SEEKING TO KNOW THE GLORY OF GOD

 

Proverbs 25:1-2

 

Every Christian should be doing this every day. Seeking to know the glory of God. All of Scripture points to the Glory of God. “Glory” by definition is all that God is, in all of His Character, Deity, in all of His Person, in all of His Attributes. As Paul wrote, “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him,” Eph 1:17. The Bible describes "the Father of glory" as the source from whom all Divine splendor and perfection proceed in their manifestation, and to whom they belong.

 

Martin Llyod Jones said this about Paul’s prayer, “Paul, in just one verse, notes in his prayer that he is praying to the God with whom he has a covenant relationship. The God of the incarnate Son. Not an unknown god, but the God revealed through the Lord Jesus Christ. This God is the source of all glory. He is the glorious One, who gives glory, not only to the Son, but to His people. When one remembers who they are praying to before they begin, they will, indeed, find little trouble engaging in the greatest activity any human being can do: speak to God.”

 

The term “glory of God” in the Bible refers in general to the beauty of God's manifold perfections. It is an attempt to put into words what God is like in His magnificence and purity. It refers to His fullness of all that is good. The term might focus on His different attributes from time to time like His power and wisdom and mercy and justice because each one is awesome in its magnitude and quality. In general God's glory is the perfect harmony of all His attributes into one infinitely beautiful being.

 

Basically "Glory” means “All That God Is"

 

God's goal in creation is His glory, “everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” Isaiah 43:6. This doesn’t mean that God had no glory before creation because we read in the book of Acts that God is always glorious. “The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.” Acts 17:24-25. John Piper wrote in reference to Acts 17, “God was not seeking glory which he lacked when he created man. Rather he was moved by a disposition to display or manifest Himself. Like a full fountain has a tendency to overflow in streams of water so God has a tendency to extend His glory beyond Himself. God's goal, therefore, in created man was to display His glory to and through man.”

 

THE SCRIPTURES REVEALS HIS GLORY IS EXHIBITED IN: 

His Name    (Deut 28:58)

Him Majesty    (Job 37:22)

His Power   (Ex 15:1)

His Works    (Ps 113:3)

His Holiness    (Ex 15:11)

 

THE SCRIPTURES REVEAL HIS GLORY IS DESCRIBED AS

Great    (Ps 138:5)

Eternal    (Ps 104:31)

Highly Exalted    (Ps 8:1)

  

This glory is manifested in creation. All of mankind gets to see the glory of God through His creation. ”The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.” Psalm 19:1-2

This is why Paul wrote that all of mankind has no excuse to say they never saw the glory of God. “For His invisible attributes, namely, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.” Rom 1:20

 

We come to a portion of the Proverbs where we read Hezekiah transcribes Solomon’s notes some 275 years after his death. Hezekiah was one of the few good kings of Israel. He desired instruction in his duty as a king. King’s the Old Testament were seen as the anointed representative of the Lord; the Judean king was seen by Old Testament writers as a mediator of the covenant between the Lord and His people. The prophet Nathan announced a special covenant relationship between the Lord and the dynasty of David. 2 Samuel 7:5–17

The responsibility of a king was to “write for himself a copy of this law in a book, approved by the Levites. “And when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law, approved by the Levitical priests. And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes.” Deut 17:18-19. The king was expected to read a portion of it on a daily basis and to cherish it as one of his prized possessions. Through this, his fear of and relationship with God, would be established, and the kingdom would prosper. Think about for a moment! Writing out the entire law by hand would be an enlightening and productive venture for all of us. But even if we are never able to write it all out, we can and should be intimately familiar with God’s law, learn about it and cherish it deeply. This of course applies to all of God’s Word, “All Scripture is breathed out by God” 2 Tim 3:16

 

A good king takes his duties respectfully and

seeks things out to be a better king.

 

That same principle should apply to our leaders today and all of us, to study the duties that belong to our respective stations, that we may be thoroughly furnished for every good work. Hezekiah, through the Spirit of God, tells us at the outset why these Proverbs were copied. (v1-v2) “To search out” not what God has hidden, but what He has revealed. What has God revealed to us and why should we take the time to search these things out? Unfortunately, many search and seek to find out things that are not revealed and get frustrated, especially since God has revealed so much for us to know and love and serve Him with our lives.

