Great is Our God

The doxology of Romans 11:33-36 begins with an exclamation: “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!” Paul then issues a challenge to questioning, puny man: “How unsearchable his decrees, how untraceable his ways! “˜Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?'” In other words, who has known the infinite, majestic mind of the Lord, which is so deep? “”˜Or who has given him something that he should give it back to him?'” So there is an exclamation and three questions, and then there a theological affirmation: “For from him and through him and unto him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.”We need help to understand this text. We must focus our minds upon the word of God so that we may eat it and drink it and rejoice and sing, as God’s servants do (Isa. 65:13-14). God doesn’t need us, but we need him.

Our Great God

In this passage, Paul celebrates the infinite mind of God. As humans, we are impressed by externalities-the tall, rich, beautiful, well-proportioned person. But God is impressed by a person whose mind is thinking God’s thoughts.

Great indeed is our triune God! At the end of Romans 11, Paul moves from theology to doxology, having considered God’s plan of salvation of miserable sinners, both Jews and Gentiles. What characterized these elect sinners? They were dead, disobedient, and under divine judgment. Yet wonder of wonders, God chose them to eternal salvation because of his great love, rich mercy, and abounding grace.

We ourselves were disobedient, deserving only judgment. But verse 32 tells us, “For God has bound all men to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.” This wonderful plan of salvation causes Paul to worship God: “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!” Oh, the immensity of God’s mind and wisdom! Compared to God, man is infinitesimally small. Man is a fool who says in his heart there is no God. Oh, he may have degrees or riches, but God declares that a godless man is a fool. And when we see the God of the Scriptures by faith, we will humble ourselves as Isaiah did, saying, “Woe unto me! I am ruined! My eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty” (Isa. 6). Peter likewise cried, “Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord” (Luke 5:8, KJV). Paul himself confessed, “I am the worst sinner in the world” (see 1 Tim. 1:15).

When we don’t see God, we feel like Goliath, nine feet tall. We feel like Og king of Bashan, whose bed was thirteen feet long and six feet wide. Man grows bigger in his head when he ignores the God of creation, providence, and redemption. When we are proud, God becomes very small in our eyes. But when God opens our eyes, we see our own wretchedness and God’s incomparable greatness. We then agree with the catechism: “God is a spirit: infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth” (Westminster Shorter Catechism, Question 4).

God’s power and glory are incomparable. The riches of his grace are incomparable. His love is incomparable and surpasses knowledge. When we see God as he is, we will see ourselves as sinful beyond comparison. So Paul says, “Oh, the immensity of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!” This is an exclamation. He is standing in wonder and awe of God.

The gospel does this to all true believers. John Newton wrote,

Amazing grace-how sweet the sound-

that saved a wretch like me

Our God is great. This great God is the triune God of Christianity; there is no other. He alone is the Savior, King, and Creator of the world. And no one can know this great God unless he in grace reveals himself to us. But he has revealed himself to us in creation, in our consciences, in Scripture, and especially in Jesus Christ. God has given us sufficient revelation to bring about our eternal salvation.

So God’s elective grace and his lordship of salvation history causes Paul in this text to praise God. Paul is celebrating the immensity of God’s riches, wisdom, and knowledge. C. H. Spurgeon states, “The highest science, the loftiest speculation, the mightiest philosophy, which can ever engage the attention of a child of God, is the name, the nature, the person, the work, the doings, and the existence of the great God, whom he calls his Father.”¹

Friends, what truly defines us is what we think of God. So let us look more carefully at this glorious doxology.

The Depth of God

Paul begins, “Oh, the depth. . .” God is depth beyond measure. He is height, length, and width beyond measure. He is absolute reality. He is infinity and immensity of mind. Elsewhere Paul says, “And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God” (Eph. 3:17b-19).

No man, not even the most godly man, can search the depth of God. Only the Holy Spirit can. So we read, “The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God” (1 Cor. 2:10b). The devil deceives people by his promise to reveal “the deep things of Satan” (see Rev. 2:24). Satan’s “deep things” consist in the negation of the true God. They are simply demonism. The wicked are under Satan’s control. Especially under the influence of dope, people see Satan’s deep things. Watch Hollywood movies and television programs, or read the literature of fools, and you will see the deep things of Satan. Read false science, and you see the deep things of Satan in the negation of the true God and his revelation.

