Author's Note: Readers can find all previous volumes of this series here. The first 56 volumes are compiled into the book "Bible Study For Those Who Don't Read The Bible." Part Two, featuring volumes 57-113, will be published later this year.
A special welcome to Townhall readers who “stumble upon this quick, compelling Bible study series.” That is a quote from a reader’s email I received this week. He “thanked Townhall for publishing this study” and wrote, “Blessing to you in your endeavors to make the message of the Bible more clear to readers.”
I share his message because this two-part study (Old Testament now and next week the New) is about glorifying God. And the reason I write this study: To make His Word less intimidating when readers “stumble upon it” while seeking secular news on Townhall.
Everyone who is trying to glorify God knows it is an active, continuous process, and I believe that is why humans live and breathe. God created us to glorify His kingdom on earth – a monumental task and difficult to fully embrace. Therefore, the onus is on us to take our God-given gifts and talents, run them through our “processors,” and produce an honest, ethical, legal, biblical way to give them back for His glory.
Speaking through the prophet Isaiah, God says:
“Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth— everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made” (Isaiah 43:6-7). Thus, people who firmly believe that God has formed and created you for His glory bear a burden of fulfillment.
Poetically and magnificently, David wrote about the universal glory of the Lord that weighs heavy on the hearts and minds of believers:
“Ascribe to the Lord, you heavenly beings, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness” (Psalm 29:1-2).
Psalm 29, with its 11 verses, is neatly summarized in verse 10:
“The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord is enthroned as King forever” (Psalm 29:10).
“The flood” likely refers to the Noah’s Ark event in Genesis. Moreover, it could symbolize that God presides “over” natural disasters, allowing them to happen for purposes known only to Him. If His glory and strength are “enthroned” forever, He can destroy what He has created.
Glorifying God also extends to the totality of His creation:
“For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea” (Habakkuk 2:14).
And this famous Psalm makes a heavenly declaration:
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun” (Psalm 19:1-4).
Attention All Readers: We interrupt this Bible study for a NASA news flash reporting from 6,500 light-years away:
“NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has captured a lush, highly detailed landscape – the iconic Pillars of Creation – where new stars are forming within dense clouds of gas and dust.” Click here for a jaw-dropping photo or quick video. (NASA gives new meaning to “A Star is Born.”)
Just imagine if David had seen the Pillars of Creation. How would his Psalms have reflected and further glorified “the work of his hands”? Amazingly, the opening verses of Psalm 91 read like David had witnessed these images 6,500 light years away. Then I wondered if NASA scientists believe they see “The heavens declare the glory of God” when regularly reviewing the miraculous Webb Telescope scenes. Indeed, the inspiring Pillars of Creation add new meaning to Isaiah’s verse:
“Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing” (Isaiah 40:26).
And remember the hand that created “The Pillars of Creation” also created you:
“Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty— he is the King of glory” (Psalm 24:10).
How do we exalt “this King of glory?” We obey his commandments. We read His Word. We put our trust in Him during our darkest hours. We pray, praise, and sing to Him. We acknowledge his glory as the Lord Almighty. In the following Psalm, I love the way David expressed his great faith:
“There is no one like You among the gods, O Lord, Nor are there any works like Yours. All nations whom You have made shall come and worship before You, O Lord, And they shall glorify Your name. For You are great and do wondrous deeds; You alone are God” (Psalm 86:8-10).
Today we have learned from the Hebrew Bible that Almighty God is our Creator, and we are to glorify Him with our lives. Join us next week for the New Testament study that further glorifies God through:
“Christ in you the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). And:
“In order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen” (1 Peter 4:11).
To all of the above, I add another rousing “Amen.”
Myra Kahn Adams is a conservative political and religious writer with numerous national credits. Her book, "Bible Study For Those Who Don't Read The Bible,” reprints the first 56 volumes of this popular study. Myra is also Executive Director of SignFromGod.org, a ministry dedicated to education about the Shroud of Turin. Contact: MyraAdams01@gmail.com or Twitter @MyraKAdams.