Balancing Desire for Understanding with Trust in God's Sovereignty
Balancing Desire for Understanding with Trust in God's Sovereignty
The biblical concept of balancing the desire for understanding with trust in God's sovereignty is rooted in the acknowledgment of God's infinite wisdom and the limitations of human knowledge. The book of Job highlights this tension, as Job acknowledges that while he knows certain truths, he cannot fully comprehend God's ways: "Truly I know it is so; but how can man be just with God?" [1]. This sentiment is echoed in the Psalms, where the psalmist seeks understanding while acknowledging God's sovereignty [4].
The apostle Paul's writings emphasize the importance of understanding in deepening one's faith. In Colossians, he prays that the Colossian believers may have "the full assurance of understanding" to know the mystery of God [2]. Similarly, in Ephesians, Paul expresses a desire for believers to "know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge" and be "filled unto all the fulness of God" [3]. According to Calvin, this "full assurance of understanding" implies a deepening of faith through knowledge, which in turn fosters love and unity among believers [5].
The pursuit of understanding is not a replacement for trust in God's sovereignty but rather a complementary aspect of faith. As John Gill notes, a spiritual understanding of God's law and the Gospel is a gift of grace, enabling believers to keep the law spiritually and out of love and gratitude for Christ [8]. The Methodist theologian Adam Clarke interprets Paul's prayer in Ephesians 3:19 as a call to know Christ's love, which surpasses human knowledge, and understands it as a measure of God's love for humanity [6].
The Reformed tradition, as represented by Calvin and others, emphasizes that the pursuit of understanding is part of a believer's growth in faith. According to Calvin, the "riches of the assurance of understanding" refers to a full and clear perception of God's mysteries, which is accompanied by progress in love [5]. one commentary tradition by Jamieson, Fausset & Brown notes that understanding the mystery of Christ is facilitated by reading and perceiving Paul's understanding of it [7].
Sources
- Job “Job 9:2 (LITV) — Truly I know it is so; but how can man be just with God?”
- Colossians “that their hearts may be comforted, they being knit together in love, and gaining all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may know the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, -- Colossians 2:2”
- Ephesians “Ephesians 3:19 (Rotherham) — To get to know, also, the knowledge-surpassing, love of the Christ,—in order that ye may be filled unto all the fulness of God:”
- OpenBible.info “Cross-reference: Ps.139.17 → Ps.40.5 (confidence: 29 votes)”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Philippians, Colossians, 1-2 Thessalonians, section 30.3: of God, when we embrace it with one consent; for peace and agreement with men flow forth from that fountain. Riches of the assurance of understanding. As many, contenting themselves with a slight taste, have nothing but a confused and evanescent knowledge, he makes mention expressly of the riches of understanding . By this phrase he means full and clear perception; and at the same time admonishes them, that according to the measure of understanding they must make progress also in love. In the term assurance , he di”
- Ephesians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Ephesians 3:19: To know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge - It is only by the love of Christ that we can know the love of God: the love of God to man induced him to give Christ for his redemption; Christ's love to man induced him to give his life's blood for his salvation. The gift of Christ to man is the measure of God's love; the death of Christ for man is the measure of Christ's love. God so loved the world, etc. Christ loved us, and gave himself for us. But how can the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, be known? Many have labored to reconcile this seeming co”
- Ephesians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ephesians 3:4: understand my knowledge--"perceive my understanding" [ALFORD], or "intelligence." "When ye read," implies that, deep as are the mysteries of this Epistle, the way for all to understand them is to read it (Ti2 3:15-16). By perceiving his understanding of the mysteries, they, too, will be enabled to understand. the mystery of Christ--The "mystery" is Christ Himself, once hidden, but now revealed (Col 1:27).”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 119:32: Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law,.... A spiritual understanding; an understanding of the law, the perfection, purity, holiness, and spirituality of it; an understanding of the Gospel, and of Christ and the things of Christ; from whom grace and strength are to be had for the due observance of the law, as in his hands; which understanding must be given, and is a gift of pure, free, rich grace, to such who have it; though they cannot keep the law perfectly, as no mere man can, yet will keep it spiritually, from a principle of love and gratitude, and with”