Tag: glory

Nature of God – part 4

Ok… the last post in a series about the Nature of God.  This one really bothered me… maybe a bit more than the others.  This one is the attribute of the Jealousy of God.  The definition she gives to make her point doesn’t define His Jealousy and more importantly, it doesn’t describe our life under the New Covenant.

  • Jealous – God does not share His glory with another (Isaiah 48:11; Exodus 34:14; Isaiah 42:8)

Let’s start with looking at the Scriptures she uses to try and prove her point.

  • Isaiah 48:11: For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.

Well, that verse APPEARS to prove her point.  But remember we need to ask who is God talking to?  What is He talking about in context?  And of course how did the finished work of the Cross change this?

In this verse, the children of Israel were making idols and invoking the name of God.  They were using God’s name on the idols.  Of course, God’s not going to share His glory with idols!  But He was talking about idols, not us.   What about the next verse…..

  • Exodus 34:14:  For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God

God is replacing the tablets of stone that were broken and He’s giving a list of commandments for the children of Israel.  Verse 14 is one of those.  He reveals His name as El Qana – a Jealous God.  He is not saying He’s jealous about sharing His glory with anyone!  He is saying He is a God passionate about not losing His children to false gods because they would then make covenants with the inhabitants of the land and turn away from God.

Last verse…..

  • Isaiah 42:8: I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.

Again this verse is about God not giving His glory or His praise to graven images.

But what does God say about sharing His glory with us……

  • Jesus said the glory the Father gave Him, He gave to us
    • Jn 17:22: And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
  • We are filled with the FULLNESS of God — that would include His glory!
    • Eph 3:19: And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.
  • God said that He would fill His new temple (US) with glory!
    • Haggai 2:7:  And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house (new temple) with glory, saith the LORD of hosts.
  • The mystery of the Gospel was Christ in us… His glory in us
    • Col 1:27: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory
  • He glorified us!
    • Romans 8:30 – whom He predestined, He called, whom He called, He justified, whom He justified, He glorified
    • NLT: And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory!
  • We are partakers of His divine nature — that includes His glory
    • 2 Peter 1:4: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

How exciting!  We were created for His glory.  We are carriers of His glory!  The fullness of the Deity dwells in us — the fullness of His glory dwells in us!!  That’s something to shout about!

~ Robin

Tevet – 5775 (2015)

 

chesedMy mom nicknamed me Pollyanna Sunshine when I was little… because I have always had an abundance of optimism.  Truly it’s a gift from God that I cherish. I have always tended to always look at things through a heart of hope.  I love just simply believing what God says and looking for His goodness… His redemption in all things.  I’m learning to read the Scriptures through this lens of redemption… through my Father’s eyes.  We will always find grace in His eyes…..Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD 

When I’m studying the Hebrew months I look for goodness and hope… for something that encourages and causes me to grow higher in Him. Each month was given by God with a unique purpose and is designed to release a blessing of revelation of His goodness into our lives.  I pray that my study of this month and this season gives you fresh hope of the goodness of God and all that He has for you.

Tonight  we enter into not only a new month on the Hebrew calendar, Tevet (Dec 13th – Jan 10th).. but also a new season, Winter.  Winter is the season to plan for increase in the next season.  Tevet is the 10th month on the Hebrew calendar… 10 is a number of divine order … 10 is also 5 + 5… five being the number of grace or in this case a double portion of grace.  This month walk in the double portion of grace available for you… choose to walk in the fullness, in the grace that Jesus made available for us.  He paid it all so that you could have it all!  It’s a free gift (Eph 2:8).

The first two letters in the word Tevet is “tov” which is the Hebrew word for good and it is followed by the letter tet which is also a letter connected to the word good…. so the word Tevet from beginning to end is a word full of God’s goodness.

While I LOVE the Christmas season,  I realize not everyone enjoys it.  It can be a time of bitter disappointments, sadness over loved ones gone, rejections of family members, depression, etc.  It can also be a financially stressful time for many.  But in this month of Tevet, let’s declare it as a month of God’s goodness from beginning to end.. allowing Him to lavish us with His goodness, His grace, and His favor.

Tevet is also connected to the Hebrew letter “ayin”.  Ayin means the eye.  This month purposely choose to see things through the Father’s eyes.  Seeing circumstances through the eyes of faith and hope… and seeing others through the eyes of love, grace, and redemption.  Read the scriptures through the lens of the finished work of the Cross and the Resurrection… it will change how you read it!

Each month is associated with a tribe of Israel.  The tribes were divided into four groups of three.  This Winter season included the three tribes:  Dan (the leader of this group), Naphtali and Asher.  They formed the “rear” guard of the camp and were the ones to watch out for the enemy attacking the camp from behind.‭ ‬These three formed the rear guard, not because of military skill but because they brought the glory of God.  They were the most creative of the tribes… Dan were skilled craftsmen in all kinds or artistic work, Naphtali brought forth beautiful words, and Asher caused the land to flourish.

This Winter season let’s understand that His glory is our rear guard  (Is 58:8)…. knowing that we are His most artistic work, and He is speaking over us such beautiful words and causing us to flourish in the land.  

Dan is the tribe connected to Tevet.  Dan in the Hebrew means to judge.  Dan’s ensign was the eagle!  Dan is one who can see the prey afar off‭ ‬-‭  the ‬one who soars on high in the Spirit and get the heavenly perspective on things.‭ ‬His judgement takes in the full scope of the scene and from his viewpoint,‭ ‬he is able to objectively give good direction and accurate assessments of situations.‭ ‬As a result,‭ ‬he is called to judge Israel.‭

Let’s judge correctly this month… soaring on wings of eagles and judging things through God’s eyes of love and mercy…..of goodness….. of grace.

May this season be full of the goodness of God, full of His glory (Ex 33:18-19)…… Merry Christmas (Celebration of Christ) from our family to yours!

~ Robin

Declarations for the month of Tevet:

  • God is good and He has lavished me with His goodness and abundance IN CHRIST
  • This month of Tevet is full of goodness, grace, and favor from beginning to end
  • This month I look at my circumstances through my Father’s eyes… eyes full of faith and hope.
  • This month I walk in an abundance of grace….. grace upon grace!
  • This month I see others through the eyes of love, grace, and redemption… seeing them as the Father sees them.
  • This season, God’s glory is my rearguard… I am His most artistic work, He speaks over me with beautiful words and causes me to flourish in the land.
  • This season, I soar in the Spirit and get the Heavenly perspective on things.
  • This season I judge correctly…  judging things through God’s eyes of love and mercy, of goodness….. of grace.