Exodus 33:18-23 - Homilies By J. Orr

Shew me thy glory.

On this incident, remark—

I. THE GOOD MAN THIRSTS FOR EVER FULLER MANIFESTATIONS OF THE DIVINE GLORY . The more he knows of God, the more he would know. The nearer he gets, he presses nearer still. He "longs" to see God's power and glory" ( Psalms 63:2 ). He prays to see as much of it as may be possible to him on earth. He will only be satisfied when admitted to the full vision of it in heaven ( Psalms 16:11 ; Psalms 17:15 ; 1 John 3:2 ).

II. GOD 'S GLORY IS TWOFOLD — ESSENTIAL AND ETHICAL .

1 . God's essential glory. This is the glory which pertains to his existence . It is compared in Scripture to the white dazzling light—"light which no man can approach unto" ( 1 Timothy 6:16 ).

2 . God's ethical glory. This is the glory of his character . It was revealed when God proclaimed his "name" to Moses ( Exodus 33:19 ; Exodus 34:5-8 ).

III. MAN , IN HIS PRESENT STATE OF EXISTENCE , CAN RECEIVE THE VISION OF GOD 'S ESSENTIAL GLORY ONLY UNDER GREAT LIMITATIONS . The full discovery of it would slay him ( Exodus 33:20 ). Moses beheld it but partially , hid in a clift of the rock—saw but its reflection ( Exodus 33:21-23 ). Even thus to perceive it implied an exaltation of the consciousness—an opening of the spiritual eyes—not vouchsafed to ordinary men. A mediate revelation is at present all that is possible to us. We have this in the reflection of the Creator's glory in creation ( Psalms 19:1 , Psalms 19:2 ).

IV. GOD 'S ETHICAL GLORY ADMITS OF BEING REVEALED WITH MUCH GREATER FULNESS .

1 . No barrier, either to the revelation or the perception of it, exists in physical conditions. It is glory of character . It is discerned by the same faculties by which we discern spiritual beauty and goodness in the characters of our fellow-men.

2 . God has revealed it. We are not straitened in him. He has kept nothing back. He has made his goodness pass before us. He has revealed his name. The Divine Son is a perfect embodiment of the moral glory of the Father ( John 1:14 ).

3 . The sole barrier to the perception of it is the limitation of moral capacity in ourselves. It is in ourselves we are straitened. We lack the purity of heart necessary to give right spiritual discernment. Our perception of the glory of truth, righteousness, holiness, love, and mercy in God, will be in precise proportion to the degree in which these qualities are formed in our own natures.— J . O .