Psalm 97: What Does Glory Look Like?

We hear a lot about God's "glory" in the Bible, especially in the Psalms.  But just what do we mean by that?  What does glory look like?

First of all, what glory "looks like" may be difficult to explain because it may not be visible or visual at all!  Biblical authors attempt to describe God's spiritual glory by relating the impressions and emotions that are created by physical things.

For instance, verse 2 says about God, "Clouds and thick darkness are all around him."  We get the idea that God is surrounded by a billowing fog that prevents our eyes from discerning Him clearly.  He is enveloped by His glory - it is all around Him, emanating from Him.

Verse 3 says, "Fire goes before him, and consumes his adversaries on every side." Here we get a picture that nothing can withstand God - or stand against Him.  He is a "consuming fire," as Deuteronomy 4:24, Isaiah 33:14, and Hebrews 12:29 say.  Like clouds, the elemental nature of fire is associated with God's glory.

"His lightnings light up the world; the earth sees and trembles" (vs. 4).  God's glory is powerful, piercing the night like terrible lightning.  It leaves those in God's presence trembling in fear, awestruck at His glory.

God's glory is even enough to distort Creation.  "The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth" (vs. 5)  Before God, everything else melts away - even something as strong and secure as mountains.

We talk about God's glory as if we would be excited to behold it.  But something tells me that it would be an overpowering experience that would crush us and terrify us - were it not for the sacrifice of Christ reconciling us to God!