The purpose of Scripture is "the glory of God"

If the purpose of Scripture is the glory of God then shouldn't we align our lives in everything that we do to be consistent with this purpose?

Here is an extensive list of Scriptures that hopefully will prove that God is first and foremost about His name and His glory!

As one theologian writes:
Definition of terms
Glory of God – in the Bible this generally refers to the visible splendor or moral beauty of God’s manifold perfections.
The “name” of God is not merely His label, but a reference to His character.
The term glory simply make more explicit that the character of God is indeed magnificent and excellent. This is implicit in the term name when it refers to God.

Old Testament

CREATION
Genesis 1:26-27 - Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

The aim of God therefore was that man would so act that he would mirror forth God, who has ultimate dominion. Man was to think and behave in a way that would reflect the very image of His Creator so that when others saw him they would see God.
Isaiah 43:7 – the Lord refers to His people as “…whom I created for My glory.”
Then in Numbers 14:21 – “…as I live, all the earth will be filled with the glory of the LORD.

THE TOWER OF BABEL
Genesis 11:1-4 - Now the whole earth used the same language and the same words.
It came about as they journeyed east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there.
They said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks and burn them thoroughly.” And they used brick for stone, and they used tar for mortar.
They said, “Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name, otherwise we will be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.”

The evidence of fallen man is that he seeks fulfillment not by trusting God and exalting His name buy by employing his own genius and thereby making a name for himself.

THE CALL OF ABRAM
Genesis 12:1-2 - Now the LORD said to Abram,
“Go forth from your country,
And from your relatives
And from your father’s house,
To the land which I will show you;
And I will make you a great nation,
And I will bless you,
And make your name great;
And so you shall be a blessing;

Biblical insight: There is a clear contrast between what God says here and what happened at the Tower of Babel.
God says He will make Abram’s name great, in vast contrast to Genesis 11:4 where man wanted to make his own name great.

The key difference is this: When man undertakes to make his own name great he take credit for his own accomplishments and does not give glory to God. But when God undertakes to make a person great, the only proper response is trust and gratitude on the part of man, which gives all glory back to God where it belongs.

THE EXODUS OF ISRAEL
After the period of the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob) which is recorded in the resto of the book of Genesis, the people of Israel spent over 400 years in Egypt where they cried to God for mercy. God responded by delivering them through the hand of Moses, and bringing them through the wilderness to the promised land of Canaan. God’s purpose in their deliverance is recorded several places besides in Exodus – for example:

Ezekiel 20:5-9 - and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “On the day when I chose Israel and swore to the descendants of the house of Jacob and made Myself known to them in the land of Egypt, when I swore to them, saying, I am the LORD your God,
Ezek. 20:6 on that day I swore to them, to bring them out from the land of Egypt into a land that I had selected for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands.
Ezek. 20:7 “I said to them, ‘Cast away, each of you, the detestable things of his eyes, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt; I am the LORD your God.’
Ezek. 20:8 “But they rebelled against Me and were not willing to listen to Me; they did not cast away the detestable things of their eyes, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt.
Then I resolved to pour out My wrath on them, to accomplish My anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.
Ezek. 20:9 “But I acted for the sake of My name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations among whom they lived, in whose sight I made Myself known to them by bringing them out of the land of Egypt.

Psalm 106:6-8 - We have sinned like our fathers,
We have committed iniquity, we have behaved wickedly.
Psa. 106:7 Our fathers in Egypt did not understand Your wonders;
They did not remember Your abundant kindnesses,
But rebelled by the sea, at the Red Sea.
Psa. 106:8 Nevertheless He saved them for the sake of His name,
That He might make His power known.

God’s purpose is to act in a way that causes other people to own up to His glory and confess that He is the only Lord of the universe.

GIVING OF THE LAW
Exodus 20:3-5 - You shall have no other gods before Me.
Ex. 20:4 “You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth.
Ex. 20:5 “You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me,

God’s first aim in giving us the law is for us to accord Him the honor that He alone deserves. Since He has just shown Himself glorious and powerful in the Exodus; now He simply requires a law that demands an appropriate response from the people, which is to love Him and keep His commandments.
To love God does not mean for us to try and meet His needs but rather to take delight and be captivated by Him above all other things on this earth.

