Isaiah 55 reminds us that the thoughts of the Lord are much higher than our thoughts, His ways more wise than our own. God is complete “other” than us, utterly transcendent and unsurpassed in all His ways.
“I am the LORD, and there is no other,
besides me there is no God…”
(Isaiah 45:5)
Here are seven ways in which the glory of the Lord goes unsurpassed:
1. His ways are inscrutable and untrackable.
“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!”
(Romans 11:33)
2. His riches are unsearchable.
“To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ”
(Ephesians 3:8)
3. His love is beyond knowledge.
“and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”
(Ephesians 3:19)
4. His joy is inexpressible.
“Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory”
(1 Peter 1:8)
5. His kindness is unsurpassable.
“Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off.”
(Romans 11:22)
6. His peace surpasses understanding.
“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
(Philippians 4:7)
7. He himself is indescribable.
“remember the former things of old;
for I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like me,”
(Isaiah 46:9)
What would you add to this list? How else do the glory of the Lord and His attributes surpass all others?
The LORD’s lovingkindnesses (mercies) indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Thy faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23 NASV.
Merciful, compassionate and faithful; who could ask for a better God?
God’s ignorance and cruelty are unsurpassed for yet while God has the ability to make everything good he refuses to do so.
John, that in itself is an ignorant statement, but don’t worry GOD has your back. All you have to do is believe it.
J.
Mr Groats,
I am puzzled by your post.
I know God is niether ignorant or cruel and has put together a masterful plan for all of mankind.
Rom 9:14-15, 20 What shall we say then? [Is there] unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and
I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion
v20. But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to him who formed it,
‘Why did you make me like this?’ ”
Can you help me understand why you say such in your post?
In God’s Love,
AB
When I was a child, I lived in response to what I saw, felt, heard, touched and believed. My parents, siblings, family, friends, and teachers among others, all contributed to my foundational worldview or paradigm.
Obviously, my upbringing affected and shaped my understanding of life and even God! Those experiences and emotions remained.
But, as I grew and matured I had to encounter the fallacies, the mistakes, the half-truths. I had to be honest with myself to identify the wounds and the healings that had taken place. All in all, I realized there was true love somewhere. All the important people couldn’t fill the gap in my soul nor give me an identity. At 25 years old, True Love found me, and answered my cry! His Name was Jesus! His Love for me was good, gracious and real! Truth begins with His goodness realized in one’s heart. Ask Him to show you His love.
John,
God has the ability to make everything good and is doing so. Unfortunately while He is doing so people get impatient and try to do everything themselves, without Him. Big mistake! Not having God at the centre of our life causes those problems and tragedies to occur. God says “Come to me all you who are burdened and heavy laden and I shall give you rest” Matthew 11:28 If we bring everything to God he promises to make our burden light. We must believe that he is a rewarder of all those who diligently seek him.
Ignorance is not a capable position of God, He is all knowing, cruelty of whom? of God don’t you mean of man, when a murderer goes before a judge does the judge have the power to say your sins are forgiven you go ahead, yes, but doesn’t the judge Condemn that murderer to life in prison or death? one must pay for their actions and that is why humans end up how they do. GOD IS LIGHT AND IN HIM THERE IS NO VARIABILITY OR SHADOW. Humans are wicked born and shape in iniquity.
By the way John, “make everything good”…according to what standard? Those of Americans or any third world country of your choice? I don’t know what your life has been like, but for the majority of us with a computer to tap away our opinions on, when we stand before the JUDGE beside some child who suffered through horrors we only read about we’ll have no complaints and so we should take pause to think twice now before we do complain. There is always someone worse off than I am. Believe it and be thankful for what we have.
J.
Rom 8:26 HNV, I love knowing that I know nothing and in my ignorance all is taken care of while I am unaware of its being done. I can’t do anything right, even prayer. Humbling piece of scripture isn’t it.
J.
Here are some of His attributes with supporting scripture references:
- God’s name is Yahweh or Jehovah (Exodus 3:14). It means, “I am”. We can look at His great name and understand that “He was”, “He is”, “He will be”, and He causes all things to exits! Amazing!
