O That Will Be Glory

Words: Charles Hutchinson Gabriel (b. Aug. 18, 1856; d. Sept. 15, 1932)
Music:  Charles Hutchinson Gabriel

(Stanza numbers in brackets below refer to the stanza number in The Cyber Hymnal. Find the link at the bottom of the article.)

This song is based on the frequent exclamation (“Glory!”) of a man named Ed Card, who was the superintendent of the Sunshine Rescue Mission, in St. Louis, Missouri. And when Mr. Card prayed, he often ended his prayer by expressing his longing to be with Christ in heaven, saying, “That will be glory for me!” (For more about this, see the link below about “Old Glory Face”.)

The word “glory” is found over 370 times in our English Bibles (KJV). The Hebrew words (kabowd and howd), and the Greek word (doxa) point to such things as: God’s greatness, splendour, magnificence, and majesty. (And sometimes, they refer to a radiant light that represents this glory in a visible way, e.g. Lk. 2:9; Heb. 1:3; Rev. 21:23.) Thus, for us to glory in the Lord, or glorify Him, is to bear testimony to His greatness. What we call the Doxology (from the Greek word doxa) is a song of praise–“Praise God, from whom all blessings flow!”

When Ed Card used the word, “Glory!” it was his way of saying that something about the Lord was praiseworthy or wonderful to him–a kind of short-form for “Praise the Lord!” When I think of his exuberant personality, it reminds me of First Peter 1:8, “Though now you do not see Him [Christ], yet believing you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory.”

To glory in ourselves, and our accomplishments, is to misplace praise that is due to God (I Cor. 4:7; cf. 1:29; 3:21). “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord” (II Cor. 10:17; cf. I Cor. 1:31; 10:31). This is especially true of our salvation. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). There is nothing for us to boast about in our salvation, since it is all about God’s grace, His unmerited favour (Eph. 2:8-9). In the words of the song, it’s “by the gift of His infinite grace, I am accorded in heaven a place” (2).

Charles Gabriel’s song focuses particularly on the future day when we stand in the presence of God, and all our “labours and trials are o’er.” It is to be expected, and it is fitting that, in the heavenly kingdom, the glory of the Lord is most fully revealed. The book of Revelation is simply full of it. The word is used there some 17 times.(e.g. Rev. 1:6; 4:11; 5:13; 7:12; 19:1).

Also, there are many Scripture passages that promise we will one day share in the glory of the Lord, in some measure, by His grace (e.g. Rom. 8:18; II Cor. 3:18; 4:17; Col. 1:27; II Thess. 2:14; II Tim. 2:10; Heb. 2:10; I Pet. 5:1, 4).

When all my labours and trials are o’er,
And I am safe on that beautiful shore,
Just to be near the dear Lord I adore,
Will through the ages be glory for me.

O that will be glory for me,
Glory for me, glory for me,
When by His grace I shall look on His face,
That will be glory, be glory for me.

Questions:

1. Heaven will no doubt have many amazing and wonderful things about it. But according to the first stanza (1) of Mr. Gabriel’s song, what is the most wonderful thing, by far, about heaven?
2. According to Revelation, what are two key reasons why the Lord deserves all glory and praise (Rev. 4:11; and 5:9, 12)?

Links:

• O That Will Be Glory (Quick Thoughts on a Hymn)
• Old Glory Face
• 18 August 1856 – Charles Gabriel Born
• 15 September 1932 – Charles Gabriel Died
• O That Will Be Glory (The Cyber Hymnal)