Balancing Analogies and Examples with God's Majesty and Mystery
Scripture itself declares that "the glory of God is to conceal a thing" [1], establishing a fundamental tension in theological discourse: God reveals himself truly yet remains incomprehensible. This principle shapes how Christian tradition approaches analogies and examples when speaking of divine realities.
The Concealment as Glory
Proverbs 25:2 distinguishes divine glory from human inquiry. Keil and Delitzsch observe that God's glory "consists in this, to conceal a matter, i.e., to place before men mystery upon mystery, in which they become conscious of the limitation and insufficiency of their knowledge" [3]. Matthew Henry notes that "there is an unfathomable depth in his counsels" and that "clouds and darkness are round about him" [7]. John Gill extends this to the manner of divine attributes: "many things which he does reveal, yet the 'modus' or manner of them remains hidden; as what relates to his own being, and manner of subsisting; the trinity of Persons in the Godhead" [10].
The Necessity of Analogy
Yet Scripture itself employs analogies—God as shepherd, king, father—and Christ taught through parables using "surprising, evocative imagery" to communicate kingdom realities [4]. The Psalmist meditates on God's glory by examining "instances of his goodness to man; for God's goodness is his glory" [8]. When humans encounter divine glory directly, the response is overwhelming fear requiring reassurance [5], suggesting that mediated knowledge through analogy serves pastoral necessity.
The Christological Center
The tradition locates the resolution in Christ, who is "the image of God" [2]. John Gill describes Christ as having "honour and majesty laid upon him" with "rays of light and glory darting from him" [9], making the invisible God visible without exhausting the mystery. The incarnation provides the supreme analogy—fully revealing yet preserving transcendence.
The balance, then, is not between using or avoiding analogies, but recognizing their function: they illuminate truly without claiming to illuminate exhaustively. The Psalmist's concern is that "the vindication of God's mercy and faithfulness" be manifested [6], not that every aspect of divine being be mapped. Analogies serve doxology and trust, not comprehensive explanation. The glory remains in what is concealed even as the goodness is declared in what is revealed.
Sources
- Proverbs “Proverbs 25:2 (Geneva1599) — The glorie of God is to conceale a thing secret: but the Kings honour is to search out a thing.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Excellency and Glory of Christ, The — As God -- Joh 1:1-5; Php 2:6,9,10. As the Son of God -- Mt 3:17; Heb 1:6,8. As one with the Father -- Joh 10:30,38. As the First-born -- Col 1:15,18. As the First-begotten -- Heb 1:6. As Lord of lords, &c -- Re 17:14. As the image of God -- Col 1:15; Heb 1:3. As creator -- Joh 1:3; Col 1:16; Heb 1:2. As the Blessed of God -- Ps 45:2. As Mediator -- 1Ti 2:5; Heb 8:6. As Prophet -- De 18:15,16; Ac 3:22. As Priest -- Ps 110:4; Heb 4:15. As King -- Isa 6:1-5; Joh 12:41. As Judge -- Mt 16:27; 25:31,33. As Shepherd -- Isa 40:10,11; Joh”
- Proverbs (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on Proverbs 25:2: It is characteristic of the purpose of the book that it begins with proverbs of the king: It is the glory of God to conceal a thing; And the glory of the king to search out a matter. That which is the glory of God and the glory of the king in itself, and that by which they acquire glory, stand here contrasted. The glory of God consists in this, to conceal a matter, i.e., to place before men mystery upon mystery, in which they become conscious of the limitation and insufficiency of their knowledge, so that they are constrained to acknowledge, Deu 29:28, that "”
- Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 13:31: 13:31-33 Jesus used surprising, evocative imagery in these parables, either to emphasize the inevitable growth of the Kingdom through proclamation of the gospel or, more probably, to emphasize the contrast between insignificant beginnings and glorious consummation, and to exhort the disciples to patience (see also 16:24–17:13).”
- Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 17:6: 17:6-7 Such a response is typical for encounters with God’s glory (e.g., Isa 6:5; Dan 8:17; 10:9, 15-19; Rev 1:17).”
- Psalms (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Psalms 113 (introduction): The Psalmist prays that God would vindicate His glory, which is contrasted with the vanity of idols, while the folly of their worshippers is contrasted with the trust of God's people, who are encouraged to its exercise and to unite in the praise which it occasions. (Psa. 115:1-18) The vindication of God's mercy and faithfulness (Psa 25:10; Psa 36:6) is the "glory" of His "name," which is desired to be illustrated in the deliverance of His people, as the implied mode of its manifestation. In view of the taunts of the heathen, faith in His”
- Proverbs (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Proverbs 25:2: Here is, 1. An instance given of the honour of God: It is his glory to conceal a matter. He needs not search into any thing, for he perfectly knows every thing by a clear and certain view, and nothing can be hidden from him; and yet his own way is in the sea and his path in the great waters. There is an unfathomable depth in his counsels, Rom 11:33. It is but a little portion that is heard of him. Clouds and darkness are round about him. We see what he does, but we know not the reasons. Some refer it to the sins of men; it is his glory to pardon sin, which is co”
- Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 8 (introduction): This psalm is a solemn meditation on, and admiration of, the glory and greatness of God, of which we are all concerned to think highly and honourably. It begins and ends with the same acknowledgment of the transcendent excellency of God's name. It is proposed for proof (Psa 8:1) that God's name is excellent in all the earth, and then it is repeated as proved (with a "quod erat demonstrandum" - which was to be demonstrated) in the last verse. For the proof of God's glory the psalmist gives instances of his goodness to man; for God's goodness is his glor”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 96:6: Honour and majesty are before him,.... He being set down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, and having honour and majesty laid upon him; being arrayed in robes of majesty, crowned with glory and honour, sitting on the same throne of glory with his Father, and having a sceptre of righteousness in his hand, and all the forms and ensigns of royalty and majesty about him; rays of light and glory darting from him; as well as those glorious and bright forms before him; the holy angels continually praising him; which is a much more noble sense tha”
- Proverbs (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Proverbs 25:2: It is the glory of God to conceal a thing,.... Secret things belong unto him, and they are kept so by him: many things which he does reveal, yet the "modus" or manner of them remains hidden; as what relates to his own being, and manner of subsisting; the trinity of Persons in the Godhead; the filiation or the Son, and the procession of the Spirit; the incarnation of Christ, and the like: the predestination of men to life and death, though that there is such a thing is certain, yet who they are is not known; the purposes and decrees of God, all that he determines to ”