Yesterday morning, during the early part of my daily prayer, I found myself pushed a little farther in understanding our Heavenly Father. While I had this gifted to me without any questioning on my part, it might be better explained in this way: when one begins to comprehend that Father is the archetype of both a meek being and a glorified being, one’s definition and understanding of these terms may result in conflict.
For me, meekness is defined by example: Yeshua, a powerful God who created the earth and all things therein, hung on a cross in order to fulfill the will of the Father while He prayed, “Father, forgive them….” Meekness is not defined by weakness, timidity, or even humility, alone. In point of fact, true meekness represents, as shown in the this example, a combination of power, control, determination, humility, charity, and more.
With that basis, how does an individual become the epitome of both meekness and glory? Why would a truly meek person even even allow themselves to be glorified, praised, and honored?
From: https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/glory
glory (plural glories)
(1) Great beauty or splendour, that is so overwhelming it is considered powerful.
(2) Honour, admiration, or distinction, accorded by common consent to a person or thing; high reputation; renown.
(3) That quality in a person or thing which secures general praise or honour.
These definitions become pretty conflated, especially in everyday usage.
Let me draw another picture. Heavenly Father, that quintessentially meek being, is in the midst of a large group of exalted beings glorifying their God.
For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. (Moses 1:39)
Glory of God = exalted beings = glorified beings. Glorified beings glorifying God. The meek glorifying The Meek. Perhaps we can say it this way, they glorify Him because He first glorified them. They are His glory.
I think I better understand:
…I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. 3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. (Isaiah 6:1–3)
and
…the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. (Revelation 4:8)
So, what does meekness and glory look like?
Compare:
…Satan… [said] Behold, here am I, send me, I will be thy son, and I will redeem all mankind, that one soul shall not be lost, and surely I will do it; wherefore give me thine honor [i.e., glory]. (Moses 4:1)
and
Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. (Matthew 4:8–9)
with
…my Beloved Son, which was my Beloved and Chosen from the beginning, said unto me—Father, thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever. (Moses 4:2)
and
…For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. (Matthew 6:13)
and
…he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels. (Luke 9:26)
and
He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him. (John 7:18)
Now, if I might come to better understand this (note the bidirectionality):
I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. (John 17:4–5)
He glorified the Father by submitting to the will of the Father?
He glorified the Father by declaring and praising His name?
He glorified the Father by drawing all men to Him (pick: himself, his Father)?
He glorified the Father by providing a path for those who would be exalted back to the Father?
More?
All of the above?
What glory did Christ have before the world was?
Did we have glory before the world was?
Is that the same kind (?) of glory spoken above of the Father?
Is it the same glory Christ will have when He returns?
And what did He mean when He prayed:
And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. (John 17:22–24)
So, while I understand a little bit more, again, my knowledge grows linearly while by ignorance grows exponentially.