Creation and The Glory of God
Rom.11:
33 O the depth of the riches both
of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his
ways past finding out!
34
For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?
35
Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him
again?
36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
Rev.4:
9 And when those beasts give glory
and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and
ever,
10
The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne,
and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the
throne, saying,
11
Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou
hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
As
we begin this study it is important that we first clarify the intended use of
the word “glory.” The first use
of the word is to be seen in the sense of a description of God: that is, His
beauty, excellency, honour and majesty. We
would like to think of this as the essential glory of God or, that glory which
is natural to God; that glory which cannot be increased or decreased. The other
sense in which we shall use the word is in the manner of attributing these
things (beauty, etc.) to God. This
glory is the glory of God that is exhibited by man and exulted (rejoiced) in by
man. It is magnifying and honouring
God. The former is to be found in 1Chron.16:
24 Declare his glory among the
heathen; his marvellous works among all nations.
The glory that is to be declared is the essential glory of God.
The latter is to be found in 1Chron.16: 28
Give unto the LORD, ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory
and strength. Here, we are told
to give glory unto God. It
is not that we can add to God’s essential glory but, we declare that glory and
manifest it by honouring Him. With
this in mind, we can speak of the glory of God and, of giving glory to God by
praising His glory (Ps.50:23). It
is important to note that we do not make God more glorious by giving Him glory
but, we simply magnify His glory and give Him His due: 1Chron.16: 29 Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name.
Our
text speaks of God creating and receiving glory from His creatures.
In fact, we are told that all things were made by Him and for Him
(Col.1:15-17) and, that, all things were made for His pleasure (Rev.4:11).
With this in mind, let us consider God’s purpose and glory in His
creation.
Rev.4: 11 Thou art
worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all
things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
As
we study this subject we find that creation points to the existence of God. That is, God is glorified by His eternal power and Godhead
being seen by means of His creation (Rom.1:18-21).
This leaves man without excuse before God. Man must glorify God because he knows by nature there is a
great and glorious God who is creator of all things.
The heavens themselves declare the glory of God and, as we view the sky
above, we see His handiwork (Ps.19:1-4). All
of creation bears witness to the fact that God is glorious and created for His
glory and His glory alone.
God
created all things for His pleasure. What
is this pleasure which God has in His creation?
The Psalmist stated that the rejoicing of God was in His works and His
glory (Ps.104: 31 The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall
rejoice in his works.). It
seems that God’s works are for His glory: Ps.111: 4 He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD
is gracious and full of compassion. This
being so, we understand the purpose of God in creation to be two-fold: 1.
To manifest His glory to that which He created and, 2.
That His creation might glorify Him by praising His wonderful works.
As
we look once again at our text, we see that God is directly and totally to be
credited for all of creation. We
read that there was no one there to give Him advice (Rom.11: 34
For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his
counsellor?) and, no one
supplied Him with anything that was necessary for the creation (Rom.11: 35
Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him
again?36 For of him, and through
him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.).
We understand, rather, that the triune God is the sole creator of all the
worlds.
Not
only is God due glory as the sole creator of all things, he is due glory because
He made all things to display His glory (or, to glorify Him) (Rom.11:36
For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory
for ever. Amen.),
The
scriptures give us multiple statements about God’s creative purpose.
Isa.43:21 tells us that God formed His people for Himself that they might
show forth His praise. We also read
that, Col.1:16 For by him were
all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and
invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers:
all things were created by him, and for him.
Man, especially, was made to glorify God.
Man, of all the creatures, is the only one that has the reasoning and
emotional capabilities necessary to give God glory.
After all, he is made in the image and likeness of God (Gen.1:26,27).
It is interesting to note that it is only after God made man He concluded
that everything was “very good.” (Gen.1:31) Man is in the unique
position of being able to communicate with God and consciously glorify Him.
Thus we see God’s creative purpose.
(Isa. 42:8 KJV) I
am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither
my praise to graven images.
