Matthew 17: Glory and the Grind (7)
Pray Psalm 8.1, 2.
O LORD, our Lord,
How excellent is Your name in all the earth,
Who have set Your glory above the heavens!
Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants
You have ordained strength,
Because of Your enemies,
That You may silence the enemy and the avenger.
Sing Psalm 8.1, 2.
Aurelia: The Church’s One Foundation
O LORD, our Lord, how great is Your Name in all the earth!
The heav’ns display Your glory, and tell Your wondrous worth!
From babes and nursing infants, LORD, let Your strength increase,
’til all Your foes surrender, and all their boasting cease.
Read and meditate on Matthew 17.1-27.
What does it mean to glorify the Lord? How did Jesus glorify the Father?
Prepare.
1. How many different ways is the glory of Jesus revealed in this chapter?
2. How do we see His sovereignty?
Meditate.
Matthew 17 gives us a glimpse of the glory that is to come, and reminds us that God can bring glory into all the activities of our daily grind. We should be looking forward to the one, and living to realize the other as much as possible—living the then and there, as it were, in the now and here.
The transfiguration of Jesus on the mountaintop gave the disciples—and us—a look ahead to where we are bound. We are headed for glory, to be united in glory forever with Jesus and all the saints. The promise of this should thrill our hearts and lift us in all our daily activities to realize a measure of that glory in all we do (1 Cor. 10.31).
There are still illnesses to suffer, spiritual forces of wickedness to repel, growth in faith to achieve, and, yes, taxes to pay. But even in these, Jesus wants us to know, we can realize His promise of glory—of union with Him and the Father, in the Spirit, according to His Word. By setting our mind on the things of glory that exist beyond the veil of this world in the unseen realm where Jesus sits enthroned, and especially the glory that is in His beautiful and loving face (2 Cor. 4.6), we can be transformed, from glory to glory (2 Cor. 3.12-18) into the likeness of Jesus now and here. As we increase in Jesus, even the daily grind can radiate with the glory and majesty of the Lord. Our calling is to take up our cross, deny ourselves, and give ourselves to our work with a view to glorifying Jesus in all things.
In every trial, work, undertaking, challenge, or difficulty, there’s a fish with a coin in its mouth, waiting for us to bait the hook, cast the line, wait on the Lord, and reap the glory.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
All around us we can see the glory of God.
“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows His handiwork” (Ps. 19.1).
And all around us the glory of God is pervasive in things we cannot see.
David experienced this in a battle strategy God had planned for him.
David had already gone “up against the Philistines” in a regulation face-to-face battle.
So, he inquired of God if this very same plan should be employed again.
But God said, “No.” He had a different way, a more ethereal way, the next battle should be staged.
“You shall not go up; circle around behind them, and come upon them in front of the mulberry trees.
And it shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees,
then you shall advance quickly. For then the LORD will go out before you
to strike the camp of the Philistines” (see 2 Sam. 5.17-25 for the whole story).
Unseen angels were waging war as they tramped through the tops of the mulberry trees.
“For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways” (Ps. 91.11).
Present, albeit mostly unseen. However, “Do not forget to entertain strangers,
for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels” (Heb. 13.2).
The fullness of God’s glory, although Moses requested to see it— “Please, show me Your glory” (Ex. 33.18)—is something no one can actually see, here and now, and live. As God explained, “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live” (Ex. 33.20).
But God graciously made allowance for Moses’ desire: “Here is a place by Me, and you shall stand on the rock. So it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by. Then I will take away My hand, and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen” (Ex. 33.21-23).
Peter, James, and John were given the privilege of seeing—
as much of the glory of God as a human mind could take in—
during Jesus’ transfiguration (Matt. 17.2-8).
“His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.”
God has entrusted us with His Word—the Scriptures—wherein we can read of, and see, His glory daily.
And live to tell about it. It is a gracious act of mercy. We see Jesus.
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory,
the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (Jn. 1.14).
But we must listen for His glory in the tops of the mulberry trees, thank Him for His attending and gloriously strong angels, read of His glory in His Word, meditate on His glory in prayer, and live for His glory within His Kingdom now and here. Through faith, elevating our minds to new heights, believing that He is all glory.
God’s back and Jesus’ transfigured face—it is enough—for now. More is yet to come.
“For Yours is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen” (Matt. 6.13).
Reflect.
1. In what ways have you seen the glory of God during your walk with Him?
2. How would you explain to a new believer what it means to live for God’s glory?
3. How should you prepare each day to glorify God in all you do?
We must pass through varied experiences in our way to glory; and when we return to the world after an ordinance, it must be our care to take Christ with us, and then it may be our comfort that He is with us. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Matthew 17.1-13
Pray Psalm 8.3-9.
Pray that Jesus will glorify Himself in you today, as you take up whatever the daily grind has in store. Rejoice in His excellence, and praise Him for every good thing.
Sing Psalm 8.3-9.
Aurelia: The Church’s One Foundation
When I regard Your heavens, the work of Your own hand,
the moon and stars which all in their courses You command,
then what am I, O Savior, that You take thought of me,
or I should know Your favor and thus delivered be?
Yet we in Your own image with glory have been crowned,
to worship and to serve You throughout creation ’round.
These works that sing Your glory in our poor hands are placed,
that we may rule before You to magnify Your grace.
Let every beast and creature, in sky or sea or field,
in our hands bring You glory as we Your favor wield.
Let all things sing Your praises, let all declare Your worth!
O LORD, our Lord, how great is Your Name in all the earth!
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment to give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Other columns of interest: This week: Our Read Moore podcast continues our readings from the book, The Joy and Rejoicing of My Heart. Our Crosfigell teaching letter is pursuing a series on the spiritual poetry of the Celtic Revival. The ReVision column is working through a study of the role of reason in the life of faith. Click here to see all the other columns and writers available to you.
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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