- Yahweh/God is the creator (Gen 1:1, Isa 40:28, Isa 43:15, Jer 32:17)
- God is love (agape) (1 John 4:8, 1 John 4:16)
- God is eternal ( Deut 33:27, 1 Tim 1:17, Heb 9:14)
- God is a spirit ( John 4:24, Heb 9:14) the holy (not unholy) spirit
- God is all knowing or omniscient (Isa 40:28, Psalm 147:5, Mat 10:30)
- God is everywhere present or omnipresent (Psalm 139:8, Jeremiah 23:23-24)
- God is all powerful or omnipotent (Job 42:2, Luke 1:37, Jeremiah 32:17, 27)
- God cannot be tempted (James 1:13)
- God is not a man (Numbers 23:19, 1 Sam 15:29)
- God is not a liar (Deut 32:4, Numbers 23:19, 1 Sam 15:29)
- God is invisible (1 Tim 1:17)
- God is immortal (1 Tim 1:17)
- God loves us! (John 3:16)
- God is just! (2Th 1:6)
- God separates our sins from us as far as the eas is from the west! (Ps 103:12)
Oh how I love Him who first loved me (1Jo 4:19). I am my beloved’s and He is mine! (Sgs 6:3). I am thankful for eternal life because God, who is so amazing and past finding out, can receive eternal praise from His people because He deserves it!
Your brother in Jesus Chirst our Lord,
Andybob
Luke 11:13
If you then being evil know how to give good gifts unto your
—CHILDREN—
How much more shall your heavenly FATHER give the holy spirit to them that ask HIM
John 6:63
It is the spirit that quickeneth
The flesh profiteth nothing
The words that I speak unto you
They are spirit and they are life
Acts 5:32
And we are HIS witnesses of these things and so is the
holy spirit Whom GOD hath given to them that obey HIM
Matthew 19:26
But JESUS beheld them and said unto them
With men this is impossible but with GOD all things are possible
Luke 1:37
For with GOD nothing shall be impossible
2 Corinthians 3:5-11
Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to—THINK—anything
as of ourselves but our sufficiency is of GOD
(6)Who hath also made us able ministers
—OF THE NEW TESTAMENT—not of the letter but of the spirit
for the letter killeth but the spirit giveth life
(7)But if the ministration of death written and engraven in stones —WAS GLORIOUS—so that the—CHILDREN—of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of
his countenance which glory was to be done away
(8)How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious
(9)For if the ministration of condemnation —BE GLORY—
MUCH MORE DOTH THE MINISTRATION OF RIGHTEOUSNESS EXCEED
—IN GLORY—
(10)For even that which was made glorious had no glory
in this respect —BY REASON OF THE GLORY THAT EXCELLETH—
(11)For if that which is done away was glorious
Much more that which remaineth is glorious
O MY LORD help us to remember all the words of the new testament
Romans 15:4
For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for
our learning that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope
1 Corinthians 10:11
Now all these things happened unto them for examples
and they are written for our admonition upon whom the ends of
the world are come
John 15:5
I am the vine you are the branches he that abideth in ME
and I in him the same bringeth forth much fruit for without
ME you can do nothing
2 Peter 1:1
Simon Peter a servant and an apostle of JESUS CHRIST
to them who have —OBTAINED—like precious faith with us
THROUGH THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD AND OUR SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST
Proverbs 8:8
All the words of –MY MOUTH–are in righteousness
there is nothing froward or perverse in them
2 Peter 1:2
Grace and peace be multiplied unto you
–THROUGH THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD AND OF OUR SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST–
2 Peter 1:3
According as HIS divine power—HATH GIVEN— unto us all things
that pertain unto life and godliness—THROUGH THE KNOWLEDGE—
of HIM that hath called us to glory and virtue
John 14:14
—IF— you shall ask anything in MY name I will do it
1 John 5:14
And this is the confidence that we have in HIM that
—IF WE ASK—any thing according to HIS will HE heareth us
2 Chronicles 7:14
—IF MY PEOPLE—which are called by MY name
—SHALL HUMBLE THEMSELVES—and seek MY face
AND TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS THEN WILL I HEAR FROM HEAVEN
AND WILL FORGIVE THEIR SIN AND WILL HEAL THEIR LAND
John 15:7
—–IF—-IF—-IF—-you abide in ME —-AND MY WORDS—
abide in you you shall ask what you will
and it shall be done unto you
Psalm 119:104
Through THY precepts I get understanding
Therefore I hate every false way
Psalm 119:98
THOU through THY commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies for they are ever with me
Proverbs 3:5
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart
and lean not unto thine own understanding
Proverbs 2:3
Yea —IF— thou criest after knowledge
and liftest up thy voice for understanding
HELP US LORD JESUS THAT WE WOULD BE THE OBEDIENT CHILDREN
THAT YOU REQUIRE OF US THAT WE MAY SEE YOUR FACE AND THE FACE OF OUR FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN WE PRAY JESUS IN—YOUR NAME—
Psalm 119:99
I have more understanding than all my teachers for THY testimonies are my meditation
Psalm 119:100
I understand more than the ancients because I keep THY precepts
LOVING THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
The words steadfast love and faithfulness are placed together in the same verse many more times in the Bible than I can count. It seems that this is something that we should always remember, because despite what we do or face the Lords love is not dependent upon that, and with that surpassing love comes faithfulness to always be with us and hear our prayers. Our task is to trust and lean on this.
