Isaiah 43:7 - Homiletics

Man made for the glory of God.

The great end of all creation is God's glory. Not that this is to be understood in such sort as that God was moved to create by the desire of getting glory thereby, for nothing could enlarge or enhance that glory which he had from all eternity, before even the angels were brought into being. The motive of God's external working, if we may use the expression, was his goriness, or benevolence, which caused him to seek to communicate his own blessedness and happiness to others. But the law of his working was the exhibition of his glory. He so created all things that they should set this forth. From the lowest atom of dead inert matter, possessed of no qualities but substance and extension, to the highest crewed intelligence, endued with almost Divine attributes, every thing, as it issued from his hand, was so made as to show forth and proclaim his glorious and unapproachable majesty, power, and greatness. Hence the outburst of the psalmist, "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork. One day telleth another, and one night certifieth another" ( Psalms 19:1 , Psalms 19:2 ). Hence the call upon all things to "Praise the Lord, since his Name only is excellent, and his glory above heaven and earth" ( Psalms 148:13 ). Hence the cry of the four and twenty elders in the heavenly place, "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created' ( Revelation 4:11 ). God's glory rosy he set forth

as it is by the things that are devoid of intelligence," sun, and moon, and stars of light, heavens, and waters above the heavens, earth, sea, fire, hail, snow and vapours, stormy wind, mountains, hills, fruitful trees, cedars, beasts, and all cattle, creeping things, and flying fowl" ( Psalms 148:3-10 ); consciously, as by the host of heaven, the angels of all grades ( Psalms 148:2 ), and also by the children of men—"young men and maidens, old men and children, kings of the earth and all people, princes and all judges of the earth "( Psalms 148:10 , Psalms 148:12 ). For the better setting forth of his glory, God "created man in his own image" ( Genesis 1:27 )—"created him, formed him, perfected him" ( Isaiah 43:7 ). Then, when he had marred the image in which he was made, God redeemed him. Thus he is still able to set forth God's glory, and to do so is the end of his being. "Whether ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do," says the apostle, "do all to the glory of God" ( 1 Corinthians 10:31 ); and again, "Ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's" ( 1 Corinthians 6:20 ).