But the people of God, those who have been redeemed from Satan’s kingdom, will delight in God’s free salvation revealed to us in the gospel. Such people will reject Satan’s “deep things” of filth, which are also called “doctrines of demons” (1 Tim. 4:1).

The Riches of God

Paul continues, “Oh, the depth of the riches. . .” The riches of God are the riches of his mercy and grace. Earlier Paul wrote, “Just as you [Gentiles] who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, so [the Jews] too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you. For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all” (Rom. 11:30-32).

Elsewhere Paul writes of these riches: “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy” (Eph. 2:4); “Although I am less than the least of all God’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ” (Eph. 3:8); “and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God” (Eph. 3:19); “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19).

Our God is rich in mercy, grace, and love, and he enriches us daily. He makes all his people rich in him. He gives us the righteousness of God and unites us to Christ, the vine. As adopted sons of God, we have become heirs of God.

God enriches every elect of God who is called and justified by sanctifying and glorifying them. We are rich because God is our portion, and we are his. Everything that belongs to our heavenly Bridegroom also belongs to us, his poor bride.

Knowledge of God

“Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!” God’s insight into the very essence of all created things is immense. God knows all his creatures exhaustively, intuitively, immediately, and without effort. He knows all facts. The psalmist says, “O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD. You hem me in-behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me” (Ps. 139:1-5). Elsewhere we read, “”˜For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the LORD” (Isa. 55:8). The Hebrews writer says, “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him with whom we have to deal” (Heb. 4:13).

God knows all things perfectly. We know some things only partially and imperfectly. Unbelievers do not know the gospel. They are dead and know nothing. Their eyes are blinded by the devil. But we know the gospel because we are born of the Spirit, who enables us to know it. So Paul writes, “However, as it is written: “˜No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him’- but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit” (1 Cor. 2:9-10a).

We have not received the Spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. Paul also declares, “The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man’s judgment: “˜For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?’ But we have the mind of Christ” (1 Cor. 2:15-16).

We have the mind of Christ because the Holy Spirit dwells in us. Jesus knows all things because he is God. His knowledge is immense. He is the one of whom John writes, “His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire” (Rev. 1:14). Concerning each church in Revelation 2 and 3, we read, “I know” seven times. For example, “To the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze” (Rev. 2:18). This Jesus comes to each of us and says, “I know what you have done in secret.” Jesus Christ knows all the sins of all evildoers, and he will judge them on the last day. The books will be opened, which is simply the mind of God.

Jesus also knows our needs and supplies them in response to our prayers. He himself said, “Do not be like [the pagans], for your Father knows what you need before you ask him” (Matt. 6:8). He also taught, “For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matt. 6:32-33).

The omniscient God knows all things exhaustively, comprehensively, instantly, and effortlessly. He cannot learn; he knows the past, the present, and the future equally well. He is not conditioned by time. He is never surprised. God never changes. He does not get better, and he can never get worse. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

This knowledge of God is comforting especially to believers, for he knows all our sins. Yet he loved us and chose us to eternal salvation. (PGM) But this knowledge of God is very disturbing to the wicked, for he is their Judge. So he commands all people everywhere to repent.

The wicked prefer idolatry. They desire to worship an ignorant, mutable, and impotent god. They do not want to face the God who says, “These things you have done and I kept silent; you thought I was altogether like you. But I will rebuke you and accuse you to your face” (Ps. 50:21).

God of Immense Wisdom

Daniel understood something of the wisdom of God. He said, “Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him. I thank and praise you, O God of my fathers: You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you, you have made known to us the dream of the king” (Dan. 2:20-23).

Wisdom is the ability of God to select the best means of achieving God’s highest goal. Wisdom, like knowledge, is a communicable attribute of God, one that he shares with us in some measure because we are made in his image and likeness.

God cannot share with us his incommunicable attributes, which are essential to deity-attributes such as self-existence, self-sufficiency, and eternity. God has no origin; he always existed. God has no need, so he does not depend on any creature. God is from everlasting to everlasting, ever the same in his infinite, eternal being. He alone says, “I AM THAT I AM.” We can only say, “I am that I am by the sheer grace of God.”

This God is all-wise because he is all-knowing. J. I. Packer says, “Wisdom is the power to see, and the inclination to choose, the best and the highest goal, together with the surest means to achieve it.”² Paul is speaking about the immensity of God’s wisdom and knowledge revealed in the redemption of sinful man.

