"God's Passion For His Glory"

  • Derek Staples
  • | Oct 20, 2008
  • | Series: Monday Morning Manna

"God's Passion For His Glory"

"When the priests came forth from the holy place (for all the priests who were present had sanctified themselves, without regard to divisions), and all the Levitical singers, Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and their sons and kinsmen, clothed in fine linen, with cymbals, harps and lyres, standing east of the altar, and with them one hundred and twenty priests blowing trumpets in unison when the trumpeters and the singers were to make themselves heard with one voice to praise and to glorify the LORD, and when they lifted up their voice accompanied by trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and when they praised the LORD saying, "He indeed is good for His loving kindness is everlasting," then the house, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, [for the glory of the LORD filled the house of God]." (2 Chronicles 5: 11-14)


Our AWANA leaders have been doing their own intensive study along with the kids. Recently I have been asked by many of them to define the "glory of God." I have been happy to do so. I would define God's glory as "the divine essence of God as absolutely great and splendid, thereby making Him alone worthy of all praise and honor." Glory is actually one of God's attributes. So, when we talk of God's glory, we are talking about Him as the "Supreme Lord of All."

I was reflecting on God's glory and it reminded me of the day the Ark of the Covenant was brought into the Temple. All the priests sanctified themselves, without regard to divisions, and began praising and glorifying God, saying, "He indeed is good for His loving kindness is everlasting." Then it happened! The cloud fell! That is the Old Testament's way of saying that God showed up!

Therefore, the very first worship service at the House of God began with honoring God and acknowledging His presence, His goodness, and His sovereign rule. By the way, isn't that exactly what we are to be offering to Him each time we gather for worship? We should always begin our worship with praise to our God. Why? It is because praising Him will inspire us to remove sin and division and to dedicate ourselves to Him alone.
Jonathan Edwards often spoke of God's glory and how it is exhibited throughout the earth. He said, "The end of the creation is that the creation might glorify God. Now what is glorifying God, but a rejoicing at that glory he has displayed." Edwards made it clear that "the chief and ultimate end of the Supreme Being is the manifestation of His own glory."

A great book I would recommend on this subject is God's Passion for His Glory by John Piper. Piper states, "All true virtue among human beings must aim at bringing people to rejoice in the glory of God." He says even heaven itself will be a never-ending discovery of God's greater glory.

I want to encourage you today to share in Augustine's famous prayer: "You made us for yourself and our hearts find no peace till they rest in you." May we never find peace unless we are resting in the presence of His glory! Let's be so aware of his presence that, like the priests in the Temple, ministry finds its true focus in the Supreme Lord. May He fill our houses of worship with the glory of His presence, and may we find our rest in him!


Until Next Time,


Dr. Derek