Since the days when the tabernacle was pitched the glory of the Lord had been connected with the holiest of all, and in a special way with the ark of the testimony, and with the cloud upon the mercy-seat from which the Lord spoke to Moses (Ex. 25:22; Lev. 16:2). We can therefore understand the lament of the daughter in law of Eli when she said, “The glory is departed from Israel: for the ark of God is taken” (1 Sam. 4:21-22). Without the ark of God the tabernacle at Shiloh had been deprived of the divine glory, even if that glory was not manifested as it had been in former days, when the God of Israel appeared in His glory to meet the people in times of crises, as when the people refused the report of the good land, and when Korah and his company rebelled.
The Glory Fills the Temple
When the tabernacle had been erected, and all the work accomplished according to the divine instructions given to Moses, the “cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle” (Ex. 40:34). In like manner, when the temple of Solomon had been completed, and the vessels of the sanctuary set in their places by the priests, then it was “that the cloud filled the house of the Lord” (1 Kings 8:11; 2 Chr. 5:13), the latter Scripture bringing to our notice the singing, the praises and the thanksgiving that heralded the coming of the divine glory. In 2 Chronicles 7:1–3 there is also seen the fire that came down from heaven, “and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices,” for the divine glory rested where the pleasure of God was secured on the ground of the sacrifices that looked forward to the work of Christ upon the cross.
At the time of the glory filling the tabernacle, “Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle“ (Ex. 40:35). When the glory filled the temple, “the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of God” (1 Kings 8:11; 2 Chr. 5:14; 7:2). How very different it was with Moses on the holy mount, for there, with Elias, he entered into the cloud (Luke 9:34); and how different now for us, for we can look on the divine glory in the unveiled face of Jesus (2 Cor. 3:18; 4:6).
The Heavens Declare God’s Glory
The creatorial glory of the Lord is before the eyes of all men, yet all have not eyes to see it. Men truly marvel at the wonders of creation as they search the heavens and learn of its secrets, yet how few discern in the marvels of the sky the glory of Him that created all. Astronomers tell us of the secrets that their instruments unveil, but only those in whom God has wrought by His Spirit perceive in them the glory of the Lord. Men speak of the wonders of nature, and though having innumerable theories regarding the forming of the stars, the constellations and the planets, they know not the origin of all unless they have the faith through which “we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God” (Heb. 11:3).
In Psalm 29 the voice of the Lord is discerned in the mighty peals of thunder that follow the lightning’s flash, and in the devastation that comes with the thunder storm, then we read, “and in His temple doth every one speak of His glory” (verse 9). Only those who know the presence of the Lord can understand how His glory is to be seen in all His works. The awesome thunderings are indeed God’s voice to men, calling upon them to listen to Him, but if we are to understand God’s will, and to be able to discern His glory, we must known what it is to be found in the secret of His presence. David bears witness to this when he says, “To see Thy power and Thy glory, so as I have seen it in the sanctuary” (Psalm 63:2).
The Earth Filled with God’s Glory
When Israel had refused the glad tidings concerning the promised land, and they had spoken of stoning Joshua and Caleb, the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people, and God had accepted the intercession of Moses to spare Israel, the Lord said, “I have pardoned according to thy word: but as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord” (Num. 14:20-21). Israel’s lack of faith would not frustrate God’s purposes, and if they refused His blessings the day would come when all men would see His glory, for the whole earth would be filled with it.
In Psalm 72 we learn of the One in whom the glory will be displayed. This messianic psalm speaks of the glory of the kingdom of the Lord, when He has “dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth,” when the righteous flourish, and when there is abundance upon the earth. His Name endures for ever, and all nations shall call Him blessed; and having ascribed blessing to the Lord God of Israel, the psalmist adds, “And blessed be His glorious Name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with His glory; Amen, and Amen. The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.” All David’s prayers will have found their answer when in God’s Christ, the true Son of David, the whole earth is filled with the glory of God.
