Encounter The Glory

“Then said I, Woe [is] me! for I am undone; because I [am] a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.” (Isa 6:5 AV)

There are different ways we react when confronted with the glory of God.  Here is one of them.  The prophet’s reaction is related to his call.  He was called to be a preacher of warning to Judah.  Isaiah saw the King, the LORD of hosts.  He had a vision of the glory of God.  This moved him to an inter-inspection that left him speechless.  Isaiah knew who he represented.  He knew who called him.  He knew from where his message would come.  Yet it wasn’t until he had an encounter with the glory of God that he truly understood the glory of God.  One wonders how we would be affected if we encountered the same.

One might think this encounter is limited to the Old Testament.  One might think that John’s Revelation is the last time God revealed His glory to a saint.  That would be incorrect.  How do I know?  Easy.  Read the book of Psalms.  David never had a vision as Moses, Isaiah, Paul, or John.  Reading the psalms, one would think that he did.  What David had was a heart and mind that could and would take the time to meditate.  He meditated on the revealed word of God and could extrapolate the glory of God from that which was easily seen.  He could see the stars above and know that the heavens could not contain God.  He could imagine how fearfully and wonderfully he was made, knowing that to an all-knowing God, that wouldn’t be difficult at all.  David could feel the earthquake below his feet, see entire nations fall, and a giant left dead by a single stone.  He could experience all this in the light of a God who is almighty.  David could know his sin intimately, yet be convinced that God forgives all who come to Him in humility and sincerity.  The book of Psalms, mostly by men who had no recorded extra biblical or extra revelation of the glory of God, could understand His glory!

This is a major missing part of our churches today.  We simply do not have the time or care to meditate on the glory of God.  We don’t want to exercise ourselves in the uncomfortable exercise of self-evaluation.  Our hearts are not anchored in repentance, forsaking, and changing.  Our heart’s desire is not cemented in a passion for Christlikeness.  We do not want to meditate on the glory of God because, if we did, we just might respond with the same humility as Isaiah.  As I write this, I am eternally grateful for a God whom I will never understand does not consider it beneath Him to know me.  I am moved by the thought that my Creator, whom I have offended and failed more than I can ever figure, would love me in spite of who and what I am.  I am not saying I have had the experience of Isaiah, Moses, Paul, or John.  What I can say is the more the Holy Spirit teaches me, the more humility can grow.  God is so good to me.  I don’t deserve any of His grace.  Not a drop!  Yet, for the reasons I cannot fully understand, He never gives up!  He loves eternally!  He is my Abba, Father.  He is the Great I Am.  He is the Most High.  He is God Almighty.  He is the LORD and Master.  He is the Creator, the only Wise Potentate, the King of kings and LORD of Lords.  He is my Beloved.  He is my Rock.  He alone is my Fortress and Strength.  He is my Banner, my Strong Tower, and His eyes behold me wherever I might be.  He is my Master Planner.  He is sovereign.  He is unchangeable, unalterable, and unfathomable.  He is God and there is none else!