How Do You Behold Glory?

December 06, 2022

By Brooke Holt

“Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things. Blessed be his glorious Name forever; may all the earth be filled with his glory! Amen and Amen!” (Psalm 72:18-19).

Where do you behold glory? In our world, there are many different degrees of glory and just as beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so what is considered glorious may vary between people. Yet the Scriptures tell us of the one who truly manifests glory, and that one is the Lord, the God of Israel. As the psalmist concludes this beautiful psalm, he declared that God’s name alone was glorious and the name to be praised.

Who better to write a psalm like this than the king of Israel? The one who many revered and blessed was the very one to declare who was truly worthy of true worship. Throughout Psalm 72, King Solomon wrote of the roles of the king and sought wisdom to rule well, to overcome enemies, and to be worthy of his position. Yet, he did not forget the true king who appointed him to be king – King Solomon as the king of Israel was subject to the true King – the Lord.

Where King Solomon could be an instrument of God’s glory in the world as he lived faithfully and ruled well, there was only one true source of glory – the One who created heaven and earth was the very One who then filled them with his glory.

The season of Advent is one in which we are called to behold God’s glory throughout creation and then the ultimate display of his glory in his Son, Jesus Christ. Beholding the glory of the Lord helps us to recognize the lesser glories of this world that can occupy us and distract us from God’s true glory.

The call of Advent is to turn from these lesser things and turn back to the Lord!

Reflection:

How do you see God’s glory this Advent? Let’s pray together to have eyes to see that glory today and throughout this blessed season. We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

Related Resource:

Follow the ancient way of the Psalms and find the life God has for you. A model for vibrant worship, the Psalms provide practical wisdom to traverse the circuitous path of life with trust and hope. Pilgrim’s Path: A Study of the Psalms traces our spiritual walk with God—from discovery and delight, through doubt and disappointment, into joyful confidence. Whether used for individual or group study, Pilgrim’s Path is for everyone who seeks to know and love God more and find life in him.