mystery 2.htm

The Preface to the Commandments
... more holiness, and are more full of heavenly-mindedness. ... my tongue, which is the
instrument of glorifying thee ... glorious liberty of the children of God.' Romans 8 ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/the ten commandments/1 3 the preface to the.htm

The Doctrine
... "For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope
did; by the which we draw nigh unto God" (Hebrews 7:19). ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the doctrine.htm

Israel's Hope Encouraged;
... shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that ... suppose him to be without interest
in God, than it ... things, whether it be heaven, angels, heavenly pleasures and ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/israels hope encouraged.htm

Answer to Eunomius' Second Book .
... objects of contemplation, and the harmony of the heavenly wonders, he ... unto Thee
[1098] ." How then are we glorifying the most blessed life of God, as this ...
/.../gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/answer to eunomius second book.htm