Tishrei 18, 5785; from sunset October 19, 2024, to sunset October 20, 2024

(The eighteenth day of the seventh month)

During the Feast of Tabernacles, we have been running into the term “the Glory of the LORD.” In Solomon’s day, the glory of the LORD descended upon the First Temple. Jesus taught in the Second Temple about the glory of the LORD. So, what exactly is the “glory of the LORD?” Moses asked that question. Let’s see how the LORD responded.

Glory of the LORD

After the sin of the golden calf, Moses turned from the people to go back up Mount Sinai, saying, “Perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.” (Exodus 32:30).  Let’s pick up on the subsequent conversation between Moses and the LORD.

Then Moses returned to the LORD and said, “Oh, these people have committed a great sin, and have made for themselves a god of gold!  Yet now, if You will forgive their sin– but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written.”

And the LORD said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book.  Now therefore, go, lead the people to the place of which I have spoken to you.  Behold, My Angel shall go before you.  Nevertheless, in the day when I visit for punishment, I will visit punishment upon them for their sin.” – Exodus 32:31-34 (NKJ)

Moses returned to the people with the verdict.  During the following period of time, Moses met with God in the Tent of Meeting; if anyone sought the LORD, they approached Moses who then approached the LORD.  Moses again said to the LORD…

Then Moses said to the LORD, “See, You say to me, `Bring up this people.’  But You have not let me know whom You will send with me.  Yet You have said, `I know you by name, and you have also found grace in My sight.’  Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight.  And consider that this nation is Your people.”

And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Then he said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here.  For how then will it be known that Your people and I have found grace in Your sight, except You go with us?  So we shall be separate, Your people and I, from all the people who are upon the face of the earth.”

So the LORD said to Moses, “I will also do this thing that you have spoken; for you have found grace in My sight, and I know you by name.”

And he said, “Please, show me Your glory.”

Then He said, “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before you.  I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.”  But He said, “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live.”  And the LORD said, “Here is a place by Me, and you shall stand on the rock.  So it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by.  Then I will take away My hand, and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen.” – Exodus 33:12-34:1 (NKJ)

The next morning, the LORD descended in a cloud and the LORD passed before him and proclaimed…

“The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the third and the fourth generation.” – Exodus 34:6-7 (NKJ)

From these verses, Judaism derives “The Thirteen Attributes of God.” The enumeration shown below is one example; depending upon the congregation, there may be some slight derivations.

1. The LORD: God displays compassion before a person sins;
2. The LORD: God displays compassion after a person has sinned;
3. God: The title God shows His might and compassion to give all creatures according to their need;
4. Merciful: God is merciful, that humankind may not be distressed;
5. And Gracious: God is gracious if humankind is already in distress;
6. Longsuffering: God is slow to anger;
7. Abounding in Goodness: God is plenteous in kindness;
8. And Truth: God is abounding in truth;
9. Keeping Mercy for Thousands: God keeps His Covenantal-Lovingkindness unto thousands;
10. Forgiving Iniquity: God forgives our conscious decision to sin;
11. And Transgression: God forgives our willful rebelliousness;
12. And Sin: God forgives our sins when we fall short of His Torah;
13. By No Means Clearing the Guilty: The LORD is a just God.

This is how God answered Moses request: “Show me Your glory.”