THE WILDERNESS WANDERING
Ezekiel 20:21-22
“But the children rebelled against Me; they did not walk in My statutes, nor were they careful to observe My ordinances, by which, if a man observes them, he will live; they profaned My sabbaths. So I resolved to pour out My wrath on them, to accomplish My anger against them in the wilderness.
Ezek. 20:22 “But I withdrew My hand and acted for the sake of My name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.

THE CONQUEST OF CANAAN
Joshua 24:12-14 - Then I sent the hornet before you and it drove out the two kings of the Amorites from before you, but not by your sword or your bow.
Josh. 24:13 ‘I gave you a land on which you had not labored, and cities which you had not built, and you have lived in them; you are eating of vineyards and olive groves which you did not plant.’
Josh. 24:14 ¶ “Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.

Biblical insight – the logic shows that God’s purpose in giving them the land of Canaan is so they would fear and honor Him alone.
In other words by giving Israel the land of Canaan, God aimed to create a people that would recognize His glory and delight in Him above all things.

Look how this purpose is confirmed in David’s prayer:
2 Samuel 7:23 - And what one nation on the earth is like Your people Israel, whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people and to make a name for Himself, and to do a great thing for You and awesome things for Your land, before Your people whom You have redeemed for Yourself from Egypt, from nations and their gods?

THE BEGINNINGS OF MONARCHY
After a period of the Judges the nation of Israel asked for a king. Even though there motive was evil (wanting to be like the other nations) God didn’t destroy His people and His motive in His gracious act of mercy is given in:
1 Samuel 12:19-23
Then all the people said to Samuel, “Pray for your servants to the LORD your God, so that we may not die, for we have added to all our sins this evil by asking for ourselves a king.”
1Sam. 12:20 Samuel said to the people, “Do not fear. You have committed all this evil, yet do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart.
1Sam. 12:21 “You must not turn aside, for then you would go after futile things which can not profit or deliver, because they are futile.
1Sam. 12:22 “For the LORD will not abandon His people on account of His great name, because the LORD has been pleased to make you a people for Himself.
1Sam. 12:23 “Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you; but I will instruct you in the good and right way.

THE TEMPLE OF GOD
The books of 1 and 2 Kings tell the story of Israel’s history from Solomon, who built God’s temple until the Babylonian captivity.
This was a period that lasted for approximately 400 years and ended in 586 B.C.

And we read the dedication prayer of Solomon after building the temple:
1 Kings 8:41-45 - Also concerning the foreigner who is not of Your people Israel, when he comes from a far country for Your name’s sake
1Kings 8:42 (for they will hear of Your great name and Your mighty hand, and of Your outstretched arm); when he comes and prays toward this house,
1Kings 8:43 hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You, in order that all the peoples of the earth may know Your name, to fear You, as do Your people Israel, and that they may know that this house which I have built is called by Your name.
1Kings 8:44 ¶ “When Your people go out to battle against their enemy, by whatever way You shall send them, and they pray to the LORD toward the city which You have chosen and the house which I have built for Your name,
1Kings 8:45 then hear in heaven their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause.

DELIVERANCE IN THE TIME OF THE KINGS
God intervened when Hezekiah was the king of Judah in the late 700’s B.C.
The Assyrians who are led by King Sennacherib were coming against the people of Judah. So Hezekiah prays to the Lord and the answer comes to him from Isaiah the prophet:
2 Kings 19:34 - For I will defend this city to save it for My own sake and for My servant David’s sake
2 Kings 20:6 - “… I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for My own sake and for My servant David’s sake.”

EXILE AND PROMISED RESTORATION
Finally in around 586 B.C. Jerusalem falls to the invading Babylonian (the northern kingdom had gone into exile at the hands of the Assyrians in 722 B.C.)
The people of Judah are deported to Babylon and it looks like God may be through with His people but what about His holy name which He had protected and proclaimed over the centuries?