Many get frustrated and demanding at times to why they are unable to see God concealed truth. How arrogant are those who must know the reasons of all God’s work and to call into question or find fault with God because they don’t receive answers.

 

Many demand to know things that God has not been pleased to tell us. It’s here we need to trust our King, that He knows what He is doing despite the fact we cannot see what he is doing at times. This is why we are never to speculate, but trust in the revealed word of God, as being sufficient. “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,” 2 Peter 1:3. We must always never speculate the concealed things, but always draw the line where the Bible does. Understand, God is glorified not only by what is revealed, but also what is concealed. This is why we read, “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” Deut 29:29. He is omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent. He is also eternal, He knows the future, and sees all things. Unlike God, humans are finite and limited in our knowledge, we cannot fully or completely know everything about God or His purposes.

 

So, the “secret things” that belong to the Lord are those things that only He knows as the Creator and Sustainer over all creation. Just because they are secrets from us, this doesn’t mean we cannot know the fullness of God in Christ Jesus. Paul reminds us of this truth so that we can know Him in what He has revealed to us. “and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Eph 3:19

Why do we often settle for a passive, passionless life, when

God promises life full and abundant?

 

Well maybe…..Its easier, it requires less of your time, they tell themselves its hard work and requires something from the individual, something beyond the quick fix and self-check out counter. This pursuing and seeking after His glory require “Spiritual sweat” as Ken Hughes puts it, in his book “Disciplines Of A Godly Man.” 

This is should never be a thought in the believer’s life! God wants us to pursue what He has revealed to us. Why? It reveals to us the greatness of God, and His deep love for those whom He called out of darkness. What does it mean to seek after the glory of God, to be like a good king, who seeks wisdom and the glory from above over one’s life. Bad kings and narcissistic people, seek their own glory, and they need to make themselves better over God. You don’t have to look far in the Scriptures to see that and you definitely don’t have to look far today to see that as well. The kings that are over us today, whether is Prime Minsters or Presidents have all failed to take their role seriously under God. To which we know is a fool’s plan and will never succeed, long term and especially not in glory.

 

Bad kings and mankind…. Measure their success by what they see and feel in the moment. Motivated and unmotivated in their work, friendships, church. Their decisions are often driven by what others will think. They are more drawn to the type of work and serving opportunities that will be noticed and praised by others. They measure success with a short-term view, rather than an eternal one. They find comfort in making sure others see their pain and shower you with attention because of it. They spend less time in the Word and prayer and more time perfecting your craft, skill, job, or reputation. This describes the king of fools, this is the opposite of the humble king, who seeks after things to know Him more. 

“seek” involves constant prayer, studying Scripture, repentance, and prioritizing His kingdom above earthly desires. This pursuit is motivated by faith, promised to be rewarded, and results in finding strength, wisdom, and intimacy.

 

Jeremiah wrote, “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” Jer 29:13

 

Prov 8:17 reminds us, “I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.”

 

James says, “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” James 4:8

 

Like bad kings, who do not seek things out, we live in a world where people often say "seeing is believing." But Jesus says the exact opposite, "If you believe, you will see the glory of God." John 14:40. Our unworthiness is never the barrier to our beholding the glory of God, you're never worthy. Our ignorance is never the barrier to our beholding the glory of God, we're always ignorant. We have only scratched the surface of just how glorious our God is in this life. What is the barrier to our beholding the glory of God then? It is our unbelief. And Jesus says, "If you believe, you will see the glory of God." John 11:40. God's glory not just as a hidden mystery, but as a deliberate act that invites people to seek wisdom through the "hiding place of His glory".

 

It is God's glory to hide things, reflecting that His ways

are higher than human understanding.

