I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols. – Isaiah 42:8
“Defining the glory of God is impossible,” says theologian John Piper. “God is in a class by himself. He has infinite perfections, infinite greatness, and infinite worth. … The glory of God is the manifest beauty of his holiness. It is the going public of his holiness.” The glory of God is woven throughout Scripture. It is central to everything from creation to the salvation of your soul. In Hebrew, the primary word for glory is kabod, which comes from a root word meaning “weight” or “heaviness.” In the New Testament, the Greek is doxa, coming from a root that includes reputation and fame. The Lord’s glory belongs to Him alone. It is perfect, majestic, magnificent, beautiful, evidenced, yet also hidden. It is a summary of the manifestation of all His attributes and character.
Today’s verse states God’s glory is a part of each person of the Trinity and is shared with no one and nothing. In the time of Isaiah, many people in the Near East were polytheists, and most forms of pagan idolatry were brutal. Today, figures of stone and wood are not generally worshiped in America.
However, people often care more about materialism, power, education, accomplishments, comforts, and even hobbies, letting those take precedence over worshiping God, making them into modern-day idols.
In Isaiah 44:6, you read, “Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts, ‘I am the first and I am the last; besides me, there is no god.’” Have you slipped into idol worship? Just as God was willing to extend grace to His people in Isaiah’s day, He is extending His grace to you today. Remember who the Lord is and return to Him in humility.
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