Topical Bible: The Earth: Full of God's Glory

◄ The Earth: Full of God's Glory ►

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The concept of the earth being full of God's glory is a recurring theme throughout the Bible, reflecting the majesty, power, and presence of God in creation. This theme underscores the belief that the natural world is a testament to God's divine nature and handiwork.

Biblical Foundation

The declaration that the earth is full of God's glory is prominently found in the book of Isaiah. Isaiah 6:3 states, "And they were calling out to one another: 'Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Hosts; all the earth is full of His glory.'" This vision of the seraphim in the heavenly temple highlights the holiness of God and the pervasive nature of His glory throughout the earth.

Creation as a Reflection of God's Glory

The creation narrative in Genesis sets the stage for understanding the earth as a reflection of God's glory. Genesis 1:31 says, "And God saw all that He had made, and it was very good." The goodness of creation is a direct reflection of the Creator's glory, as everything made by God inherently reflects His nature and attributes.

Psalm 19:1 further emphasizes this idea: "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands." The psalmist poetically describes how the natural world, from the vastness of the heavens to the intricacies of the earth, serves as a testament to God's glory.

God's Glory in the Natural Order

The earth's beauty and complexity are seen as manifestations of God's glory. In Job 12:7-10 , Job speaks of the natural world as a source of wisdom and understanding of God's power: "But ask the animals, and they will instruct you; ask the birds of the air, and they will tell you. Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you; let the fish of the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this? The life of every living thing is in His hand, as well as the breath of all mankind."

This passage suggests that the natural order, in its diversity and complexity, is a direct expression of God's sustaining power and glory.

The Earth and God's Sovereignty

The earth's fullness of God's glory also points to His sovereignty over all creation. Psalm 24:1 declares, "The earth is the LORD’s, and the fullness thereof, the world and all who dwell therein." This verse affirms God's ownership and authority over the earth, reinforcing the idea that His glory is inherent in all that exists.

Humanity's Role in Reflecting God's Glory

Humans, created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), are called to reflect His glory through stewardship of the earth. This responsibility is seen as a divine mandate to care for creation, ensuring that God's glory is honored and preserved in the natural world.

Romans 1:20 speaks to the visibility of God's attributes through creation: "For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse." This passage highlights the role of humanity in recognizing and responding to the glory of God as revealed in the earth.

The Eschatological Fulfillment of God's Glory

The fullness of God's glory on earth is also an eschatological promise. Habakkuk 2:14 prophesies, "For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea." This future vision anticipates a time when God's glory will be universally acknowledged and celebrated throughout the earth.

In Revelation 21:23-24 , the New Jerusalem is described as a place where God's glory illuminates the city: "The city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light the nations will walk, and into it the kings of the earth will bring their glory." This imagery points to the ultimate fulfillment of God's glory permeating the earth in the new creation.

Conclusion

The theme of the earth being full of God's glory is woven throughout Scripture, affirming the belief that creation itself is a testament to the divine. From the beauty and order of the natural world to the eschatological hope of God's glory filling the earth, this concept invites believers to recognize and respond to the presence of God in all aspects of life.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Numbers 14:21
But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Isaiah 6:3
And one cried to another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

A view of God's Glory
... air, which is dense with animalculae, is full of God's ... beings when immortalized would
be capable of seeing God. This much is certain"that on earth, no man ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 54 1908/a view of gods glory.htm

God's World
... Thou made them all: the earth is full of Thy ... I could make you look on this earth,
not as a ... hand, the likeness of God's countenance, the shadow of God's glory. ...
/.../kingsley/twenty-five village sermons/sermon i gods world.htm

God's Dealings with the Earth During the Tribulation Period.
... removal of the Church from the earth to the ... when the righteous Judge shall exact
full satisfaction for ... This "pouring out of God's indignation" is described in ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the redeemers return/3 gods dealings with the.htm

Our Lord's Sacerdotal Prayer
... this rich grace in the heart: "I pray God your whole ... We can only meet our full
responsibilities and fulfill our high ... I have glorified thee on the earth; I have ...
/.../bounds/the reality of prayer/xi our lords sacerdotal prayer.htm

The Fact of the Redeemer's Return had a Spectacular Setting Forth ...
... an earth full of the knowledge of the glory of the Lord. Christ Himself on the throne,
the Holy Spirit poured out upon all flesh, and outwardly, God's will ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the redeemers return/7 the fact of the.htm

Self-Denial.
... Holy, holy, holy is the Lord!" making the whole earth full of His glory. And hence
every creature must do good works, and all the children of God can do good ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xvi self-denial.htm

Vision and SerVice
... and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of Hosts: the whole earth is full of His ...
God never empties places in our homes and hearts, or in the nation or the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/vision and service.htm

God's Ways and Man's
... first, how unlike our ways and thoughts are to God, ere we can ... We lie beneath the
heavens like some foul bog full of black ooze, rotten earth and putrid ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/gods ways and mans.htm

Of Creation
... apposite for the use it was created for; so that the whole earth is full of his ... some
pattern or copy before us; but now, upon this ground which God hath laid ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/lecture xvii of creation.htm

Strength and Indwelling.
... all true spiritual life in heaven or earth has its ... means primarily and perhaps almost
exclusively God's love to ... Apostle prays that we may have full strength to ...
/.../thomas/the prayers of st paul/viii strength and indwelling.htm