The Glory of the Lord

Nothing could be heard but the occasional bleat of a lamb or the gentle rustle of leaves blowing in the night breeze. Several shepherds dozed around the fire as the rest kept watch over the flocks. Darkness surrounded the small group like a protective cloak. It was nothing more than an ordinary night, quiet, sleepy, and calm.

Suddenly an angel stood before them. A startling enough occurrence for those sleepy shepherds huddled around the fire! But then the entire hillside lit up as if it were daytime, terrifying the shepherds. There was more to come. After the angel’s announcement of Christ’s birth, now the skies lit up with a multitude of heavenly beings singing a glorious chorus for a jaw-dropping climax. The shepherds knew without a doubt they were witnessing a once-for-all-time event. So as darkness and sudden quiet again descended upon them, they picked up their staffs and headed to Bethlehem to worship the newborn King.

Why the bright light that sacred night? What statement was God making by shining His glory around those startled shepherds?

The shepherds would have known that God often demonstrated His glory with light in the Old Testament. In Exodus, God showed His glory as a cloud of light (Ex 16:10). When Israel camped at the base of Mt. Sinai, God indicated the glory of His presence on the mountain again with light (Ex 24:16). At the end of Exodus, when the Tabernacle was completed, the light of God’s glory filled the Tabernacle. His presence, displayed as a pillar of light, remained with the people to guide them in their journey to the Promised Land.

But the light of God’s glory did not remain with His people forever. Over the next several hundred years, the people rebelled and turned to worship idols. God eventually sent judgment in the form of the Babylonian army. The prophet Ezekiel, one of the 10,000 captives taken to Babylon, was given a vision while in captivity: the glory of the Lord departing the Temple (Ezekiel 10:18-19, 11:22-23). In the hundreds of years following Ezekiel’s vision, the glory of God no longer resided in the land-and Israel walked in spiritual darkness.

Now, four hundred years later, the promised Savior was born. And how did God reveal the Messiah’s coming? He shone the light of His glory to announce His presence once again on earth. Emmanuel, God with us.

Just as Isaiah had prophesied:
“The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
a light has dawned.” (Is 9:2)

Now, these two thousand years later, God’s presence remains with us. No longer must we walk in darkness. The Light of the World now shines in the hearts of those who believe in Him. As Jesus promised His disciples: “I will never leave you or forsake you.” He sent the Holy Spirit to reside in us as a seal guaranteeing our promised inheritance and eternity with Him. It may no longer light up the sky, but the glory of the Lord continues to dwell among men.