1) Write out
all 6 sentences of Romans 11:33-36 on the drawing paper provided. You may wish
to print out the passage in strips for them to copy.
Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge
of God!
How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths 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 for him are
all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen.
2) What is
the general tone and feeling the passage gives us?
Answer should centre round the idea of thankfulness. Ask them if
they feel thankful at this point of time and what do they feel thankful for?
3) Put the
sentences in the right order. What genre or type of writing is the passage?
3a)
Explain where does the doxology sit in the book of Romans
Before we undertake a study of truths in this
paragraph, we need to consider the context: the book of Romans. In the first
eleven chapters of Romans, Paul gives a step by step presentation of God's
plan, the gospel of Christ.
In the first three chapters, he begins with the sin of man. It is an ugly
picture of how people know there is a God and they know what is right before
Him, but they do what is wrong. Near the end of this section there is that
statement of Paul: "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of
God," (Rom. 3:23). The truth is, man has sinned, but God - in the riches
of His love and grace - has given a remedy, the gospel of Christ (the power of
God to save, Rom. 1:16).
In chapters four, five and six - Paul takes the next step in this journey.
Though we have sinned, we can be forgiven; we can be justified "by
faith" and enjoy peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. The
direction of that faith, the response and activity of it, the life of faith
that responds to Christ and pleases God - all of that is developed in this
section. And here, Paul clearly identifies the proper response of sinners to
the gospel: we were buried with Him through baptism into death ... so we should
walk in newness of life ... you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the
heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered ... and having been set
free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. So, the problem is sin; God
provides the remedy in Christ - the gospel tells of Christ as the remedy - but
individual must respond (hearing, believing and obeying from the heart).
In chapter seven, Paul speaks to the Jews about their previous relationship
with the law of Moses, now severed by their marriage to Christ. In chapter
eight, the freedom, blessings and hope enjoyed by those whose faith responds to
the gospel.
Now in chapters nine, ten and eleven - Paul deals with a particular, sensitive
issue at that time, the Jews and their difficulty in accepting Gentiles.
Because of their history, traditions and attitudes, it was enormously difficult
for Jewish Christians to understand the change from the old covenant to the
new. It was a special challenge for most of them to accept Gentiles as
brethren, share with them and conquer all their prejudices. Part of the problem
was, some Jews were mis-informed and confused by Paul's enemies - thinking that
Paul was teaching that God had rejected every Israelite. The apostle addresses
these sensitive questions in Romans nine, ten and eleven. And his argument is
well expressed in the opening statement of chapter eleven: "I say then,
has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the
seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not cast away His people
whom He foreknew!"
So, there is the problem of sin; the solution God provides in Christ; man's
necessary response of faith; also, in Romans, Paul deals with questions and
issues about all of this. Romans is a step by step presentation of the gospel
plan, written by the inspired apostle.
Beginning in chapter twelve, Paul teaches how we should live in view of all
these marvelous truths. This is sometimes called "the practical
section" of the book because of the focus on practice in daily life.
However, before beginning this section - Paul stops at the end of chapter
eleven and offers up this excellent statement of praise to God.
4)
Colour the adjectives. What does the passage tell us about God?
a) He knows everything that could ever
be known. Not only his knowledge deep, it is also wide. He knows everything
that has been, everything that is, and everything that will be. He even knows
everything that could have been, or could be, or could ever be. Not only does
he know it, but he has known it all from the beginning of time.It would be
enough if God simply walked with you through the events of life as they happen.
But he does much more than that. He goes ahead of you, clearing the way,
arranging the details of life so that when you get there, you can have
confidence that God has already been there before you. That’s the prevenient
grace of God. He goes before his people. He’s at work in the future while we
live in the present. He can do that because he knows everything there is to
know.
b. He Makes Plans We Can’t Understand.
“How unsearchable his judgments!”
Other translations use the word “inscrutable”, which means “beyond human
understanding.” Eugene Peterson (The Message) offers this version of verse
33: “Have you ever come on anything quite like this extravagant generosity
of God, this deep, deep wisdom? It’s way over our heads. We’ll never figure it
out.” I like that phrase–"It’s way over our heads.” Not only does God
make plans we don’t know about, even if we did know about them, we couldn’t
understand them. That explains why some things remain unexplainable forever.
It’s not that God is unwilling to explain, it’s that our little minds can’t
begin to comprehend the infinite purposes of God. John Wesley said it this way:
“Show me a worm that fully comprehend a man, and I’ll show you a man that can
comprehend God.” It can’t be done.
c. He Alone Knows Why Everything Happens.
