DAY 21 | The King of Glory

Who is Melech HaKavod (The King of glory)? The Lord of Heaven’s Armies—He is Melech HaKavod (The King of glory).
Psalm 24:10

Pronunciation Reference: מֶלֶךְ הַכָּבוֹד

photography by Nick Sheerbart / calligraphy by Rita Ip

MUSIC

PRAYER

King of Glory, enthroned in heavenly splendor, I praise You, recognizing that Your glory stands as the ultimate purpose of all things. Please accept my heartfelt gratitude, for through Jesus, I am granted a royal identity and the privilege to partake in Your eternal glory.

Forgive me for the moments when I have taken Your glory lightly, daring to steal it for myself, and seeking Your kingdom as a means to fulfill my own desires.

My King, I earnestly ask You to unveil my eyes to see Your beaming splendor in the ordinary moments of life. Ignite within me an unquenchable desire to glorify You. I eagerly anticipate the day when every creation in Your Kingdom unites in the worship of You.

Because You are my King of Glory, I declare I am Your glorious creation and I live to glorify You with every thought, every word, and every deed.

A few facts…

Melech HaKavod (מֶלֶךְ הַכָּבוֹד), "King of Glory," is derived from Psalm 24, believed to be penned by David during the entry of the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6).
In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word for "glory" is kavod (כָּבוֹד), signifying "importance“, "weight“, "respect“ or "heaviness”, but primarily connoting "glory", "honor“, "dignity", and "majesty”.
In the New Testament, kavod is translated into the Greek word doxa (δόξα), meaning "opinion," "good reputation," and "honor." The term Doxology comes from doxologia, a compound of doxa (glory) and logos (word).
“The glory of God is the infinite beauty and greatness of God’s manifold perfections. It is the manifest beauty of his holiness. It is the going-public of his holiness.” - John Piper

SMILE & BREATHE

Prepare your favorite drink and find a quiet space. Sit upright, relax your shoulders, neck, and jaw.

Smile, for you are a child of the greatest king in the universe, who crowns you with glory and honor (Psalm 8:5).

Gently inhale through your nose, imagining yourself face to face with this king, His glory shining upon you.

Hold your breath for a moment, celebrating that you are entirely covered in His glory inside and out.

Exhale slowly, longer than your inhale, surrendering any shame, embarrassment, or regret completely to Him.

Exercise 1:

TWO-WAY JOURNALING

You may not have had the opportunity to correspond with a member of the royal family before, but today, I invite you to write a letter to The King of Glory. Take a moment to reflect on what you would like to express to your King. Let's invite the Holy Spirit to guide you in this endeavor. Find a quiet place, listen attentively to His promptings, and document your conversation with Him in your journal.

[Part 1]
Dear Father / The King of Glory, …
[Part 2]
Dear child / (your name), …

• Tell Him what you think of His glory or kingship

• Tell Him what you think of being a child of the King

• Ask Him what “the King of Glory” means

• Ask Him to show you His glory, just as Moses did (Exodus 33:12–18)

• Take this opportunity to process any of your shame, disgrace, or regrets

• Based on the context of Psalm 24, you may write about how you celebrate the entrance of your Glorious King into your life, just as David welcomed the ark of the covenant into Jerusalem

• Ask Him how exactly He wants you to glorify Him today or in this season of your life

Check out Appendix 2 for more.

Exercise 2:

DECLARATION

He is The King of Glory, the sovereign ruler whose dominion extends across the entirety of the universe, and commands unparalleled majesty and splendor. How does this truth impact your daily life? What would be the most fitting response to the King? Reflect and pen your own declaration.

Because You are the King of Glory, I declare I can / I will / I am…

Articulate your declaration audibly, directing it both to your King and to yourself. Speak deliberately and assuredly, without mumbling or faltering. Let the depths of your being resound with a resolute 'Amen.' Gracious words (in some versions: “the speech of the wise”, “well-ordered words”, “kind words”, and “pleasant words”) are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. (Proverbs 16:24)

This marks the end of Day 21 in HE. Today, my prayer echoes the words of Jesus for all those who believe: Jesus has bestowed upon us the same glory that the Father bestowed upon Him, so that we may be united just as the Father and Jesus are (John 17:22).