IN THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE BIBLE LESSON September 20, 2010 Issue

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BEHOLD THE GLORY OF GOD

MICHAEL HAMILTON

THIS WEEK'S Bible Lesson opens with a marvelous promise: "The glory of the Lord shall appear unto you" (Golden Text). The Responsive Reading illustrates this idea with an account from the career of the prophet Elisha. His spiritual discernment has thwarted the plans of the enemy Syrians, and their king orders him captured. Surrounded by enemies, Elisha shares his vision of reality with his servant, and God opens his eyes to see the glorious forces that really surround them (see II King 6:17).

Throughout this Lesson we are encouraged to open our eyes to the glory of God—to reality. In Section I, Psalms proclaims that "the counsel of the heathen" and "the devices of the people" are brought to nothing, while "the counsel of the Lord standeth for ever" (Ps. 33:10, 11, citation 3). "The heathen" are the foreign, pagan nations around the people of Israel, and, by extension, their armies. The threats of conquest by foreigners, or Israel's voluntary adoption of their idols, are twin threats to be resisted. Instead, the Psalmist yearns to see God's "face"; then he will "be satisfied" (Ps. 17:15, cit. 4). In the original Hebrew, that means "have more than enough."

God's constancy, as "the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning" (James 1:17, cit. 7)—translated in the New International Version as "the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows"—is superior even to the sun, which rises and sets, and to the moon, which waxes and wanes.