Psalm 29

“The voice of the LORD makes the deer give birth, And strips the forests bare; And in His temple everyone says, ‘Glory!’” (Psalm 29:9; NKJV).


“Glory” has to do with the beauty, power, or honor of GOD.  It is a quality of GOD’S character that emphasizes His greatness and authority.  The word is used in three senses in the Bible:

1. God's moral beauty and perfection of character.  This divine quality is beyond man's understanding:  “The LORD is high above all nations, His glory above the heavens” (Psalm 113:4; NKJV).  All people "fall short" of it (Romans 3:23).

2. God's moral beauty and perfection as a visible presence.  While GOD’S glory is not a substance, at times GOD does reveal His perfection to man in a visible way.  Such a display of the presence of GOD is often seen as fire or dazzling light, but sometimes as an act of power.  Some examples from the Old Testament are the pillar of cloud and fire (Exodus 13:21), the LORD’S deliverance of the Israelites at the Red Sea (Exodus 14), and especially His glory in the tabernacle (Leviticus 9:23-24) and Temple (1 Kings 8:11).  Since the close of the Old Testament, the glory of GOD has been shown mainly in Christ (Luke 9:29-32; John 2:11) and in the members of His church.  Christ now shares His divine glory with His followers (John 17:5-6, 22), so that in their lives Christians are being transformed into the glorious image of God (2 Corinthians 3:18).  Believers will be fully glorified at the end of time in GOD’S heavenly presence (Romans 5:2; Colossians 3:4).  There the glory of GOD will be seen everywhere (Revelation 21:23).

3. Praise.  At times GOD’S glory may mean the honor and audible praise which His creatures give to Him (Psalm 115:1; Revelation 5:12-13).

See His glory.  Let His glory be seen in you.  Give Him the glory in your life.