Have you ever been doing something in faithful service to God in such a way that you find yourself breaking out into song?  I have.  With my singing abilities, or lack thereof, I always hope I am somewhere alone when that happens, but it does happen.  I will be praying, or studying, or simply spending time with God reflecting on His character and the relationship He desires for me to have with Him, and a song wells up within me and must come out.

I get the impression that Paul experienced that same feeling as he wrote Romans 11.  The chapter focuses on Israel’s rejection of God.  Paul makes it clear that their disobedience and stumbling does not have to be permanent.  He addresses the result of this turning away from God as he writes in verses 11 and 12, “Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery?  Not at all!  Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious.  But if their transgression mean riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring!”  Paul continues in this chapter by warning the Gentiles to not become arrogant or think of themselves as better than the people of Israel.  He warns the believers to remain faithful in staying connected to the root of God as he writes, “if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.”  Israel’s rejection of God and God’s mercy to the Gentiles was not to be seen as an unchanging, unwavering decision.  Not that God would change, but He was working to bring change in the lives of people.  His desire is not to replace the people of Israel with the Gentiles, rather He is working to use His display of mercy to the Gentiles to draw His people, Israel, back to Himself. 

It is as Paul contemplates the great mercy that God has shown on Jew and Gentile alike that he breaks out in the following song:

“Oh, the depth of riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
  How unsearchable his judgments,
    and his path beyond tracing out!
‘Who has known the mind of the Lord?
  Or who has been his counselor?’
‘Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?’
For from him and through him and to him are all things.
  To him be the glory forever!  Amen.”

Wow!  What a song!  As I am writing this, the students at Michiana Christian School  are singing the song, “Everlasting Love”, in chapel.  One verse in it states, “Oh, the wonder of His everlasting love is deeper than the sea.”  That seems to be what Paul is getting at in his song.  He has already written about the great riches being opened up to the Gentiles.  Riches that will be even greater as their fullness is spread to the entire world — both Jew and Gentile.  So, Paul writes this “song” proclaiming the vast depth of God’s riches in wisdom and knowledge. 

We often wonder, “What is the difference between wisdom and knowledge?”  That is one of our “daily questions” in the View From The Top:  What Does God Say study that I am using to develop the writings on this blog.  Generally, wisdom deals with the application of what we know.  It is learned through experience and as a gift from God — “If anyone lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives generously without finding fault” (James 1:5).  Wisdom is doing, saying, being, the right thing at the right time.  On the other hand, knowledge is information.  Many people and cultures pride themselves in their ability to obtain knowledge.  Knowledge discovers, investigates, and reveals.  Knowledge by itself is not always discriminate in its use or application.  Knowledge discovers things such as nuclear reactions — Wisdom restrains that discovery’s use to that which brings good and not harm.  In both wisdom and knowledge, God exhibits a depth of riches beyond compare.

His wisdom is beyond searching and untraceable!  God’s experience is limitless as He is not bound by time or space.  God is the true author of wisdom as only He knows the proper and best application for anything that we may come to know.  His knowledge is complete and perfect.  No one has completely known the mind of God nor has He needed any person’s counsel to teach Him something new.  God is the author of the universe and everything in it.  It all came about by His desire and His word.  Nothing we learn as new “earth-shattering” discoveries is new knowledge to God.  The depth of the riches of His knowledge is beyond our comprehension.

So, why did Paul burst out in song?  Why do I find myself singing in the midst of contemplating God?  I think it is for the same reason.  When taking the time to dwell in thoughts of an All-Knowing God’s great mercy, I feel no choice but to praise Him for the depth of riches He chooses to share with me.  I am in awe and wonder that this All-Knowing God, full of complete wisdom and knowledge , desires that I would have a relationship with Him through His Son. 

When you and I struggle with decisions in life, limited in our wisdom and knowledge, may we turn to the One who has a depth of riches that He longs to share with us.