People glory in many different things in this world – some in their wealth, others in their power, prestige, or fame. Still others in success, their strength or abilities, the works of their hands, wisdom, intellect, or technology, or even their favorite sports team. It’s been that way down through the ages. Some today – particularly those in the media – even seem to glory in tragedy or another person’s plight or scandal.
But what should we glory in? Should we glory in anything?
Jer. 9:23-24 “In this manner says Yahweh, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this, that he has understanding, and knows Me, that I am Yahweh, who exercises lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, says Yahweh.”
Interestingly, the Hebrew word here that is translated as glory is halál and literally means “to shine (with Yahweh’s favor); to flash forth light; to praise, boast, or be boastful; to be praised, be made praiseworthy, be commended, be worthy of praise.”
This passage in Jeremiah highlights 3 primary things in which people tend to glory: wisdom, might, and riches. But it goes on to state that if we’re going to glory in anything, it ought to be in the fact that we know Yahweh and have a true spiritual understanding of Him. This isn’t a casual knowing about Him, but truly knowing Him for who He is. It’s knowing Him not only as our Creator, not just as ‘Adonai’ or ‘Elohim’, but as ‘Abba’ – Father.
Understanding the Spiritual Dimension
While wisdom, might, and riches are fleshly concerns, there is also a spiritual dimension that we ought to consider.
First, many believers reach a certain place in their walk where it becomes easy to begin to glory in their wisdom or intellectual understanding of the Word – they can quote chapter and verse at the drop of a hat and have a substantial depth of knowledge of spiritual things. It’s good to have these things. But we need to be careful never to lose sight of what’s most important – knowing Yahweh Himself. And we must remain humble, regardless of how far we think we’ve come in our walk. We don’t want to glory in our wisdom or “put it on display.”
Glory in the Calling and Election
Second, for those who recognize the spiritual authority they’ve been given – the fact that as believers they have been called to be mighty men in the earth, manifesting His Kingdom in a tangible way – there is a temptation to begin to exult in that power and might. Yahshua had to address this tendency in His followers. When He sent out the 70 disciples, He gave them authority to act in His Name and on His behalf, healing the sick, casting out demons, etc. (Luke 10:1-2, 8-9). When these disciples returned, they were glorying in this new-found power:
Luke 10:17-20 “The seventy returned with joy, saying, ‘Master, even the demons are subject to us in your Name.’ He said to them, ‘I saw Satan having fallen like lightning from heaven. Behold, I give you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will in any way hurt you. Nevertheless, don’t rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.’ ”
Notice, His exhortation to them was to rejoice, not in the power with which they had been endowed, but in the fact that their names were written in heaven; in other words, in their relationship with the Father. “But he who glories, let him glory in Yahweh.” (2 Corinthians 10:17)
The Gift-Giver, Not the Gift
Third, as we mature in our walk and begin to flow in our spiritual gifts, there is an inclination in some to begin to exult in these spiritual “riches” – whether teaching, in their ability to teach, or prophecy, in their ability to prophesy, or healing, in their ability to minister healing, or tongues, to be able to speak in tongues, or even serving, in their service. Certainly we must be diligent to walk in our gifts, and we ought to be joyful in those spiritual endowments. But we shouldn’t glory in them; rather, we ought to glory in the One who gave us these riches.
It all comes down to perspective: why should we glory in those things the Father has freely imparted to us? Instead let us glorify Him who gave us these things; if we’re going to glory, let’s glory in this – that we truly know Him. Knowing Yahweh is intrinsically related to Him exercising lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness in the earth (Jer. 9:24) – for it is through us that He exercises or demonstrates these things to the world! And that’s something worth glorying in!
“Glory in His holy Name; let the heart of those who seek Yahweh rejoice.” (Psalm 105:3)
For more on this subject, check out our sermon