Highlighting Leland Sklar.

Readership: Men
Theme: Glory
Length: 1,600 words
Reading Time: 9 minutes + 1 video

 “The chief end of man is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.”

Westminster Shorter Catechism

Introduction

One of the purposes for which God created human beings is for us to glorify Him (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Ephesians 3:21).  It is easy for us to have a rather superficial concept of glorifying God as sitting in church and singing hymns, praying and reading the bible, loving others in various ways, and being “moral” individuals in general (however that might be interpreted).  But in this month’s theme, I hope to inspire the reader with a fuller understanding of glory such that one’s previous understanding of what it means to glorify God will be regarded as a child’s trite reductionism.

What is Glory?

I am consternated that the Bible does not give a concise definition of glory and what it entails.  All we are given are acts and things which convey glory, and I assume there are others not mentioned.  So I’ll have to wing this one on faith.  Readers are welcome to add their own insights.

Subjectively, one of the key defining characteristics of glory is that it inspires awe, humility, joy, and reverence.  When we read passages that say, “[so and so] glorified God”, it is assumed that they were in a state of awe, humility, and reverence in response to God’s presence, power, or work in that person’s life, and/or that they expressed this through giving honor, praise, prophecy, and/or worship to the Lord.  (For reference, see 1st Chronicles 16:23-29 and Philippians 2:9-11.)

But glory is not necessarily always a stunning rock star performance on a stage in the sky.  It comes in varying gradations ranging down to common daily activities.  St. Paul described what the latter appears like in daily terms.

“So then, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

1st Corinthians 10:31 (ESV)

C. S. Lewis perhaps best put this into layman’s terms when he wrote,

“In commanding us to glorify Him, God is inviting us to enjoy Him.”

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Glory Appears in Various Forms

The bible mentions the following things as being glorious.  (This list and the references included may be incomplete.)

  1. The Lord  (Exodus 24:17; 33:18-20; 40:34-35; Leviticus 9:22-24; Deuteronomy 5:24; 1st Chronicles 16:23-29; Psalms 24:7-10; 29:1-3; 63:2; 76:4; 97:6; 102:15-16; 104:31; 145:5; Isaiah 6:3; 42:8; 58:8; 60:1; Matthew 5:16; 24:30; John 1:14; 11:40; 17:4-5; Romans 5:2; 2nd Corinthians 4:6; 1st Timothy 1:17; 1st Peter 1; 4:13-14; 2nd Peter 1:3-4; Hebrews 1:3; Revelation 5:11-13; 21:23)
  2. The power of the Lord  (Exodus 15:6; 1st Chronicles 16:23-29)
  3. The holiness of the Lord  (1st Chronicles 16:23-29)
  4. The Name of the Lord  (Deuteronomy 28:58; 1st Chronicles 16:23-29; Nehemiah 9:5; Psalms 66:2; 72:19; 86:12; 115:1; Philippians 2:9-11)
  5. The work of the Lord  (Exodus 15:11)
  6. Children’s fathers (Proverbs 17:6)
  7. Kings  (2nd Samuel 6:20*; Proverbs 25:2; Revelation 21:24)
  8. Kingdoms  (Esther 1:4)
  9. Nations  (Revelation 21:26)
  10. The King’s daughter  (Psalms 45:13)
  11. The gray / silver hair of the righteous (Proverbs 16:31; 20:29)
  12. Faith  (1st Peter 1)
  13. Godliness, Righteousness  (Philippians 1:9-11; 2nd Peter 1:3-4)
  14. Good works  (Matthew 5:16; Hebrews 13:20-21)
  15. Man’s praise to the Lord  (Psalms 66:2; 87:3; Philippians 2:9-11)
  16. Nakedness  (2nd Samuel 6:20*)
  17. Sin and shame (Philippians 3:18-19)
  18. Sufferings  (1st Peter 4:13-14)
  19. That which is concealed  (Proverbs 25:2)
  20. The Earth  (Psalms 72:19; Isaiah 6:3; Habakkuk 2:14)
  21. The heavens  (Psalm 19:1)
  22. Man is the glory of God (through election)  (Psalm 8:4-6; Isaiah 43:7; Romans 8:18; 1st Corinthians 6:20; 11:7; 2nd Corinthians 3:18; Colossians 1:27; 2nd Peter 1:3-4)
  23. The glory of young men is their strength (Proverbs 20:29)
  24. Woman is the glory of Man.  (1st Corinthians 11:7)
  25. A woman’s hair is her glory.  (1st Corinthians 11:15)

One remarkable observation is that the Lord is both glorious and He receives glory (e.g. Jude 1:24-25).  Selah!  It is thus concluded that glory is a metaphysical state of being, and not a characteristic or a medium.

