Ezekiel 1:24 And when they went, I heard the sound of their wings like the noise of great waters, like the voice of the Almighty, the sound of tumult like the noise of a host. When they stood, they let down their wings.
Ezekiel 1:28 Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face and I heard a voice of One speaking.
When I read these, God pointed me to the purpose of glory. The creatures (that are rather weird looking) caused Ezekiel to shudder.
Later, Jesus is seen, and He’s the culmination of the glory the other cherubim-like creatures exhibited. Ezekiel reacted by falling. A kind of reverent fear swooped over him after seeing all this. And this is where our main lesson is drawn from today;
The prophet Isaiah says to us; “Arise & shine…for the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.” This glory is not supposed to just make us feel better or merely feel good, but do much more.
In verse two, we notice that this glory causes a separation and distinction upon one’s life. The earth is mentioned to be covered in dense darkness, but not you! This means that as a thousand fall on your right, you remain standing. It doesn’t come near you. As all else drown in drought, you’ll be a green tree throughout the year, bearing fruit.
This glory of God is seen and searched out, like the bright star that attracted the wise men to Jesus. The glory attracts gentiles, heathens, kings and their nations.
His glory will also cause reconciliation. We see Isaiah continue to say in Isaiah 60:4, “Lift up your eyes all around, and see: They all gather together, they come to you; Your sons shall come from afar, And your daughters shall be nursed at [your] side.”
No wonder God gave us the ministry of reconciliation through Christ (2 Cor 5:18-19) Reconciliation of both your loved ones to yourself, and God’s people to Him through you as well.
The following verses (in Isaiah) show how that glory inspires the fear that leads men to repentance or returning both to you & their first love, who’s God.
In verse five, Isaiah tells us as well that we will fear and be enlarged.
God’s glory will cause wealth to come to you.
“Isaiah 60:5 Then you will look and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with joy; the wealth on the seas will be brought to you, to you the riches of the nations will come.” (NIV)
The riches will come themselves. His glory on you shall attract them. The gold & incense from Sheba, camels and herds from Midian, flocks from Kedar & rams from Nebaioth all come up to you (verses 6-7)
The glory of God will cause a restoration of double what’s been lost.
Isaiah 60:8-9 “Who [are] these [that] fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows? Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the LORD thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because he hath glorified thee.”
As more wealth comes, we see the phrase ‘bring thy sons from far’. Maybe these were sons that Israel had lost. I imagine the sons have wives and children, and perhaps grand children. That goes beyond reconciliation. That’s double!
Isaiah 60:10-12 “Foreigners will rebuild your walls, and their kings will serve you. Though in anger I struck you, in favor I will show you compassion. Your gates will always stand open, they will never be shut, day or night, so that people may bring you the wealth of the nations— their kings led in triumphal procession. For the nation or kingdom that will not serve you will perish; it will be utterly ruined.”
The glory of the Lord will effect rebuilding, favor and service. These will then affect the economy, as your wealth will have accumulated so much that its store accounts need to stay open in order not to keep it out, and this will in turn cause you to feed many, the orphans and widows included.
Isaiah 60:13-14 “The glory of Lebanon will come to you, the juniper, the fir and the cypress together, to adorn my sanctuary; and I will glorify the place for my feet. The children of your oppressors will come bowing before you; all who despise you will bow down at your feet and will call you the City of the LORD, Zion of the Holy One of Israel.”
The rebuilding will happen with materials that you didn’t spend a dime on. This is still God’s glory effecting this! Pretty much like when He said you’d own cities and houses you didn’t build, filled with all good things. Also notice ‘adorn’. There’s an element of beautification when the glory of God radiates from you.
Your enemies shall contend for peace and you’ll live in quiet with them as described in verse 14. I see peace as well where the glory of God is!
Isaiah 60:15 “Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated, so that no man went through [thee], I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations.”
Joy is assured. The glory of God not only brings it, but makes you it and its quintessential since a third of His whole Kingdom is already it! And it lasts for generations resounding with a touch of excellence eternally.
Isaiah 60:16-17 “Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles, and shalt suck the breast of kings: and thou shalt know that I the LORD [am] thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob. For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron: I will also make thy officers peace, and thine exactors righteousness.”
The glory of God will evoke provision. The sucking here isn’t that of need or that kings will be sending us handouts—no! I have seen serendipity serve, whereby a need rises up within you, and suddenly, before it is even voiced, it’s already met.
Let’s explore the sucking for example. I have noticed that many mothers can know when to feed their infants. Before the child can start wailing, its mouth is already feeding and I like the fact that there are many breasts available. Many sources of provision!
In verse 17, I see the glory of God effect a quality life. There’s a receiving of the best and not just the counterfeits. Instead of wood — brass, instead of brass — gold. There’s a process of betterment. Getting better and better prizes, while the life of such a one shines brighter and brighter.
Peace and righteousness surface again. The kingdom of God is complete, for it is righteousness, peace and joy in God the Holy Spirit! The glory of God will manifest the fullness of His kingdom in you, so that you realize that His kingdom is not merely numbers, but made complete when all these three elements are present in you!
Remember when you prayed ‘Let your kingdom come on earth?’ Well, it came when His glory rose upon you! You are, as it is in Heaven. As He is, so are you!
Isaiah 60:18-20 “Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise. The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.”
The glory of the Lord will cause wars to cease. You’ll hold your peace, and He’ll fight your battles! You’ll bask in all items of the salvation package and you’ll be praising daily. God being your glory and light means you shan’t need the sun to light up your way during day. If an eclipse happens that takes about 24 hours, it shall be well with you!
He’ll be your source. You’ll be dead enough to realize only He, can be. And it will no longer be your job, or your parents or your spouse. For if they are, then that means if they are out of the picture you’ll die. Unfortunately God is a jealous God. He won’t allow that.
Isaiah 60:21-22 “Thy people also [shall be] all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified. A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the LORD will hasten it in his time.”
The glory of God will make you inherit the earth. It will cause you to increase largely, exceedingly abundantly above what you could ask or think… Until like your father, you become a nation, and we will be back to where we started from. All men shall fear you, and they’ll bow at your feet, asking to be shown and introduced to this God of yours. And He’ll be worshipped in all the land, like in the times of Daniel.
So, in summary, these are the purposes of God’s glory; the fear of God, separation and distinction, wealth, reconciliation, restoration, rebuilding, favor, service, joy, excellence, peace, provision, a quality life, righteousness, beautification, increase and the manifestation of God’s kingdom…
Arise and shine, for your light has come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon you, and all these good things mentioned above, are seen in your life;
Hallelujah!
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