Its not seeking what isn’t revealed, it seeks what is revealed to us that displays the glory of God. As a good king should, we are to search things out, to seek His glory in fullness of Christ. Who amongst the proudest intellects in the universe could ever find Him out? God is, and ever will be, the Great Mystery in which infinite thoughts are lost. Knowing the glory of God….. involves recognizing the visible manifestation of His divine character, beauty, and power; not just aesthetic beauty, but the weight and splendor of His essence.

 

How do we seek and know the glory of God?

 

Immerse ourselves in the Word: Reading and meditating on Scripture reveals the glory of God and His character.

 

Be pro-active in prayer & worship: Pray for spiritual insight to see His glory and engage in passionate, sincere worship that creates a dwelling place for His presence.

 

Persevering obedience and holiness: Aligning one's life with God's will and pursuing holiness positions individuals to experience His glory.

 

Constantly observe creation: Recognize God's power, beauty, and wisdom displayed in the natural world.

 

Live a life of surrender and humility: Approaching God with humility is essential for recognizing His presence.

 

It is beholding Christ. Ultimately, it is a pursuit that brings joy, transforms lives, and is found by seeking Him above personal glory.

 

This is what a good king seeks after, to be a reflection of whom they serve with their life, and the people under them. The same rule applies to each and everyone of us.

 

Beholding Jesus Christ as supremely valuable: The Gospels are designed to showcase Jesus, who is the manifestation of God’s glory, filled with grace and truth.

 

It’s living a transformed life with a new heart: Asking for the Holy Spirit to enlighten the heart allows for the perception of God's glory rather than just seeing it superficially.

 

Living as "Living Sacrifices": Offering one's life to God in service and love allows the fruit of the Spirit to shine.

 

Finding God in the Ordinary: Recognizing God’s work in daily moments, such as in community and through acts of kindness.

 

Loving the sweet fellowship within the Church: The gathering and unity of believers (the church) provide a context to experience the manifestation of His glory.

 

Consciously think about His presence. You need to stop several times a day and just get quiet. “Be still, and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10

 

Unfortunately, we live in a fast paced, scheduled life, that is filled with noise, and distractions that hampers that conscious presence of God.

 

There is a song by 21 Pilots called “Car Radio” there is section at the opening of the song that always make me ponder and it goes like this,

Sometimes quiet is violent

I find it hard to hide it, my pride is no longer inside

It's on my sleeve, my skin will scream

Remindin' me of who I killed inside my dream

I hate this car that I'm driving, there's no hiding for me

I'm forced to deal with what I feel

There is no distraction to mask what is real

I could pull the steering wheel

I have these thoughts, so often I ought

To replace that slot with what I once bought

'Cause somebody stole my car radio

And now I just sit in silence

A little further through the song he says, “And it's that we're all battling fear

Oh dear, I don't know if we know why we're here

Oh my, too deep, please stop thinking

I liked it better when my car had sound.

 

We live in a world full of distractions and noise to hide behind, it’s the stillness that scares most people. People find it easier to live in the chaos, rather than be still a seek out the things of God and to trust Him with the things we can’t see or know. God wants us to be still, and know that He is God and in control, even in the chaos. Its this reality that we can develop a spirit of praise, as Isaiah wrote, “to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified.” Isa 61:3

“The chief end of man is to glorify God

and to enjoy Him forever.”

 

Seeking the glory of God like a king who actively investigating God’s truths, establishing righteousness. This also means leading others toward His Kingdom rather than personal ambition. The only thing preventing you from seeking out the things of God and the glory of God….. is you. Your lack of interest and concern for the things of God. Your lack of non-faith to search out the things of God. Your lack of rebellion to trust God and submit to what He is doing in your life. Though we read in (v3) His heights and depths are “unsearchable” which means their intentions cannot be figured out by ordinary subjects. Heaven is higher than you can know, and the earth deeper than you can explore. Neither can you know and explore a true king’s heart. God holds classified information, burdens, plans, threats, knowledge, and wisdom you cannot discover. It is folly and presumption to judge Him based on your very limited perspective of national matters. The things that are known to God alone are His and the things he has revealed to you and me through creation and His word are for us to search, dig, acquire for our good and His glory. The Sunday question is….. Do you honor this King? Do you trust Him? Do you obey His every request, even when you do not understand it?