“The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir tree, the pine tree, and the box together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious.” (Isaiah 60:13)
The temples in Jerusalem showcased Yahweh’s glory. However, those glorious temples were swept away because the Israelites abandoned their God. The Lord Jesus may have been looking directly at the last temple when He told His disciples, “Verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down” (Matthew 24:2). His prophecy was exactly fulfilled when that temple was destroyed in AD 70. Visitors can still see the huge stones jumbled below the Temple Mount.
What qualities make an object “glorious”? Brightness and height help. In contrast, darkness and depth accompany the absence of the Lord. “And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 25:30).
The temple’s height of over 50 feet added to its glory, as did its elevation on a mount built atop a hill. One definition of glory is “celebrity” or “renown.” The exalted (high) and glorious (bright gold) temple declared the Lord’s renown. Imagine the greatness that a 1,500-mile-tall city of “pure gold, like unto clear glass” will portray (Revelation 21:18)!
Not just high and shiny qualities count. Here in Isaiah, the Lord specified woods that will “beautify” the sanctuary upon which He will stand. Until then, “God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6). When we know Him, He shines through us. BDT
Days of Praise Podcast is a podcast based on the Institute for Creation Research quarterly print devotional, Days of Praise. Start your day with devotional readings written by Dr. Henry Morris, Dr. Henry Morris III, Dr. John Morris, and others to strengthen and encourage you in your Christian faith.