Then shall be fulfilled what Isaiah wrote of, “And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it” (Isa. 40:5). Habakkuk also looked forward to this time of blessing for men, for he writes, “For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea” (Hab. 2:14). God had used the Chaldeans to punish His people, but He would punish the Chaldeans who had not given God the glory for their achievements, but worshipped their instruments of war (1:16).
In the coming day God will also punish the nations that He has used to chastise His erring people, and in their judgment the knowledge of the glory of the Lord will fill the whole earth, even as it will fill the whole earth when Christ reigns in His glory. It is not only that His glory will cover the earth, but here it is the knowledge of His glory, for men will learn in His judgments as also in His goodness what His glory is.
Effects of Seeing God’s Glory
When Moses saw the glory of God it made his face to shine, so that he had to cover his face with a veil (Ex. 34:29–35); it was the reflection of the divine glory connected with the law given to Israel, and the people could not look upon that which was the glory of a ministry of condemnation. When Isaiah saw the divine glory it made him say, “Woe is me!” In chapter 5 the prophet had pronounced six woes on Israel because of their state before God, but now that he is found in the light of God’s glory the prophet sees what he himself is in the sight of God.
It is the privilege of the Christian to behold with unveiled face the glory of the Lord, and this has a transforming effect, bringing us to the moral likeness of Jesus. This is very beautifully seen in Stephen when about to die for Jesus’ sake. He “looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,” and he bore testimony to what he saw, then died as his Master died, interceding for his murderers, and committing his spirit to the Lord (Acts 7:55–60).
Paul, on the way to Damascus, was arrested by the Son of God the divine glory shining upon him from heaven, and this gave character to his ministry as is seen in 2 Corinthians 4, where the Apostle writes of “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (verse 6). So that occupation with the divine glory manifests what God is, and what we are, but it also affects the life of the believer and the ministry of the servant of the Lord.
Departure of the Glory from Jerusalem
The prophet Ezekiel had a special vision of God’s glory in view of its departure from the midst of Israel. In chapter 1 of his prophecy he sees the four great executors of God’s judgments who are the supports of His throne. Above them was the likeness of a throne, and on the throne was the likeness of a man, and the man was in the midst of the divine glory, for he said, “This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord” (verse 28). No doubt in all that is brought before us in this chapter we learn how God’s glory is safeguarded, and the divine principles that order all God’s government always; but do we not also see in a mystical way that the divine glory is secure in the Man in heaven who now sits upon the throne of God?
The glory of the God of Israel that had dwelt between the cherubim left this holy place for the threshold of the house (Ezek. 9:3), so that the court was full of the brightness of Jehovah’s glory (Ezek. 10:4). Then the glory departed from the threshold of the house, and was found over the east gate of the Lord’s house (Ezek. 10:19). It is then found in the midst of the city (Ezek. 11:23). How very reluctantly the glory departs, taking, as it were, its sorrowful way, step by step from the midst of those who had rejected the God of Israel. How very blessed it is that Ezekiel saw the glory returning and filling the house of the Lord (Ezek. 43:1–5).
The Return of the Glory to Jerusalem
We have just seen how God enabled Ezekiel to see the glory return from the direction by which it departed. Isaiah shows the conditions that will prevail when the glory returns, “the wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad…and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose” (Isa. 35:1-2). This shall be after the iniquity of Jerusalem is pardoned, and she is comforted of God (Isa. 40:1–5), and all flesh shall see the glory of the Lord revealed. In the millennial day “the glory of the Lord” will have arisen upon His people Israel, and will be seen upon them, the Gentiles coming to see the light, and kings to “the brightness” of Israel’s rising (Isa. 60:1–3, 19).
When the remnant of Israel returned to build the temple in the days of Zerubbabel, the Lord by the prophet Haggai said to them “Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing?” (Haggai 2:3-9). Then the Lord said, “I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of hosts” (2:7). Christ the desire of all nations would come, and with Him the glory to fill God’s house. This will assuredly be fulfilled when He returns. Is it any wonder that the Lord adds, “The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former”? (verse 9). No doubt the actual structure will excel the building of Solomon, but the Lord as Man, Israel’s Messiah, the King of kings, and Lord of lords will be there in His glory.
R. 29.3.68