Giving Glory to God in Human Leadership Recognition
Giving Glory to God in Human Leadership Recognition
The concept of giving glory to God is deeply rooted in biblical teachings and is closely tied to the recognition of human leadership. In the biblical context, "glory" refers to the honor, praise, and worship due to God for His greatness, goodness, and gracious acts [4]. The idea is that human leaders, when acknowledged and appreciated, should redirect the glory to God, who is the ultimate source of their authority, wisdom, and accomplishments.
The biblical basis for giving glory to God is found in various passages. For instance, in Deuteronomy 32:3, Moses declares, "For I will give honour to the name of the Lord: let our God be named great" [2]. Similarly, in Psalms 69:30, the psalmist says, "I praise the name of God with a song, And I magnify Him with thanksgiving" [3]. These verses illustrate the importance of attributing glory to God.
In the context of human leadership, the biblical account of Joshua 7:19 provides insight into giving glory to God. Here, Joshua urges Achan, "My son, give... glory to the Lord God" by confessing his sin. Adam Clarke interprets this as making a thorough confession in the presence of God, highlighting the significance of acknowledging God's omniscience and righteousness [6].
The Psalms also offer guidance on giving glory to God in the context of leadership. Matthew Henry, commenting on Psalms 29:1, notes that the mighty are called upon to pay homage to the great God, emphasizing that those in positions of power should acknowledge and glorify God [7]. John Gill, in his commentary on Psalms 96:8, similarly stresses the importance of giving God the glory due to His name, underscoring the duty of believers to ascribe glory to God for His nature, works, and blessings [5].
The heavenly host's worship in Revelation 7:12 provides a vivid example of giving glory to God. The angels ascribe "blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might" to God, demonstrating the multifaceted nature of the glory due to Him. Adam Clarke and John Gill both comment on this passage, highlighting the angels' cordial and grateful assent to the praises attributed to God and the Lamb [8, 9].
The biblical emphasis on giving glory to God in human leadership recognition serves as a reminder that true authority and accomplishment originate from God. As Romans 15:17 states, "I have therefore glory in Christ Jesus towards God" [1]. This underscores the Christian principle of redirecting human accolades to their divine source.
Sources
- Romans “Romans 15:17 (DRC) — I have therefore glory in Christ Jesus towards God.”
- Deuteronomy “Deuteronomy 32:3 (BBE) — For I will give honour to the name of the Lord: let our God be named great.”
- Psalms “Psalms 69:30 (YLT) — I praise the name of God with a song, And I magnify Him with thanksgiving,”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Glory — (Heb. kabhod; Gr. doxa). (1.) Abundance, wealth, treasure, and hence honour (Ps. 49:12); glory (Gen. 31:1; Matt. 4:8; Rev. 21:24, 26). (2.) Honour, dignity (1 Kings 3:13; Heb. 2:7 1 Pet. 1:24); of God (Ps. 19:1; 29:1); of the mind or heart (Gen. 49:6; Ps. 7:5; Acts 2:46). (3.) Splendour, brightness, majesty (Gen. 45:13; Isa. 4:5; Acts 22:11; 2 Cor. 3:7); of Jehovah (Isa. 59:19; 60:1; 2 Thess. 1:9). (4.) The glorious moral attributes, the infinite perfections of God (Isa. 40:5; Acts 7:2; Rom. 1:23; 9:23; Eph. 1:12). Jesus is the "brightness of the Father's glo”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 96:8: Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name,.... Or "the glory of his name" (q); whose name is glorious and excellent, because of his nature and perfections, because of the works done by him, and because of his benefits and blessings bestowed on his creatures; wherefore it is his due, and their duty, to give him glory; See Gill on Psa 29:2; see Gill on Psa 66:2, the word "Jehovah", or "Lord", being thrice mentioned in this and the preceding verse, in the ascription of glory, may lead our thoughts to the trinity of Persons, Jehovah, Father, Son, and Spirit, to whom ”
- Joshua (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Joshua 7:19: My son, give - glory to the Lord God - The person being now detected, Joshua wishes him to acknowledge the omniscience of God, and confess his crime. And doubtless this was designed, not only for the edification of the people, and a vindication of the righteous judgment of God, but in reference to his own salvation; for as his life was now become forfeited to the law, there was the utmost necessity of humiliation before God that his soul might be saved. Give glory to God signifies the same as, Make a thorough confession as in the presence of God, and disguise no par”
- Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 29:1: In this psalm we have, I. A demand of the homage of the great men of the earth to be paid to the great God. Every clap of thunder David interpreted as a call to himself and other princes to give glory to the great God. Observe, 1. Who they are that are called to this duty: "O you mighty (Psa 29:1), you sons of the mighty, who have power, and on whom that power is devolved by succession and inheritance, who have royal blood running in your veins!" It is much for the honour of the great God that the men of this world should pay their homage to him; and they are boun”
- Revelation (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Revelation 7:12: Saying, Amen,.... As approving and confirming what the great multitude of men had said in Rev 7:10; in ascribing the glory of salvation to God, and the Lamb: the angels, though they have no part in it themselves, yet highly approve of it as right and just, that men should give the glory of it where it is due. Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. Here a seven fold praise is given to God by the angels, as to the Lamb, in Rev 5:12, and in words much the same they rightly ascrib”
- Revelation (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Revelation 7:12: Saying, Amen - Giving their most cordial and grateful assent to the praises attributed to God and the Lamb. Blessing, and glory, etc. - There are here seven different species of praise attributed to God, as in Rev 5:12 (note).”