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"To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen." (Jude 1.25). A benediction is man asking of God the blessings he thinks he needs; a doxology is man’s attempt to ascribe to God the blessings and honor He deserves. This, the final verse of Jude’s doxology, lifts God to His rightful place and mentions four great avenues or themes of blessings: 1) Glory, 2) Majesty, 3) Dominion, and 4) Power. These, Jude says, are to be recognized "Both how and forever." This ten-part miniseries will look at these four themes and at the fact that they are ascribed to God for time and eternity.

A couple of words of introduction are needed. First, we consider briefly the word doxology itself. The first half of the word is taken directly from the Greek word for Glory (Doxa) and the latter half is from the Greek word for Word (Logos). Literally then, Doxology means a Word of Glory. Secondly, the items identified within Jude’s doxology are not items which we give to God; they are things that belong to God whether we recognize it or not. God lives in and possesses this blessedness and it may not be taken away by the human spirit or by all the combined powers of the universe or of all universes, fleshly or spiritual. Jude’s Doxology is Jude’s recognition of that which God possesses and deserves.

To God be Glory! God lives in and possesses Glory. What do we humans know of glory? Might this writer suggest that what we perceive as glory is not worthy to compare with the true glory that exists in God’s presence. The glory which we know is limited to the physical universe in which we live, a universe in which every part and every particle has been negatively affected by sin. We sing of "purple mountain’s majesty" perhaps unaware that this earth itself retains the terrible scars of the flood which ravaged the entire planet as a result of sin. What do we know of glory? We may see beauty, but it is only for the moment. All the beauty which we see fades away; nothing is permanent here. Even when we go to great and expensive lengths to preserve beauty, it fades away. What we know of glory is tainted by sin and affected by time.

The Glory which God possesses and in which God lives is free from these influences. Sin does not and cannot abide in His presence and time has no effect upon God. The glory which He knows is of a different class than the glory which we can know. Perhaps that is why in the biblical record when man is depicted as coming into God’s presence, fearsome and awesome events occurred. When Moses came into God’s presence and then returned to the people of Israel, he had to put a veil over his faces for them to look upon him (see Exodus 34.33-35). When Isaiah saw a vision of God on His throne, he was compelled to cry out, "Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The LORD of hosts." (Isaiah 6.5).

The Glory of God is not a glory to be compared with the glory of man. Don’t make the mistake of creating God in your image but see yourself as a creature made in His image! (Continued)

Questions:

1. What is the difference in a benediction and a doxology?

2. What is the origin and meaning of the word doxology?

3. Why can man not understand the glory which belongs to God?

4. Why did Isaiah see himself as unworthy of appearing before the throne of God?

Focus Text: Jude 1.25

"Voice of Inspiration" from Andy Castro

A Lot Of Salt