The gospel displays the wisdom of God. This wisdom is revealed especially in justifying the ungodly by the righteousness of Jesus Christ, whose death on the cross was for their sins. The heart of this wisdom is disclosed in Romans 3:22-26:

This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished-he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

God in wisdom permitted sin to enter the world. The devil rejoiced when he deceived Adam into sinning. He ruled the fallen world, opposing God and God’s people throughout redemptive history. He tempted the Son of God, plotted his crucifixion, and celebrated when Christ died and was buried.

But the devil is not wise nor does he know all things as God does. The devil is a fool, and all who serve him are sons of the devil and fools. That is why they are atheists. They know God, but they will not worship him.

God alone is wise. By the death of the Son of God, the devil and all God’s enemies were defeated. Man is redeemed from sin, law, death, the world, hell, and the devil. God now justly justifies sinners, clothing them with the righteousness of God himself. Friends, this is true, deep wisdom.

What about the wisdom of man? Paul writes, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: “˜I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.’ Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe” (1 Cor. 1:18-21). He says again, “We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory” (2 Cor. 2:6-8).

Yes, the wisdom of God justifies, sanctifies, and glorifies us. This gospel leads us to worship: “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!”Jesus Christ is wisdom. Paul speaks of “Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Cor. 1:24). Then he says, “It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God-that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption” (1 Cor. 1:30). Paul also says, “My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col. 2:2-3).

The redemption of sinners especially reveals the manifold wisdom of God, even for enlightening the holy angels through the church. Paul writes, “[God’s] intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Eph. 3:10-11).

God’s judgments and eternal decisions, revealed in the divine plan of salvation, are deep, unfathomable, inscrutable, untraceable, and incomprehensible. All the ways he uses in redemptive history also are untrackable. No sinful man can know it. The regenerate know it only by the Holy Spirit. Even then, they know only partially and imperfectly. So we are told to grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ (2 Pet. 3:18). Peter says, “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation” (1 Pet. 2:2). We must grow up in our minds.

In glory, we shall know more. But we shall never exhaustively know God’s judgments, ways, wisdom, and knowledge. We shall ever be growing in the knowledge and wisdom of God, but we shall also ever remain creatures. There shall always be what Cornelius van Til calls the “Creator/creature distinction.”

God’s judgments are unfathomable. His judgments are his decrees. Question 7 of the Shorter Catechism says, “The decrees of God are, his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his will, whereby, for his own glory, he hath foreordained whatever comes to pass.” See the wisdom of God in the salvation of ungodly and disobedient sinners by the death of God’s Son on the cross! Only God can devise such a wise plan.

We do not always understand God’s judgments and ways. Joseph did not understand. His own brothers threw him into a pit and sold him as a slave. He then had to work as a slave in Potiphar’s house, where he was wrongly accused of adultery. He was put in prison, and his friends forsook him. He had no idea what was happening until later in his life. Then he said to his brothers, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives” (Gen. 50:20).

Paul did not always understand either. Read 2 Corinthians 6, 11, 12, which speak of all the sufferings he endured. He desired to go to Rome as a free man to preach the gospel. But in Acts 28 we see him arriving there as a prisoner in chains. Yet Paul trusted in God and wrote, “All things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8:28). Friends, it is also for us first the cross and then the crown. So at the end of his life Paul says, “For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day-and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing” (2 Tim. 4:6-8).

Thank God for his revelation of the gospel! There are many things we do not understand about God. But our God is not entirely unknown or unknowable. “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law” (Deut. 29:29).

God’s decrees are untrackable. But Dr. Boice tells us seven things we can know about God’s decrees:³

1. His decrees are for his glory. Everything God does is for his own glory. Jesus prayed, “I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do” (John 17:4). God does what he does, not to bring us happiness-that is not his first consideration-but for his own glory. “The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever.”
2. His decrees are a unity (Eph. 3:10-11; Acts 2:23a; Rom. 8:28)
3. His decrees are eternal, before the creation of the world (Eph. 1:4; 1 Pet. 1:20).
4. His decrees are wise. “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!” (Rom. 11:33; see also Ps. 104:24).
5. His decrees are free, uninfluenced by creation.
6. His decrees are absolute and unconditional, not dependent on any condition. Therefore, they are immutable (Ps. 33:11; James 1:17; Isa. 46:10b).
7. His decrees are effectual. Whatever God ordains comes to pass, despite all evil opposition of creatures.

