“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty;
the whole earth is full of his glory.”
Isaiah 6: 1-3 New International Version (NIV)
“The whole earth is full of His glory.” I pause at those words on a gray, rainy day, the kind of day I rarely associate with glory. Yet that is what the angels are continuously singing before the Lord. I gaze out the window, wondering if I am missing something.
“The whole earth is full of His glory.” What exactly is His glory? Would I know it if I saw it?
John Piper, (Desiring God), attempts a definition by saying: “… the glory of God … is the going-public of his holiness. It is the way he puts his holiness on display for people to apprehend. So, the glory of God is the holiness of God made manifest . . . “
Okay. Let’s think about this.
I often consider a rainy day a downer, but it is really a blessing. People all over the world fervently pray for this blessing. Rain touches our senses: peaceful sound, pleasant scent, brightened greenery. And I remember how much fun it was to play in the rain as a child.
I look some more. Across the way there is a tree. When the wind catches the leaves, they reveal a beautiful shimmery, silvery underside. And now I’m noticing all the trees as they respond to the breeze with graceful movement.
The sky is gray. But now I see that it’s not a flat gray but shades of gray. Variations of gray above and variations of green below. So much variation. Beautiful! Amazing!
It starts to rain harder. There goes a dog walker, sprinting for cover – carrying the dog. I smile and silently wish him luck.
“The whole earth is full of His glory.” God’s infinite beauty and greatness on display, whether we are looking or not. Oh, Lord, what else have I missed?
I’m thanking you, God, out loud in the streets,
singing your praises in town and country.
The deeper your love, the higher it goes;
every cloud is a flag to your faithfulness.
Soar high in the skies, O God!
Cover the whole earth with your glory!
Psalm 57:10-11 The Message (MSG)
And give me eyes that see. Amen