Isaiah says of the coming Messiah, “He has no beauty that we should desire him” yet 1 Chronicles 16:29 commands, “Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him! Worship the Lord in the SPLENDOR of holiness” and the psalmist echoes it: “Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.” In church, our songs shout out, “The splendor of the King, robed in majesty.” How can “no beauty” be “splendor”?
I nearly missed it then remembered how those unfamiliar with the ritual of presenting a painting would not know that the drape covering the easel is not the gift. To them, this would appear ordinary, even ugly — yet when it is removed they can see the beautiful art that was previously hidden.
This illustrates what it is like to see God. Also, the prophet is talking about the view of sinful people; to them, Jesus has no beauty. Their eyes are veiled by sin. But the other verses are talking of God’s glory as seen by those who are “splendid in their holiness” and those who “tremble before Him.” They have had the veil removed and by God’s grace can now see His beauty. And they cannot help but declare it:
The psalmists say, “Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, you are very great! You are clothed with splendor and majesty” and “Full of splendor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever” and ”On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate” and “All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord, and all your saints shall bless you! They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom and tell of your power, to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.”
Isaiah 2:9–11 explains that to see God’s splendor, humanity must be “humbled, and each one is brought low” because they “hide in the dust from before the terror of the Lord, and from the splendor of his majesty” but “the haughty looks of man shall be brought low, and the lofty pride of men shall be humbled, and the Lord alone will be exalted in that day.” Humility clears spiritual blindness.
Isaiah also says, “In that day mankind will cast away their idols of silver and their idols of gold, which they made for themselves to worship, to the moles and to the bats, to enter the caverns of the rocks and the clefts of the cliffs, from before the terror of the Lord, and from the splendor of his majesty, when he rises to terrify the earth.”
Casting away idols is also eye-opening, but instead of hiding from God, reverential fear brings praise when those who truly seek God are willing to see that His glory and His gracious forgiveness includes a deep and thorough cleansing of sin. If we are going to have that holiness that opens our eyes to see His splendor, then the words of Jesus ought to produce that deep desire:
Matthew 5:8. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
Purity of heart comes to those who put their faith in God’s Son, believe in His salvation plan and accept the redemption freely offered. Only then can the veil be lifted and His glory becomes visible. Only then, in seeing His glory are we transformed to see His splendor:
2 Corinthians 3:18. “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”
GAZE INTO HIS GLORY. Again, this is the reason I keep pursuing the glory of God. He compels me. The more I see, the more I want to see. And the splendor of God is brighter the more I realize His purpose. He illustrates it in His directive in Ephesians 5:25–27 by telling husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. And the reason? That He might sanctify His people. We are cleansed by the washing of water with His word and His desire is to present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that we might be holy and without blemish . . . a bride suitable for the One who loves us, the One who is splendid in every way!
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