And his brightness was as the light; he had horns coming out of his hand: and there was the hiding of his power.
The verse pictures God appearing in radiant light, with beams coming from His hand and side, His power present yet partly hidden. It shows Him coming in judgment and salvation to deliver His people, with His glory filling the heavens while the earth is full of His praise. That brightness points to Christ's glorious return, when He comes in a glorious cloud to judge, His radiance covering the heavens as He ushers in the reign of righteousness.
The beams are from His pierced side, the side from which flowed the blood that reconciled humanity to God, and that wounded side is the hiding of His power. Because of that redemptive sacrifice He is mighty to save, and strong to execute justice on those who reject God's mercy. The marks of His humiliation and crucifixion remain as His highest honor and the only traces of sin's work, eternally displaying His praise and power.
The hiding of His power means God partly conceals His power and presence from human sight as an act of mercy, since lifting the veil would bring death. Human minds cannot penetrate the secrecy of His dwelling, work, dealings and motives beyond what He chooses to reveal. He orders all things in righteousness and reveals what is good for people to know, so beyond that they are to trust His power and love. Human beings can know only what He chooses to reveal, so reason and understanding must acknowledge His higher authority. The hidden power also describes the lack of divine power among church members who are not humble and prayerful despite wealth, education and spiritual advantages. When the Sun of Righteousness shines through God's people their influence reaches hearts, their good works lead others to glorify God, and Christ's kingdom advances.
The verse pictures God appearing in radiant light, with beams coming from His hand and side, His power present yet partly hidden. It shows Him coming in judgment and salvation to deliver His people, with His glory filling the heavens while the earth is full of His praise. That brightness points to Christ's glorious return, when He comes in a glorious cloud to judge, His radiance covering the heavens as He ushers in the reign of righteousness.
The beams are from His pierced side, the side from which flowed the blood that reconciled humanity to God, and that wounded side is the hiding of His power. Because of that redemptive sacrifice He is mighty to save, and strong to execute justice on those who reject God's mercy. The marks of His humiliation and crucifixion remain as His highest honor and the only traces of sin's work, eternally displaying His praise and power.
The hiding of His power means God partly conceals His power and presence from human sight as an act of mercy, since lifting the veil would bring death. Human minds cannot penetrate the secrecy of His dwelling, work, dealings and motives beyond what He chooses to reveal. He orders all things in righteousness and reveals what is good for people to know, so beyond that they are to trust His power and love. Human beings can know only what He chooses to reveal, so reason and understanding must acknowledge His higher authority. The hidden power also describes the lack of divine power among church members who are not humble and prayerful despite wealth, education and spiritual advantages. When the Sun of Righteousness shines through God's people their influence reaches hearts, their good works lead others to glorify God, and Christ's kingdom advances.