Psalm 100:5 For the LORD is good; his STEADFAST LOVE endures forever, and his FAITHFULNESS to all generations.
Psalm 108:4 For your STEADFAST LOVE is great above the heavens; your FAITHFULNESS reaches to the clouds.
Proverbs 3:3 Let not STEADFAST LOVE and FAITHFULNESS forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart.
Psalm 117:2 For great is his STEADFAST LOVE toward us, and the FAITHFULNESS of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD!
Praise the Lord indeed!
2 Thessalonians 2:10
And with all deceiveableness of unrighteousness
—-IN THEM THAT PERISH—
because they received not the love of the truth
—THAT THEY MIGHT BE SAVED—
John 5:34
But I receive not testimony from man
But these things —I SAY THAT YOU MIGHT BE SAVED—
Mark 8:35
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it
But whosoever shall lose his life for MY sake and the gospels
—THE SAME SHALL SAVE IT—
1 John 2:29
—IF— you know that HE is righteous
You know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of HIM
1 John 3:10
In this the children of GOD are manifest and the children of the
devil
WHOSOEVER doeth not righteousness —IS NOT OF GOD—neither
he that loveth not his brother
1 John 3:18
MY little children let us not love in word neither in tongue
—BUT IN DEED AND IN TRUTH—
John 18:37
Pilate therefore said unto HIM
Art thou a king then JESUS answered
Thou sayest that I am a king To this end was I born
and for this cause came I into this world
That I should bear witness unto the truth
EVERY ONE THAT IS OF THE TRUTH HEARETH MY VOICE
Mark 8:38
WHOSOEVER therefore shall be ashamed of ME and of MY words
in this adulterous and sinful generation of him also shall
the SON OF MAN be ashamed when he cometh in the GLORY of
HIS FATHER with the holy angels
Luke 8:21
And HE answered and said unto them
MY mother and MY brethren are these
WHICH HEAR THE WORD OF GOD —AND DO IT—
John 14:15
—IF—you love ME keep MY commandments
LOVING THE LORD
THANK YOU LORD FOR THE STRENGTH YOU PROVIDE TO THOSE WHO ASK
IT OF YOU AND FOR THE COURAGE TO SPEAK THE TRUTH AS YOU SAY IT
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Eph 3:20-21
Psalm 37:34
Wait on the LORD —AND KEEP HIS WAY—
and HE shall exalt thee to inherit the land
when the wicked are cut off thou shalt see it
Psalm 27:14
Wait on the LORD—-BE OF GOOD COURAGE—-
AND HE SHALL STRENGTHEN THY HEART
—WAIT I SAY ON THE LORD—
*************2 Thessalonians 1:11*****************
Wherefore also we always pray for you
That our GOD would count you —WORTHY— of this calling
and fulfill all the good pleasure of HIS goodness
—AND THE WORK OF FAITH WITH POWER—
Luke 20:33
Therefore in the —RESURRECTION— whose wife of them is she
for seven had her to wife
Luke 20:34
And JESUS answering said unto them
The children of this world marry and are given in marriage
Luke 20:35
But they which shall be
—ACCOUNTED WORTHY TO OBTAIN THAT WORLD—
—AND THE RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD—
neither marry nor are given in marriage
Luke 20:36
Niether can they die anymore for they are equal unto the angels and are children of GOD
—BEING THE CHILDREN OF THE RESURRECTION—
Psalm 25:9
The meek will HE guide in judgement
—AND THE MEEK WILL HE TEACH HIS WAY—
Psalm 27:11
—TEACH ME THY WAY O LORD—
and lead me in a plain path because of mine enemies
Psalm 34:11
Come you children hearken unto—ME—
I will teach you the fear of the LORD
Psalm 51:13
Then I will teach transgressors thy ways
—AND SINNERS WILL BE CONVERTED UNTO THEE—
Proverbs 20:22
Say not thou I will recompense evil
—BUT WAIT ON THE LORD—
—AND HE SHALL SAVE THEE—
1 John 2:27
But the anointing which you have received of
HIM ABIDETH IN YOU
and you need not —THAT ANY MAN TEACH YOU—
BUT AS THE SAME ANOINTING TEACHETH YOU ALL THINGS AND IS TRUTH
AND IS NO LIE AND EVEN AS IT HATH TAUGHT YOU
—-YOU SHALL ABIDE IN HIM—
LOVING THE LORD