Seeing that God has made all things for the glory of His name, it is certainly understandable that He is jealous for His glory. Glory is due Him 1Chron.16:29). It would be easy then, to think of God as being a vindictive type of God. That, however, is not the case. God’s jealousy isn’t the petulant jealousy of one who wants his own way irrespective of the good of others. God has so intertwined His glory and our good that we cannot separate them. God is jealous of His glory because it is due Him (1Chron.16:29;Rev.4:11) This jealousy is secondarily for our sake. Only the glory of God can satisfy man. There is nothing in this world that can give to us what we can receive when we exalt and magnify God. There, and only there, is man’s true satisfaction. To set our affections on something other than God causes us to both miss blessings and, be at enmity with God (Jas.4:1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.). To seek satisfaction and joy in something other than God is to give god-like status to that in which we seek to be satisfied. It is likened unto trading that which is of infinite worth for that which is of no worth at all. It is like walking away from an ever-flowing fountain and wellspring of goodness and trying to get water for ourselves in a broken container. God declares to us that this is a great evil. (Jer. 2:11-13 KJV) Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit. Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the LORD. For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water. Our greatest blessing comes when we seek God above all others. We cannot simply seek the blessings, we must seek God: Mt.6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
God
is jealous for His glory because He knows, also, that the gods of mankind are
worthy of no glory and honour: Jer.10:
3 For the customs of the people are
vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the
workman, with the ax.4 They deck it
with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it
move not.5 They are upright as the
palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be
not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do
good.6 Forasmuch as there is none
like unto thee, O LORD; thou art great, and thy name is great in might. 10 But the LORD
is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the
earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his
indignation.11 Thus shall ye say
unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they
shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens.12
He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his
wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion.13 When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in
the heavens, and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he
maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures.14
Every man is brutish in his knowledge: every founder is confounded by the
graven image: for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in
them.15 They are vanity, and the
work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.16
The portion of Jacob is not like them: for he is the former of all
things; and Israel is the rod of his inheritance: The LORD of hosts is his name.
The
gods of mankind have created, sustained and given nothing. When we look at creation, though, we see that it is the
product of the infinite wisdom and power of God.
Is it any wonder that God has decreed severe judgments for those who give
honour to other gods? Ex.
20:1 And God spake all these words,
saying,2 I am the LORD thy God,
which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.3
Thou shalt have no other gods before me.4
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any
thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in
the water under the earth:5 Thou
shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a
jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the
third and fourth generation of them that hate me;And showing mercy unto
thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. To give the glory and
praise that is due to the almighty creator of all things is to commit treason of
the worst sort! It is theft of the
blackest type! It is rebellion as
well (See 1Sam.15:22,23). It is
important that we realize the possibility of giving God’s glory to another
without building an image. Rebellion
is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.
We can disobey God and give His glory away.
The reason is, we set ourselves and our desires above God and decide that
we are worthy of more honour than He that hath made us.
May God help us to realize the importance of being sure that we do not
provoke God to jealousy.
Do All
to The Glory of God
(1 Cor. 10:31 KJV) Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
In
concluding this article, let us not forget that, in all we do or say, we are to
give glory, honour and recognition to God.
(Php.2: 3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in
lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.4
Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of
others.5 Let this mind be in you,
which was also in Christ Jesus:6 Who,
being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:7
But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a
servant, and was made in the likeness of men:8
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became
obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.9
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is
above every name:10 That at the
name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth,
and things under the earth;11 And
that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God
the Father.) We must not think of giving God glory as a wearisome thing,
however. We are to seek the glory
of God and find our satisfaction therein: Ps.37: 4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the
desires of thine heart. Ps.63:1
O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for
thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;2
To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.3
Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise
thee.4 Thus will I bless thee while
I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.5
My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall
praise thee with joyful lips:6 When
I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.7
Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will
I rejoice.8 My soul followeth hard
after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.9 But
those that seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the
earth.10 They shall fall by the
sword: they shall be a portion for foxes. 11
But the king shall rejoice in God; every
one that sweareth by him shall glory: but the mouth of them that speak lies
shall be stopped.
Our praise to God should, rather, be the
consummation of our satisfaction and delight in Him. Just as we aren’t completely satisfied with a person we
love unless we praise them, just as we sing our favorite songs because we enjoy
them, just as we tell others of a beautiful sunset and exult in any other thing
we enjoy, so we should praise God and His glory to satiate our souls.
Finally, let us notice the command concerning the glory of God: Ps
95:1 O sing unto the LORD a new
song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth.2 Sing
unto the LORD, bless his name; show forth his salvation from day to day.3
Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people.4
For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared
above all gods.5 For all the gods
of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.6
Honour and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his
sanctuary.7 Give unto the LORD, O
ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength.8 Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an
offering, and come into his courts.9 O
worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.10
Say among the heathen that the LORD reigneth: the world also shall be
established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously.11
Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and
the fulness thereof.
We
are to sing joyfully (:1), thank Him joyfully (:2), worship Him (give Him
adoration and praise) and bow down to Him (:6) and, hear His word and obey Him
(:7,8). All these things are to be
done with joy and gladness honouring God for who He is. He is the great creator and sustainer of the worlds,
supplying the needs of all His creatures simultaneously, and gently leading and
caring for His sheep.
For all the above reasons (and many others which we are unable to mention), the next time you view a beautiful sunset, marvel at the wondrous colors of autumn leaves or, admire the splendor of the starry midnight sky, do not forget to exclaim with joy: Rom.11: 33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
AMEN!