“And his paths beyond tracing
out!” (33c) Matthew Henry has a helpful word about this. The main things
God wants us to know are clear and plain. They are, he said, like a highway
open for all to travel. But the judgments of his hands are dark and mysterious.
That road is closed forever to us. God leaves no footprints behind him.”
You can’t tell where he’s been or where the Almighty is going. He leaves no
track or trail that we can follow. That means that in life many things will
happen that we simply do not understand. Sickness, accidents, violent crimes,
sudden financial collapse, divorce, crumbled dreams, cancer, tornadoes,
hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, famines, war, broken promises, evil triumphing
over good, lost jobs, ruined lives, children dying, others promoted while we
are passed, our ideas stolen and used by others, and good works we do that
others take credit for. The list is endless and heartbreaking. It is against
that backdrop that we must consider the meaning of verses such as “The
secret things belong to the Lord our God” (Deuteronomy 29:29) and “As the
heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my
thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9). There is a fundamental category
difference between God and his creation. His thoughts are “higher” precisely
because he is God and we are not.
5) Colour the repeated phrases. Why
do you think these are repeated?
Verses 34-35 contain three rhetorical questions,
each one expecting a negative answer. They all begin with the same two words …
“Who has … Who has … Who has?” To emphasise the same answer to all three
questions. “No one … No one … No one.”
5a) What can no one do?
1. No One Can Explain
God
“Who has
known the mind of the Lord?” (34a)
2. No One Can Counsel
God.
“Or who has
been his counselor?” (34b) I love the
way Eugene Peterson puts it: Is there “anyone smart enough to tell him what to
do?” He needs no counselor for he is infinitely wise.
3. No One Can Accuse
God of Unfairness.
“Who has
ever given to God, that God should repay him?” (35) This question comes from Job 41:11 where God asks
Job, “Who has a claim against me that I must pay?
Everything under heaven belongs to me.” No one can ever say, “God, you owe me
something,” because the Lord will be no man’s debtor. No one can say, “You
cheated me,” because God cheats no one. No one can say, “I’ve earned your
favor,” because everything this side of hell is mercy, and everything this side
of heaven is grace.
6) Colour the prepositions. The
change in prepositions gives us three different reasons to praise God. What are
they?
Three Reasons to
Praise God
It is as if Paul can contain himself
no longer. He means to show that God is all in all. Everything comes from him,
everything exists by his power, and everything will ultimately answer to him.
James Montgomery Boice calls this verse the secret of a “Christian worldview”
because it dethrones man and puts God on the throne of the universe.
1. He is the Source of
All Things.
“For from him” (36a) He is the source of all things, which mean that all
things flow from Him
2. He is the Sustainer of All Things
“And through him.” (36b). Not only do all things flow from Him, but he is the
reason for the continued existence of the universe. He alone understands the
purpose for everything that he created
3. He is the Supreme
Purpose of All Things
“And to him are all things” (36c). This
is a breathtaking statement because Paul includes “all things” in his
exclamation. Nothing is left out, no part of creation excluded. God is the
beginning, the middle, and the end of “all things.” Everything comes from him,
everything continues by him, everything finds it ultimate purpose in him. And
we have a new appreciation for the wisdom of God because nothing is ever
wasted. Everything “fits” somewhere.
6) How
does the passage end? Why is this a good way to end a project, day, argument or
activity?
The mysteries of God lead us in one of two directions.
Either you give up your faith altogether and become a skeptic or you bow the
knee before the God who is too great, too vast, too awesome for you to fully
comprehend. Here are some examples of way to end our days.
In good days and dark nights–To him be the glory forever!
In the classroom and in the cafe–To him be the glory forever!
In moments of victory and in darkest defeat–To him be the glory
forever!
In prayers answered and in prayers unanswered–To him be the
glory forever!
In yesterday’s tears, today’s rejoicing, and tomorrow’s
adventures–To him be the glory forever!
To him alone be the glory forever! Amen
Extra question
What other qualities of God can you think of? Sovereign, Almighty, Omnipotent, Omniscient,
Omnipresent, Infinite, Eternal, and Immortal
7) Place the verse you have written out in an everyday
setting. Take a picture of it. Load it onto the HCF facebook to remind
yourselves as a group to say “To him be the glory forever. Amen.” in everyday situations.
I suggest the leader takes the
pictures and loads it on to FB in the right order. Take as many shots as the
group decides. End with a prayer of thanksgiving with each person giving thanks
for one thing.
