In our Scripture reading today, which continues the study from the Book of Romans, we find right in the midst of teachings about doctrine and faith, a short pause where Paul gives a brief hymn of praise to God. Let us also take a pause in the middle of our busy lives, read through this passage, and also give our praise to God, as well.
If we were going to make a list of all the characteristics and virtues of God, the list would be endless. We could include His omnipotent power, His love, His mercy and grace, His righteousness, and His eternal Being. We could go on and on. In these few short verses Paul gives praise to God, primarily here for the characteristics of His wisdom and knowledge. God is omniscient, meaning He knows everything. Nothing is hidden or unknown from Him. God is also the source of all wisdom. He never makes a mistake or does anything foolish. All of His thoughts and decisions are done in perfect righteousness, understanding, and discernment.
When we try and look at a situation in order to come to some decision or understanding of the matter, our thoughts and appraising of it are never perfect. We can’t know every side or angle perfectly. God, however, is infinitely wise. He knows every side of any situation, inside and out, in addition to every event, past, present, and future (vs. 33).
Throughout the ages, men have tried to figure God out, to understand everything about Him, and write best-selling books boasting of their knowledge about Him. Paul, who was a very intelligent man, and who had an outstanding education from the very best available scholars of the Greek and Hebrew world, knew that being able to completely understand God was not possible. We can never completely understand His ways, or why He does what He does (Isaiah 55:8-9). God’s purposes, decrees, and the methods He uses to accomplish them, are beyond our human understanding.
As Paul continues on in this hymn of praise to the Lord, he asks a rhetorical question, wondering if there is anyone who knows God’s mind. The answer, of course, is no! God has never had to get advice or counsel from someone else, as there is no one greater or wiser than Him. No one has fully understood the mind of the Lord. No one has been His counselor (Isaiah 40:13-17; Jeremiah 23:18). God owes nothing to anyone of us (vs. 35). We owe God everything, and He has already given us more than we can ever repay.
God is the source, the sustainer, and the rightful end of everything that exists. In verse 36 we read “of Him” - God is the source of all things. “Through Him” - God is the channel of all things. “To Him” - God is the goal of all things. The only proper response that we can give God is to worship Him. We are all absolutely dependent upon God. He is the source of all things. He, alone, is worthy of our praise.
No human could ever have imagined the way God chose to save us. He did not use great flashy power, but instead, chose weakness and suffering on the cruel cross of Calvary. This was not accomplished through human wisdom, but by a way that man would count as foolish - God becoming man. Yet this was the only way to bring us eternal life. God’s wisdom, though considered foolish by so many, brought us salvation (I Corinthians 1:21-25).
Verse 36 should be the single desire of every Christian. All other of our wishes and desires should be flowing into this. Our talents, our business, all of our desires should serve for the goal to bring glory to God.
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