"Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgements, and his paths beyond tracing out! 'Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counsellor?' 'Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?' For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory for ever! Amen."
Romans 11:33-36
So we have come to the end of the long proclamation by Paul of the wonderful and mysterious works of God. In this ascription of praise, we can see Paul has been meditating deeply on the mystery of God's working and ways. He has had in mind, not only these last three chapters, but the whole revelation of Gospel truth God has made known to Paul, and to which he has been giving testimony all through his letter to the Romans. We see Paul overwhelmed with the greatness and glory of God's purposes of grace, and the mysterious character of these ways. We see the apostle overwhelmed with a sight of the glory and love of God. Even though Paul's words here are exalted, there is a sense in which he knows he is unable to express all that is in his heart, and unable properly to proclaim the worship and wonder that fills his heart. I feel totally inadequate as I contemplate on Paul's words. Everything I say must fall short of the heights that Paul raises us to. However Scripture is given to us for the nourishment of our souls, and for this reason we need to do all we can to dig as deep as we can in understanding what it reveals.
