The Glory of God

In this opening message of a series on the triune God, Chuck Swindoll explores the weight and majesty of God’s glory, warning against the human tendency to steal the credit that belongs to Him alone. The sermon begins with a personal memory of hearing Handel’s Messiah as a teenager, which prompted Swindoll to ask the question, "What is glory?" He defines the Hebrew concept of glory (kavod) as "heavy"—signifying God's weighty significance, authority, and splendor. Swindoll anchors the message in the biography of King Uzziah found in 2 Chronicles 26. Uzziah began his reign at age 16 and experienced 52 years of immense success, military victory, and agricultural innovation because "as long as he sought the Lord, God prospered him" [4–5, 42–43]. However, Swindoll identifies a tragic pivot point in the text: Uzziah was marvelously helped "until he was strong." His success eventually curdled into pride, leading him to enter the temple to burn incense—a holy task reserved strictly for the priests. The sermon describes the dramatic confrontation between the King and the courageous priest Azariah, who, along with 80 other priests, ordered Uzziah to leave the sanctuary. When Uzziah reacted with rage rather than repentance, God instantly struck him with leprosy on his forehead. Swindoll uses this ancient tragedy to issue a solemn warning to modern ministries and leaders: when we touch God's glory, we invite His judgment. He concludes with five specific warnings for successful leaders to ensure they remain humble and focused on the Lord.

Message Key Facts:

• Definition of Glory: Swindoll explains that the Hebrew word for glory is kavod, which literally means "heavy." It implies that God is heavy in authority, sovereignty, power, and significance.
• The Moon vs. The Sun: Swindoll uses an analogy from Isaiah 42: God is like the sun, generating light; believers are like the moon, having no light of their own but simply reflecting His glory to the nations.
• "Until He Was Strong": Swindoll marks this phrase in 2 Chronicles 26:15 as the turning point of Uzziah’s life. He notes that many people can handle affliction, but few can handle promotion and power without becoming proud.
• The Shadow Side of Calling: Quoting Os Guinness, Swindoll warns that the realization of being "chosen, gifted, and special" can quickly morph into the "horror of conceit" if one listens to the devil’s echo rather than God’s voice.
• The Danger of the Camera: Citing the downfall of PTL Club leaders, Swindoll argues that fame and media exposure can turn a "good man into a potentate." He explains that this danger is partly why he avoids televising worship services, to prevent the temptation of performing for an audience rather than worshipping God.
• Temple Rage: Swindoll describes Uzziah’s reaction to correction as "temple rage." Instead of humbling himself when confronted by the priests, the King became furious, proving his heart had become hard toward God.
• Five Warnings for Leaders: Drawing from Uzziah’s fall, Swindoll lists five signs that a ministry is heading for trouble:
  1. When greater battles are fought within than without.
  2. When more attention falls on building a human kingdom than the Lord's.
  3. When the Lord's help is no longer considered essential.
  4. When reproofs and warnings are resisted instead of respected.
  5. When the consequences of sin no longer bring fear.

Message References:

• 2 Chronicles 26: The primary biographical text detailing the rise, pride, and fall of King Uzziah.
• Isaiah 42:8: "I am the Lord, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another."
• Exodus 40:33–35: The account of the cloud of glory filling the tabernacle so that even Moses could not enter.
• Isaiah 40:5: "The glory of the Lord shall be revealed" (referenced in relation to Handel's Messiah).
• Isaiah 42:6–7: The calling of Israel (and believers) to be a "light to the nations" and to open blind eyes.

Message Speaker:

Pastor Chuck Swindoll