The Glory of Heaven, Earth, and Creation

If we may focus on the glories of the heavens and earth, there are many things that are glorious by nature, including the following.

  1. Beauty (e.g. proportion and symmetry)
  2. Light (especially a full spectrum such as natural sunlight)
  3. Certain weather conditions
  4. The Natural World; the Earth
  5. The vast Universe
img-1783682023-6a50d3e723cb46.35448234.jpgImage Source: Reader’s Digest: 14 of the Most Baffling Mysteries About the Universe (2023/2/13)

The Glory of Mankind

There are a few ways that human beings can glorify God, listed here in order from most obvious to least.

  1. Masculinity, i.e. strength (Proverbs 20:29)
  2. Expert virtuosity in skill.
  3. Boldly displaying one’s own true character and charisma.
  4. Worship (e.g. joyful singing, meditation, prayer)
  5. Faith Community
  6. Innocent suffering (most easily observed in women and children).
  7. Being vigilantly discerning and applying wisdom (e.g. enforcing boundaries).
  8. Conforming to masculine Headship, especially in marriage.
  9. Living a life of holiness and righteousness in obedience to God’s order.

In general, the most obvious is also the easiest and appears among a larger number of people.  The more difficult and less observable ways to glorify God require faith and spiritual maturity.

These vectors are especially glorious when demonstrated in the face of challenges and risks.  When combined with a righteous purpose, we often refer to this as heroism.  Many of the most inspiring plots in books and movies are based on these vectors and are conveyed in a way in which glory is revealed in the face of an intimidating obstacle.

Case Study – Leland Sklar

As an example of expert virtuosity in skill (which is easily observed), I present the following video interview with Leland Sklar, bass player extraordinaire.  At the 4:40 mark, he is showcased playing bass with Phil Collins of Genesis (playing piano in the background).  [Full video of excerpt.]  [Skip to excerpt of Leland.]

I include Leland Sklar as an example, partly because of his mystical intuition about instruments and music, partly because of his impressive virtuosity, and partly because of his stellar career accomplishments, but mostly because he never let it go to his head.  His bald head and long grey/white hair and beard is the kicker. (See Proverbs 20:29.) IMO, his humility is the primary reason why he has been able to go the great lengths that he has in his career, while others of equal or even greater skill have come and gone.

He says in the interview above and in others that he has no personal style in playing.  He sees each song as a unique expression and brings to the song whatever it needs.  He also refers to each person he’s worked with by name.  That is an attitude of true humility.

I don’t know if Leland Sklar is a man of faith by traditional definitions, but he sure shows it in his life purpose.  That’s what makes him the coolest bassist ever!

Receiving Honor and Glory Tempts us to Abandon our own Humility and Faith

This seems intuitive, but let’s examine this in further detail.

In the bible, honor and glory are often described as being either synonymous or appearing together.  Many passages use these words interchangeably in translation.  The problem here is that we may miss the grace of God if we focus on the honor part and neglect the glory part.  In doing so, we fail to maintain humility, lose touch, and thereby dis-integrate ourselves from living in the moment.  In common parlance, we let our ego feed off the attention and popularity and let it go to our heads. In a less than honorable instance, we become self-conscious and lose confidence (AKA choking).

The scriptures allude to this distinction in Psalms 115:1 and John 12:37-43, and St. John makes reference to this phenomenon in writing,

How can you believe, when you accept glory* from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God?

John 5:44 (NASB)

“How can you believe… ???”  Wowzers!

One cannot believe (have faith) if one loses humility and fails to recognize the Lord!  Humility is key!

Case Study – King Herod

Acts 12:20-23 states that King Herod was struck by the Lord, was eaten by worms, and died because the people of Tyre and Sidon acclaimed him as a god, but he did not give the glory to the Lord.

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Conclusions

2nd Corinthians 4:3-6 states that those who submit to the gods of this world (e.g. those who subscribe to all the –isms) are unable to recognize the Glory of the Lord.

We may pray that we are not counted among them in this evil age, but that we may recognize glory, however it may be manifested, and give honor, praise, and thanks to the Lord.

Furthermore, eschewing Communism, Equalism, Feminism, p0rn, and the various worldly life scripts, etc. remains insufficient for one to glorify the Lord.  Staying “plugged in” to the NOW and refusing to let self-consciousness sink in (whether of conceit, popularity, pride, or shame) is a mark of steadfast faith and spiritual maturity.  It’s also necessary in maintaining Frame. See all the ways in the lists above in which a man can glorify the Lord!

* In lieu of “glory”, the King James uses “honor”, and some other translations use the word “praise”.

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