glory
Somedays I just need a Hero. Listen to this:
“In Exodus 16:7 we read "and in the morning you shall see the glory of the LORD" (RSV). What is the "glory" of YHWH? First we must recognize that the "glory" is something that will be seen. Secondly, the word "glory" is an abstract word. If we look at how this word is paralleled with other words in poetical passages of the Bible, we can discover the original concrete meaning of this word. In Psalm 3:3 the kavod of Elohiym (God) is paralleled with his "shield" and in Job 29:20, Job's kavod is paralleled with his "bow." In Psalm 24:8 we read "who is this king of the kavod, YHWH is strong and mighty, YHWH is mighty in battle." The original concrete meaning of kavod is battle armaments. The meaning "armament" fits with the literal meaning of the root of kavod, which is "heavy," and armaments are the heavy weapons and defenses of battle. In the Exodus 16:7, Israel will "see" the "armament" of YHWH, the one who has done battle for them with the Egyptians.” Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #3519
The glory of God is “heavy” because He is Mighty to Save. This week we read in the daily readings Psalm 24:7-10, it states:
“Lift up your heads, O gates; be lifted, you ancient portals,
that the king of glory may enter.
Who is this king of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in war.
Lift up your heads, O gates; rise up, you ancient portals, that the king of glory may enter.
Who is this king of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the king of glory.”
Can you say that the Lord God is Your King of Glory? Are you allowing Him to fight your battles? Can you relax on His breast and hear His heart beating for you?
What “gates” in your life need to be “lifted” that the King of Glory may enter? Is it the gate of pride? The gate of unbelief? The gate of self sufficiency? The gate of looking to those other than God for your security?
May the Ancient of Days, the Holy One, the Immortal One, the King of Glory, be all that and all else you need this week.
“In the year King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, with the train of his garment filling the temple. Seraphim were stationed above; each of them had six wings: with two they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they hovered. One cried out to the other:
‘Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts! All the earth is filled with his glory!’
At the sound of that cry, the frame of the door shook and the house was filled with smoke.”
Isaiah 6:1-4
Dear Lord,
I confess, I need a Hero--everyday. And it is hard for me to say this because I am a “liberated, self sufficient, intelligent and empowered” individual. I have been taught that in order to be a success, I need to need nothing. But that is not true. I was made to need You. You complete me. Help me to lift up my gates, to open the door to allow You to enter into my heart and life more freely and to trust in You for my safe keeping and daily affairs. I lay down my “weaponry” -- Yours is enough for the both of us. By Your grace, help me to be able to say with greater conviction each day: Jesus, I trust in You.
I ask this in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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