Thank God that he revealed to us the gospel in Romans! So we know God and experience his salvation. “The gospel is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greeks” (Rom. 1:16). Yet we do not know many things about God and his ways. So we join with Paul and say, “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!” Job thought that he knew many things. But he did not know about the invisible cosmic conflict between God and Satan. Finally, God appeared to him to have a God-to-man talk (see Job 38:1-4; 40:1-8; 42:1-6). As a result, Job put his hand over his mouth. This is true of us all. Before the immensity, infinity, and divine majesty of God, we all shrink into nothing. We thank God for what he has revealed to us, yet we dare not question him. We put our hands on our mouths. We trust him for everything and worship him, casting our crowns at his feet, saying, “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being” (Rev. 4:11). We worship him, saying, “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” (Rev. 5:12).

The Proof from the Old Testament

After his exclamation, Paul asks three questions, which are taken from Isaiah 40:13 and Job 41:11. God is using irony and mocking man with these questions.

First, “Who has known the mind of the Lord?” The answer is, “No one!” Yet there is one who knows the mind of the Lord, even Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Second, “Who has been his counselor?” In other words, Who has given God advice? David had a counselor whose name was Ahithophel. But his committing suicide showed how unwise he was. God is wisdom. He has no consultants. Who has been his counselor? The answer against is, “No one.”

Third, “Who has given him from his wealth that he should pay him back?” What is the answer? “No one!” God has no consultants, no mortgage, and no loan officers. Some people try to put God in their debt. Every Pharisee says, “I am righteous. I don’t need you. You must justify me based on my own righteousness.” But the publican said, “God, have mercy on me, the sinner.”

So the answers to the questions are: God alone knows all things, God alone is all wisdom, and God alone is rich. Yet we are rich in God.

“Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!” Did you say you gave something to God? David gave God three thousand talents of gold, which is about 110 tons. With today’s price of gold at $1600/ounce, that means David gave billions of dollars to God. Yet what did David say to the Lord? “Who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand” (2 Chron. 29:14). Paul asks, “For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?” (1 Cor. 4:7).

We give to God from what he gave to us in the first place. Our gift is like the Christmas gift of a three-year-old to his father. It was bought by his mother with the father’s money.

Away with all pride! Be clothed with humility! Fall down before him! Join with all holy angels and holy people of God to worship and adore our God who revealed himself to us in the gospel!

We need wisdom. We receive it by the Holy Spirit, from the Holy Scriptures, and from the holy church, especially from God’s holy ministers. Before this God of immensity and depth, we ask: Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher? Where is the godless scientist? Where is the liberal theologian who stripped Christ of his deity and miracles? Where is the foolish Christian who tries to manipulate God to get health, wealth, and fame? Where is the fool who says there is no God? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

All true theology, all true Bible studies, must lead to our total surrender to Jesus Christ, and true worship and adoration of God. Yet a doxology without biblical content is sheer irrational sentimentalism that sends one to eternal hell. We cannot worship an unknown God. Paul spoke to the Athenians about the God who revealed himself in Jesus Christ, who is both Savior and Judge of the world (Acts 17). It is this God whom Paul makes known to us in Romans. Faith comes by hearing the word preached by him.

Our God is wise. His wisdom is seen in electing in eternity to salvation us who were weak and ignoble. He did not choose the mighty, the noble, and the powerful. That is also the wisdom of God. His wisdom is seen in permitting and controlling evil, in the atonement for our sins by his Son’s death on the cross, and in our salvation on the basis of mercy alone. His wisdom is seen in that all of this is for the praise of his glory.

Our God knows everything too. He knew when Adam sinned and hid. He saw Cain when he killed his brother. He knew when Achan stole his treasure, and when David committed adultery and killed Uriah. He saw Ananias and Sapphira when they stole and lied. Be sure that your sin will find you out, and you will pay for your sins. We all stand naked before this God with whom we have to deal in the end. So repent and believe and be justified. Then you can exclaim with Paul: “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!”

¹ C. H. Spurgeon, quoted by James M. Boice, Romans, Vol. 3, God and History (Romans 9-11), (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1993), 1411.

² J. I. Packer, quoted by Boice, Romans, vol. 3, 1426.

³ Boice, Romans, Vol. 3, 1435-1438.