Again we see through the prophet Isaiah that God’s purposes as always remain the same:
Isaiah 48:9-11 - “For the sake of My name I delay My wrath,
And for My praise I restrain it for you,
In order not to cut you off.
Is. 48:10 “Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver;
I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.
Is. 48:11 “For My own sake, for My own sake, I will act;
For how can My name be profaned?
And My glory I will not give to another.
Ezekiel who prophecies during the Babylonian exile tells of God’s merciful restoration and why He will perform it:
Ezekiel 36:22-23 - Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for My holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you went.
Ezek. 36:23 “I will vindicate the holiness of My great name which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD,” declares the Lord GOD, “when I prove Myself holy among you in their sight.

POST EXILE PROPHETS
Zechariah, Haggai and Malachi all prophesied after Israel’s return from exile. Each reflects that God’s goal after the exile is still His own glory.

Zechariah 2:5 - For I,’ declares the LORD, ‘will be a wall of fire around her, and I will be the glory in her midst

Haggai 1:8 - Go up to the mountains, bring wood and rebuild the temple, that I may be pleased with it and be glorified,” says the LORD.

Malachi 2:2 - If you do not listen, and if you do not take it to heart to give honor to My name,” says the LORD of hosts, “then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings; and indeed, I have cursed them already, because you are not taking it to heart

NEW TESTAMENT

JESUS LIFE AND MINISTRY
Jesus prayed at the end of His life:
John 17:4 - I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do.

JESUS’ DEATH
John 12:27-28 - Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour.
John 12:28 “Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came out of heaven: “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.”


THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

1 Corinthians 10:31 - Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

2 Corinthians 4:6 - For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

1 Peter 4:11 - Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Matthew 5:16 - Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

THE SECOND COMING AND CONSUMMATION

2 Thessalonians 1:9-10
These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,
2Th. 1:10 when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—for our testimony to you was believed.

GOD'S PASSION FOR HIS GLORY

God chose his people for his glory.
Ephesians 1:4-6, cf. vv. 12, 14 - He chose us in him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and blameless before him. He destined us in love to be his sons through Jesus Christ according to the purpose of his will unto the praise of the glory of his grace.

God created us for his glory.
Isaiah 43:6-7 - Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth, every one who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory.

God called Israel for his glory.
Jeremiah 13:11 - You are my servant Israel in whom I will be glorified

Isaiah 49:3 - I made the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah cling to me, says the Lord, that they might be for me a people, a name, a praise, and a glory.

God rescued Israel from Egypt for his glory.
Psalm 106:7-8 - Our fathers when they were in Egypt did not consider thy wonderful works . . . but rebelled against the Most High at the Red Sea. Yet he saved them for his name's sake that he might make known his mighty power.

God raised Pharaoh up to show his power and glorify his name.
Romans 9:17 - For the scripture says to Pharaoh, "I have raised you up for this very purpose of showing my power in you, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth."

God defeated Pharaoh at the Red Sea to show his glory.
Exodus 14:4; cf. vv. 17, 18 - And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will pursue them and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host; and the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord . . . And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gotten glory over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.

God spared Israel in the wilderness for the glory of his name.
Ezekiel 20:14 - I acted for the sake of my name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.

God gave Israel victory in Canaan for the glory of his name.
2 Samuel 7:23 - What other nation on earth is like Thy people Israel, whom God went to redeem to be His people, making Himself a name, and doing for them great and terrible things, by driving out before His people a nation and its gods?

God did not cast away his people for the glory of his name.
1 Samuel 12:20-22 - Fear not, you have done all this evil, yet do not turn aside from following the Lord . . . For the Lord will not cast away his people for his great name's sake.

God saved Jerusalem from attack for the glory of his name.
2 Kings 19:34; cf. 20:6 - For I will defend this city to save it, for my own sake and for the sake of my servant David.

