Glory is a word that we use without knowing what it means. In fact I would say that it is a word that we don’t use very much because we do not really know what it means. Glory is honour or respect that is based on achievement. God has achieved so many great things around the globe that his glory is second to none. It is a right action tolook at the way the world is sustained and sing praise to God – to give him the glory.
Psalm 66
1 Shout for joy to God, all the earth!
2 Sing the glory of his name;
make his praise glorious.
3 Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!
So great is your power
that your enemies cringe before you.
4 All the earth bows down to you;
they sing praise to you,
they sing the praises of your name.”[a]
5 Come and see what God has done,
his awesome deeds for mankind!
6 He turned the sea into dry land,
they passed through the waters on foot—
come, let us rejoice in him.
7 He rules forever by his power,
his eyes watch the nations—
let not the rebellious rise up against him.
8 Praise our God, all peoples,
let the sound of his praise be heard;
9 he has preserved our lives
and kept our feet from slipping.
10 For you, God, tested us;
you refined us like silver.
11 You brought us into prison
and laid burdens on our backs.
12 You let people ride over our heads;
we went through fire and water,
but you brought us to a place of abundance.
13 I will come to your temple with burnt offerings
and fulfill my vows to you—
14 vows my lips promised and my mouth spoke
when I was in trouble.
15 I will sacrifice fat animals to you
and an offering of rams;
I will offer bulls and goats.
16 Come and hear, all you who fear God;
let me tell you what he has done for me.
17 I cried out to him with my mouth;
his praise was on my tongue.
18 If I had cherished sin in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened;
19 but God has surely listened
and has heard my prayer.
20 Praise be to God,
who has not rejected my prayer
or withheld his love from me!
Questions
- What does the psalmist want to make God’s praise?
- What acts of God are held in contrast?
- Explain why people might think this psalmis written after the people of God were exiled from Israel and Judah?
- In your own words define ‘glory’?
- How do you give glory to God?
Going Deeper
Read The Weight of Glory by C.S.Lewis. How does he deal with the idea that people attaining glory is not self-centered?
Plymothian 