Let’s ask the question, What is the glory of the Lord? In answer, we look at Moses’
request on the mountain of God. Moses asked: Please, show me Your glory. —Exodus 33:18
The Hebrew word for “glory” used by Moses in this instance was kabowd. It is defined by Strong’s Bible Dictionary as “the weight of something, but only figuratively in a good sense.” Its definition also speaks of splendor, abundance, and honor. Moses was asking, “Show me Yourself in all Your splendor.” Look
carefully at God’s response: Then He said, “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim
the name of the Lord before you.” —Exodus 33:19
Moses requested all His glory, and God referred to it as “all My goodness . . . ” The
Hebrew word for “goodness” is tuwb. It means, “good in the widest sense.” In other words, nothing is withheld.
Then God says, “I will proclaim the name of the Lord before you.” Before an earthly king enters the throne room, his name is always announced by proclamation. Then he enters in his splendor. The king’s greatness is revealed, and in his court there is no mistake as to who is king. If this monarch were on the street of one of the cities of his nation dressed in ordinary clothes, without any attendants, he might be passed by without those around him realizing his actual identity. So in essence, this is exactly what God did for Moses. He is saying, “I will proclaim My own name and pass by you in all My splendor.”
We see then that the glory of the Lord is everything that makes God, God. All His characteristics,
authority, power, wisdom—literally the immeasurable weight and magnitude of God—are contained within God’s glory. Nothing is hidden or held back!
John Bevere is a popular speaker at conferences and churches and the author of the best-sellers The Bait of Satan and The Fear of the Lord. He is host of The Messenger TV show and directs Messenger International ministry. This article was excerpted from his popular book Fear of the Lord.