God restored Israel from exile for the glory of his name.
Isaiah 48:9-11 - Thus says the Lord God, It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name . . . And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name . . . and the nations will know that I am the Lord

Ezekiel 36:22-23, 32 - For the sake of My name I delay My wrath, and for My praise I restrain it for you, in order not to cut you off. Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. For My own sake, for My own sake, I will act; for how can My name be profaned? And My glory I will not give to another.

God sent Jesus so that the nations might glorify God for his mercy.
Romans 15:8-9 - For I say that Christ has become a servant to the circumcision on behalf of the truth of God to confirm the promises given to the fathers, and for the Gentiles to glorify God for His mercy.

Jesus sought the glory of his father in all He did.
John 7:18 - He who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but he who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood.

Jesus told us to do good works so that God gets glory.
Matthew 5:16; cf. 1 Peter 2:12 - Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Jesus warned that not seeking God's glory makes faith impossible.
John 5:44 - How can you believe who seek glory from one another and do not see the glory that comes from the only God?

Jesus said that he answers prayer that God would be glorified.
John 14:13 - Whatever you ask in My name, I will do it that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

Jesus endured his final hours of suffering for God's glory.
John 12:27, 28 - Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? "Father, save me from this hour?" No, for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify Thy name. Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again."
John 17:1; cf. 13:31-32

Father, the hour has come; glorify thy Son that the Son may glorify Thee.
God gave his Son to vindicate the glory of his righteousness.
Romans 3:25-26 - God put Christ forward as a propitiation by his blood . . . to demonstrate God's righteousness . . . It was to prove at the present time that he himself is righteous.

God forgives our sins for his own sake.
Isaiah 43:25 - I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.

Psalm 25:11 - For thy name's sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great.

Jesus receives us into his fellowship for the glory of God.
Romans 15:7 - Welcome one another, therefore, as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

The ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Son of God.
John 16:14 - He will glorify me, for He will take what is Mine and declare it to you.

God instructs us to do everything for his glory.
1 Corinthinans 10:31; cf. 6:20
So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

God tells us to serve in a way that will glorify him.
1 Peter 4:11 - Whoever renders service [let him do it] as one who renders it by the strength which God supplies; in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To Him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Jesus will fill us with fruits of righteousness for God's glory.
Philippians 1:11 - It is my prayer . . . that you be filled with the fruits of righteousness which come through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.

All are under judgment for dishonoring God's glory.
Romans 1:23
They became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images.

Romans 3:23
For all have fallen short of the glory of God.

Herod is struck dead because he did not give glory to God.
Acts 12:23
Immediately an angel of the Lord smote him because he did not give glory to God.

Jesus is coming again for the glory of God.
2 Thessalonians 1:9-10 - Those who do not obey the gospel will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction and exclusion from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints and to be marveled at in all who have believed.

Jesus' ultimate aim for us is that we see and enjoy his glory.
John 17:24 - Father, I desire that they also, whom thou hast given me, may be with me where I am, to behold my glory, which thou hast given me in Thy love for me before the foundation of the world.

Even in wrath God's aim is to make known the wealth of his glory.
Romans 9:22-23 - Desiring to show his wrath and make known his power, he endured with much patience the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for the vessels of mercy which he prepared beforehand for glory.

God plan is to fill the earth with the knowledge of his glory.
Habakkuk 2:14 - For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

Everything that happens will redound to God's glory.
Romans 11:36 - From Him, to Him and through Him are all things. To Him be glory for ever. Amen.

In the New Jerusalem the glory of God replaces the sun.
Revelation 21:23 - And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine upon it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the lamb.

Jonathan Edwards' conclusion from all these texts
"The great end of God's works, which is so variously expressed in Scripture, is indeed but one; and this one end is most properly and comprehensively called the Glory of God." (Dissertation Concerning the End for Which God Created the World, Works, Vol. 1, [Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust, 1974], p. 119).

This passion of God for his own glory in all he does is a joyful passion.
Jeremiah 9:24 - "Let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things," declares the LORD.

Special thanks and credit to "Let the Nations be Glad" by Dr. John Piper for many of these verses.