THE DEEP THINGS OF GOD
Romans 11:33‑36
We come to the top of the mountain! Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the Apostle has slowly ascended the mountain of divine truth, and now he stands at the top. Looking back over the terrain through which he has climbed, considering the implications of the things he has set forth, brings this doxology of praise to the triune God. This paragraph is the conclusion to the great doctrinal portion of the Roman letter. It is the logical conclusion to the consideration of the condemnation of man, the justification, and sanctification of man, and of the election of the nation of Israel.

This doxology expresses genuine praise to God for the depths of His character that is revealed in the salvation of the Gentiles and Israel. Really this doxology suggests to us an appropriate test for any doctrinal position that you may take. Does the doctrine bring you at last to bow before God and to ascribe to Him all of the glory? Does the doctrine exalt God or man? If it is true doctrine, it will logically lead to a doxology. Doxology is the appropriate response of man to the great God who has acted in our behalf in our salvation.

The matter for which praise is ascribed to God is the depths or the deep things of God. "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!" A better rendering makes the three main nouns coordinates. It should read, "O the depth of the riches and of the wisdom and of the knowledge of God!" By riches we have a clear reference to the riches of mercy and grace that God has manifested in our salvation. The depth of the divine character is more fully demonstrated and revealed in the redemption of sinful man than in any other thing.

Since many of us come short on giving praise and glory to God, let us look carefully at the deep things of God as they are set forth in the doxology of Paul so that we might be moved to give more praise to our God.

THE DEPTHS OF HIS WISDOM
Though in his first consideration the Apostle considers them in one order, in his discussion of them changes the order. We will look at them in the second order. The divine wisdom has been demonstrated in the salvation of man, even the unsearchable depths of the divine wisdom.

"Wisdom" refers to the practical wisdom of God. It is manifesting in one using his means in a practical way to accomplish his end. Evidently the Apostle is contemplating the manner in which God has used everything that has happened to make it contribute to the ultimate goal he had determined. He has made the sin of man to so turn out. He made the tragic death of Christ to become the propitiation for the sins of the whole world. He even made the rejection of Israel to bring about the evangelization of the Gentiles.

"How unsearchable are his judgments" is a reference to this wisdom of God. The judgments of God in this context are His decrees, His decisions. The decisions of God are unfathomable. They are unsearchable. They go out into a realm into which man cannot venture for God's thoughts are not like the thoughts of man.

It will be helpful to remember that Jesus is called the Wisdom of God by the Apostle in another context. The whole redemptive work of God in Christ was a manifestation of the divine wisdom. To be sure such a plan of redemption does not fit into the moulds or standards set forth by human wisdom, but they are consistent with the nature of and a revelation of the nature of the all wise God. In His wisdom God is always two steps ahead of rebellious man, and of the chief adversary Satan himself. In light of this, who has known the mind of the Lord? Can anyone stand up and set forth all that is in the divine mind for man?

THE DEPTHS OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD
The depths of the knowledge of God is revealed in the great work of salvation. A
special emphasis in this great portion of Scripture has been on the fore‑knowledge of God, or of His knowledge of the future. The Apostle has just illustrated this by sharing with his readers the "mystery" concerning the conversion of the nation of Israel which the Lord God has revealed to Him. Who except our God has such a full knowledge of the present, past, and future?  

"His ways past finding out!" is probably an expansion of this consideration of the knowledge of the Lord God. "Past finding out" is a translation of the Greek word that means literally it is "not trackable". it suggests the picture of a man trying to track a wild animal whose tracks get lost, he cannot go any further.

When you begin to try to plum the depths of the knowledge of the Lord which is manifested in the paths that He takes, you soon come to the end. Human knowledge and ability can go just so far. All that we can know about the knowledge treasured in the mind of the Lord God is that which He chooses to reveal to us.

It is in light of this depth of knowledge which belongs to God that the Apostle quotes from the Old Testament, "who hath been his counselor?" Who has knowledge enough of all that is involved in the present or what will happen in the future to be the adviser or counselor of the Lord God?

When the whole scheme of redemption is completed it will be clear to the whole universe that the Lord God knew the end from the beginning. God is not only able to make every thing work to the end that He has determined, He also is fully cognizant of how the whole thing will turn out before it ever begins. Nothing ever catches our God by surprise. Your sin did not surprise him, but neither did your salvation! He knows all things fully.

This ability of God to know all things even before they happen bothers some people. They want to limit God in His knowledge, but a careful consideration of redemption, of the justification of ungodly, will make clear that our God knows all things. The depths of His knowledge are literally beyond our comprehension.

THE DEPTH OF THE GRACE OF GOD
"Riches" is a word that immediately calls to mind the wealth of God's grace and mercy that has been revealed in our salvation. Already in this letter the Apostle has written, "For the same Lord is rich unto all that call upon Him." (10:12) But who can comprehend the fullness of the divine grace involved in our salvation? The whole scheme of redemption is a matter of grace. It was conceived in grace, completed in grace and consummated in grace. It is all of grace.

What are the implications of this grace? The Apostle finds the main implication in a quotation from the book of Job. "For who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?" This verse asks who has given or done something for God which resulted in God becoming indebted to the man who gave or worked. Obviously no man has ever been able to get God into his debt. Man is always the debtor when he comes before God. Since God is the great giver, man the receiver, man has to bow before God in worship.

The last statement in this doxology is given as the reason why man is always the one who owes God, and God is never indebted to man. "For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things." "Of him" points to God as the great source of all things. He is the creator and initiator. Nothing ever exists apart from Him. Nothing good is ever initiated in this world without the movement of the divine will. God is the great source so that whatever good has come into being, the credit and praise must go to God. "Through Him" points to God as the great Sustainer of all things. He is power behind everything. ''And to Him'' points to God as the great goal, or the last end of all things. The ultimate purpose, the ultimate end of everything is found in God, and the goal of everything.

The "all things" of this great statement can be as broad as the universe, though in this context it would be better to confine it to the all things of redemption and salvation. Everything about the salvation of man originates with God, is carried out by God, and has God as its ultimate goal. This gives us a good definition of grace. Man is the one acted upon in salvation, but God is the Great All of salvation.

Can you not catch a little insight into the depths of the divine grace? When you consider the man that God chose to save, the man God gave His son to redeem, and the glory of the salvation God bestowed upon the unworthy man, you must come to admire the divine grace along with the inspired Apostle.

"To whom be glory for ever. Amen". This is the end of the whole matter. When you consider the depths of the wisdom, knowledge, and grace of God, you must fall upon your face before Him and exclaim gratefully. To Him be glory forever and forever. Truly no flesh shall glory in His presence. He is the only one deserving of glory and honor and worship. His name is deserving of all of the worship of all of the redeemed creatures upon this globe.

Will you join me in a renewed commitment to‑"just praise the Lord" in time and eternity.