This post includes notes from a recent devotional I shared in ministry context. In the review of Kelsey’s book posted below “Glory” is mentioned–as an abstract theological attribute the pure understanding of it can be a challenge. Posting this here may be of assistance. Morgan and Peterson’s book The Glory of God supports much of what you read here.
Glory: the visible, radiant, royal presence of the holy God himself, soon to be unveiled to the whole world as He returns to redeem and dwell with His people.
Isaiah 40:5 (CSB)
5And the glory of the Lord will appear, and all humanity together will see it, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.
(Hebrew: וְנִגְלָה כְּבוֹד יְהוָה וְרָאוּ כָל־בָּשָׂר יַחְדָּו)
The key Hebrew word here is כָּבוֹד (kābôd), traditionally rendered “glory.”
What “kābôd / glory” actually means in the Hebrew Bible
The root idea of kābôd is weight, heaviness, substance, importance. From there it develops two main clusters of meaning:
- Human/social sense: honor, reputation, wealth, status (the “weight” a person carries in society). Example: Genesis 45:13 – Joseph tells his brothers to report to Jacob “all my kābôd in Egypt” (my splendor, my high position).
- Theological/divine sense: the visible, radiant, majestic self-manifestation of God’s presence and being. This is the meaning almost always intended when “the glory of the LORD” (כְּבוֹד יְהוָה) appears.
How “glory” appears in Israel’s earlier traditions
- The wilderness period: the glory-cloud (the visible pillar of cloud/fire) that filled the tabernacle (Exodus 40:34–35).
- Solomon’s temple: the same glory-cloud filled the temple at its dedication (1 Kings 8:10–11).
- Ezekiel: the glory departs from the polluted temple (Ezek 10–11) and later returns to a future temple (Ezek 43:1–5).
So by Isaiah’s time, “the glory of the LORD” is a technical term for the blazing, terrifying, glorious presence of God himself becoming visible on earth.
Isaiah 40:5 in its immediate context
Isaiah 40 is the great pivot from judgment (chs. 1–39) to comfort and restoration (chs. 40–66). Verse 5 promises that:
- The exile is ending.
- God himself is coming back to His people (v. 3–4 prepare the way; v. 9–10 behold your God comes!).
- When He comes, His kābôd—His own radiant presence—will no longer be hidden in heaven or confined to the temple; it will be unveiled openly so that “all flesh” (all humanity, not just Israel) will see it.
New Testament fulfillment
Early Christians saw this verse as directly fulfilled in the coming of Jesus:
- Luke 2:9, 3:4–6 – quotes Isaiah 40 at Jesus’ birth and John the Baptist’s ministry.
- Revelation 21:23 – the New Jerusalem needs no sun or moon, “for the glory of God gives it light.”
- John 1:14 –[read below]
John 1:14 (CSB)
14The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
So in Isaiah 40:5, “the glory of the LORD” is then articulated by John 1:14 as the “observance of glory”…it is God’s own majestic, visible presence breaking into the world in an unprecedented, universal way to save and rule His people—and ultimately, in Christian understanding, this happens by the incarnation of Jesus Christ—or in other words the birth of Jesus
Short answer: “Glory” in John 1:14 is the visible, radiant, royal presence of the holy God himself, unveiled to the whole world as He is born in the form of a baby to redeem and dwell with His people.
1. God Is Intrinsically Glorious and Delightfully Reveals Himself
This emphasizes that God possesses glory inherently (intrinsic glory) and joyfully manifests it through creation, His image-bearers, providence, and redemptive actions.
Devotional focus:
In everyday life—nature’s beauty, acts of kindness, answered prayers—we are invited to see God’s glory on display. Cultivating regular moments of awe and gratitude for these revelations draws us into deeper worship.
2. Our Response: Glorify God in Spirit and Truth
Allow meaningful time to ascribe glory to God through meditating on Him, his righteousness, and His power that helps you recover.
Devotional focus:
Make intentional choices—whether in prayers, worship, work, or service—to honor God, acknowledging His worth and reflecting His character in all areas of life.
3. Shared and Eternal Glory Through Christ
A powerful truth in Morgan’s theology is that through union with Christ, believers share in God’s glory.
“…through uniting them to Christ, he shares his glory with them (glory shared)—all to his glory…”
Devotional focus:
Reflect on your identity in Christ. Recognize that forgiveness, transformation, and hope aren’t just blessings—they are evidence of God’s glory at work in you. Rest in the assurance of a shared, ongoing glory with Him.
Pray.