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The Glorious God – I Peter 4:14; 5:11
by Alex M. Lindsay
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Reference: Psalm 96: 1-13

This Psalm encourages us to bless and praise God (Psalm 34:1); to literally brag about God (Psalm 34:2); to magnify God / make others to understand and appreciate God (Psalm 34:3). We should all have "God stories" - testimonies about God's work in our lives (Psalm 34:4-6). We are here to encourage others to "taste and see" God's goodness (Psalm 34:8-11).

It is in the spirit of this Psalm that Peter begins his thoughts in the second chapter of the book of I Peter. See I Peter 2:1-3. Various translations tell us to taste and see that the Lord is good/gracious; or that we should taste and see the kindness of the Lord. Let's take some time to taste some of the goodness of the Lord and see what that should produce in our lives. As we learn about God from Scripture, God Himself will guide us and develop us into the image of His Son (Isaiah 54:13; John 6:45; II Corinthians 3:18; Romans 8:28-29; 12:2; Matthew 11:28-30; Ephesians 4:20-24; II Peter 1:2-4; 3:18).

1. The Blessed God - I Peter 1:3
2. The Holy God - I Peter 1:15-16
3. The Glorious God - I Peter 4:14; 5:11
4. The Mighty God - I Peter 5:6
5. The Gracious God - I Peter 5:10 cp. 2:1-3 (KJV / NKJV)

The Glorious God - I Peter 4:14; 5:11
God is supernatural. Therefore, all that He is and all that He does is amazing, awe-inspiring and confusing to us. We will forever be humbled and impressed with the glory of God (Isaiah 42:8; Psalm 145:10-13; I Peter 5:11; Revelation 4:11).

The Hebrew words that describe God's glory imply weight and substance - that which is heavy. The glory of God is considerable, respectable, extraordinary, excellent, and praiseworthy. All that God is, and all that God does is described with words that speak of splendor, magnificence, abundance, and greatness. See Psalm 24:1-2,7-10; 29:1-11; 96:1-13; 102:15-16; 104:31; 138:1-5; 148:13 (vs. 1-14); Romans 8:16-18; II Corinthians 4:6,14-18; I Peter 4:12-14.

The English words that describe man and the things of this life are "vain" and "vanity." The Hebrew words speak of that which soon vanishes away (i.e. vapor, bubbles, breath, or a breeze). Compared to God's Glory and the weight of eternity, the world and man, with all his supposed glory is insignificant, worthless, frail, empty, and fruitless. See Psalm 8:1-4; 39:5-6,11; 60:11; 62:9; 94:11; 144:3-4; Isaiah 2:17-22; Ecclesiastes 1:1-8; 3:18-21; 6:11-12; 12:1,8,13-14 cp. Matthew 16:24-27; James 4:13-17.

We, therefore, should be humble and seek to worship and glorify God. We should be remembering and showing others the vanities of this life compared to the glories of our God. The knowledge of God's glory should fill our lives with faith, joy, confidence, and hope. See Psalm 3:1-3; 148:1-14; Romans 5:1-5; II Corinthians 4:6-18; Ephesians 3:16; Philippians 1:9-11; 2:5-11; 4:19-20; I Peter 4:12-16 (cp. I Peter 1:21; 2:9-12; Ephesians 1:12); I Timothy 1:17; Hebrews 11:1,24-27. See also Hebrews 1:1-3; Colossians 2:8-10; Galatians 6:12-14 (cp. Philippians 3:18-19); Ephesians 3:21.

Originally delivered October 14, 2018
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