Topical Bible: The Glory of God: Highly Exalted

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The concept of the "Glory of God" is a central theme throughout the Bible, reflecting His majesty, holiness, and supreme authority. The term "glory" in the biblical context often translates from the Hebrew word "kavod" and the Greek word "doxa," both of which convey a sense of weightiness, honor, and splendor. God's glory is both intrinsic and extrinsic, inherent in His nature and manifested in His creation and redemptive acts.

Old Testament Foundations

In the Old Testament, the glory of God is frequently associated with His presence and power. Theophanies, or visible manifestations of God, often reveal His glory. For instance, in Exodus 24:16-17, the glory of the LORD settles on Mount Sinai, appearing as a consuming fire to the Israelites: "And the glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered the mountain, and on the seventh day the LORD called to Moses from within the cloud. And the sight of the glory of the LORD was like a consuming fire on the mountaintop in the eyes of the Israelites."

The tabernacle and later the temple served as earthly dwellings for God's glory. In Exodus 40:34-35, the cloud covering the tent of meeting and the glory of the LORD filling the tabernacle signify His presence among His people: "Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. Moses was unable to enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle."

Prophetic Visions

Prophets like Isaiah and Ezekiel had visions of God's glory, emphasizing His holiness and sovereignty. Isaiah 6:1-3 describes a vision where the prophet sees the Lord seated on a high and exalted throne, with seraphim proclaiming, "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Hosts; His glory fills the whole earth." Ezekiel's vision in Ezekiel 1:28 likens the appearance of the glory of the LORD to a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, underscoring its brilliance and majesty.

New Testament Revelation

In the New Testament, the glory of God is supremely revealed in the person and work of Jesus Christ. John 1:14 declares, "The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." Jesus is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of His being (Hebrews 1:3).

The transfiguration of Jesus is a pivotal moment where His divine glory is unveiled to Peter, James, and John. Matthew 17:2 records, "There He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light."

Eschatological Fulfillment

The ultimate exaltation of God's glory is anticipated in eschatological visions. Revelation 21:23 describes the New Jerusalem, where "the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp." This future reality underscores the consummation of God's glory, where His presence will illuminate and sustain the eternal city.

Theological Implications

The glory of God is not only a theological concept but also a call to worship and live in a manner that reflects His holiness. Believers are exhorted to do everything for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31) and to reflect His glory through transformed lives (2 Corinthians 3:18). The exaltation of God's glory is both a present reality and a future hope, inviting all creation to acknowledge His supreme majesty and honor.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 8:1
O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is your name in all the earth! who have set your glory above the heavens.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 113:4
The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Christ's Exaltation
... of Righteousness in the eclipse; now you shall see it coming out of the eclipse,
and shining in its full glory. Wherefore God has highly exalted him;' super ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a body of divinity/7 christs exaltation.htm

The Lord of Glory.
... He is highly exalted, the heir of all things. ... Stephen being full of the Holy Spirit
"looked up steadfastly into heaven and saw the Glory of God, and Jesus ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gaebelein/the lord of glory/the lord of glory.htm

Thereafter He Shows that There are not Two Christs or Two Lords
... into "two Christs"?"we, who say that He Who was highly exalted after His ... every tongue
confesses that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father ...
/.../gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/section 5 thereafter he shows.htm

The Ninth Book Declares that Eunomius' Account of the Nature of ...
... Only-begotten, is worthy of credit, and if "God is the most highly exalted of all
goods," it follows that the Son is alleged by the enemies of His glory, to be ...
/.../gregory/gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/section 1 the ninth book.htm

Of Deeper Matters, and God's Hidden Judgments which are not to be ...
... and of the hidden judgments of God; why this ... man is so greatly afflicted, and that
so highly exalted. ... they also nourish pride and vain glory, whence envyings ...
/.../kempis/imitation of christ/chapter lviii of deeper matters.htm

John Chapter xvii. 1
... is directed more to His humility than to His glory, in accordance ... he goes on to say
of His glorification, "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate civ john chapter xvii.htm

Philippians ii. 11-May
... Wherefore also God highly exalted Him, and gave Him the Name which is above every
name ... tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the ...
/.../homily vii philippians ii 11-may.htm

The Exaltation of Christ
... for ever." But the symbols of his glory having been ... up on high, and the man-God,
Christ Jesus ... shame, and sorrow, and degradation, was highly exalted, "far above ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 2 1856/the exaltation of christ.htm

Texts Explained; and First...
... Wherefore God also highly exalted Him, and ... and things under the earth, and that every
tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God ...
/.../select works and letters or athanasius/chapter xi texts explained and first.htm

The Ascension of Messiah to Glory
... dead, and buried, received glory and authority at His resurrection, and was highly
exalted to the ... The word glory, when applied to the blessed God, seems to ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/messiah vol 2/sermon xxvi the ascension of.htm