Read Psalm 106:19-23. 19They made a calf in Horeb and worshiped a metal image. 20They exchanged the glory of God for the image of an ox that eats grass. 21They forgot God, their Savior, who had done great things in Egypt, 22wondrous works in the land of Ham, and awesome deeds by the Red Sea. 23Therefore he said he would destroy them—had not Moses, his chosen one, stood in the breach before him, to turn away his wrath from destroying them.
The shekinah glory of God had literally led the Israelites out of Egypt, through the sea, and all the way to the mountain of the Lord (Horeb). But while this pre-incarnate Christophany (a manifestation of the Son) met with Moses on the mountain top, the people below exchanged the glory of God for an image of a grass eating ox, one of Egypt’s favorite deities. Sadly, this was not some unique situation. Rather this exchange is in the heart of every man, woman, and child.
Paul uses this same language of exchanging glory in Romans 1 as his definition sin. We choose the creation over the Creator, lesser glories over the greater glory of Christ. Like the Israelites, we fashion a golden calf and name it Yahweh. This is what saved me (or will save me), we declare. The irony being that it is in those moments that we truly need the chosen one, our savior Jesus to stand in the breech for us, interceding for us, turning away the wrath of God by his propitiating life.
To live is Christ is to have this eternal Savior, our chosen champion of forgiveness and grace, placed in the gap by God himself. May we forever see the glory of this Savior, and refuse to exchange the glory of Christ for the lesser glories that captivate our hearts but can never heal our hearts as he can.
Prayer. Jesus, I confess that I often exchange your glory for lesser glories. My functional saviors abound, but they also let me down. Keep my eyes fixed on you the champion of my salvation. Amen.
To Live is Christ 