Romans 11:25-36: a reflection

25For I don’t desire you to be ignorant, brothers, of this mystery, so that you won’t be wise in your own conceits, that a partial hardening has happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in, 26and so all Israel will be saved. Even as it is written, “There will come out of Zion the Deliverer, and he will turn away ungodliness from Jacob. 27This is my covenant with them, when I will take away their sins.” 28Concerning the Good News, they are enemies for your sake. But concerning the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sake. 29For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30For as you in time past were disobedient to God, but now have obtained mercy by their disobedience, 31even so these also have now been disobedient, that by the mercy shown to you they may also obtain mercy. 32For God has bound all to disobedience, that he might have mercy on all. 33Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past tracing out! 34“For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” 35“Or who has first given to him, and it will be repaid to him again?” 36For of him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory for ever! Amen.

After tracing the deep mystery of God's dealings with Jew and Gentile, Paul is overwhelmed, and breaks into worship at the unsearchable wisdom of God. Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! he exclaims. How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past tracing out! For who has known the mind of the Lord? God's wisdom is so deep, his judgments so unsearchable, his ways so far beyond tracing out, that no one can fully comprehend them; and Paul responds not by presuming to understand it all, but by bowing in worship: To him be the glory forever.

Notice Paul's response to the unsearchable wisdom of God: worship, not the presumption of full understanding. Having pondered God's deep and mysterious dealings, Paul does not claim to have figured it all out; he confesses that God's wisdom is unsearchable, his judgments beyond tracing out, his mind beyond our knowing. And his response to this is not frustration or doubt, but worship: he bows before the depth of God's wisdom, giving him glory. The unsearchable wisdom of God draws from Paul not a demand to understand, but humble worship. He adores what he cannot fully comprehend.

That response is worth taking to heart, for we too meet in God a wisdom too deep for us to fully comprehend, and are to respond with worship rather than presuming to understand all. We can be troubled by what we cannot understand in God's ways, his judgments, his providences, demanding to comprehend it all, and doubting when we cannot; but Paul, meeting the unsearchable wisdom of God, bowed in worship. Do not demand to understand all of God's ways, doubting when they are past your tracing out; his wisdom is unsearchable, deeper than we can comprehend, and the right response is worship. When you meet in God a wisdom too deep for you, respond with humble worship rather than the presumption of full understanding, adoring the depth of God's wisdom as Paul did, whose ways are past tracing out; for God's wisdom is unsearchable, and we are to worship before it, giving him the glory, rather than presuming to comprehend all his ways.

Lord, after tracing the deep mystery of your dealings with Jew and Gentile, Paul is overwhelmed, and breaks into worship at your unsearchable wisdom. Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! he exclaims. How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past tracing out! For who has known the mind of the Lord? Your wisdom is so deep, your judgments so unsearchable, that no one can fully comprehend them; and Paul responds not by presuming to understand it all, but by bowing in worship: to him be the glory forever. Show me Paul's response to your unsearchable wisdom: worship, not the presumption of full understanding. Having pondered your deep and mysterious dealings, Paul does not claim to have figured it all out; he confesses that your wisdom is unsearchable, your ways beyond tracing out. And his response is not frustration or doubt, but worship. Your unsearchable wisdom draws from Paul humble worship. He adores what he cannot fully comprehend. Take that response to my heart, for I too meet in you a wisdom too deep for me to fully comprehend, and am to respond with worship rather than presuming to understand all. I can be troubled by what I cannot understand in your ways, demanding to comprehend it all, and doubting when I cannot; but Paul bowed in worship. Keep me from demanding to understand all of your ways, doubting when they are past my tracing out; your wisdom is unsearchable, and the right response is worship. When I meet in you a wisdom too deep for me, help me respond with humble worship, Lord, adoring the depth of your wisdom as Paul did, and giving you the glory.