Cultivating Deeper Appreciation for God's Majesty and Mystery

Cultivating a deeper appreciation for God's majesty and mystery involves recognizing the profound and often hidden aspects of His nature and His works, which are progressively revealed to believers. The apostle Paul speaks of "the mystery of God, namely Christ," indicating that a full understanding of God is intrinsically linked to knowing Christ ^[1]. This understanding is not merely intellectual assent but a comprehensive grasp that encourages the heart, knits believers together in love, and fills them with complete understanding ^[1].

The concept of "mystery" in Pauline theology often refers to divine truths that were formerly hidden but are now revealed through the Gospel ^[6]. For instance, God's mysterious will concerns how He will bring all things together under the authority of Christ, ensuring His universal recognition as Lord ^[6]. This includes the surprising inclusion of Gentiles alongside Jews in God's redeemed people, a truth revealed through the Gospel ^[6]. The "manifold wisdom of God" is made known through the church to spiritual powers in heavenly places, demonstrating the vastness of His design ^[2].

The wisdom of God is a recurring theme in scripture, described as something to which believers should diligently attend ^[7]. John Gill, commenting on Proverbs, explains that this is not worldly wisdom but "spiritual and evangelical wisdom," found in Christ, "in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" ^[7]. The doctrines of the Gospel are themselves referred to as "the wisdom of God in a mystery" ^[7]. This wisdom and understanding are gifts from God, enabling believers to grasp the "mysteries of the Kingdom" ^[5].

A deeper appreciation for God's majesty also involves acknowledging the "depth" of His divine counsels, particularly concerning His dealings with both Jews and Gentiles ^[12]. The apostle Paul, in Romans 11:33, expresses awe at "the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God," recognizing that His ways are often beyond full human comprehension ^[12]. This sense of awe is a natural response to the vastness of God's plans and His sovereign actions ^[12].

The "loving-kindness of God" is another aspect that contributes to this appreciation. It is described in scripture as great, excellent, good, marvelous, multitudinous, and everlasting ^[4]. This loving-kindness is manifested through Christ and is better than life itself ^[4]. Understanding God's dealings with humanity provides knowledge of His loving-kindness, which draws people to Him, preserves them, quickens them, and comforts them ^[4].

Afflictions, though difficult, can also serve to deepen appreciation for God's majesty and mystery. They are presented in scripture as beneficial in several ways:

Promoting God's glory: As seen in instances where physical ailments or challenging circumstances lead to a demonstration of God's power ^[3].
Exhibiting God's power and faithfulness: Trials can reveal God's ability to sustain and deliver His people ^[3].
Teaching God's will: Difficulties can be instrumental in guiding believers to understand and align with God's purposes ^[3].
Turning people to God: Adversity often prompts individuals to seek God and return to Him ^[3].
Preventing departure from God: Afflictions can serve as a corrective, keeping believers from straying ^[3].
Leading to prayer: In times of trouble, people are often driven to earnest prayer ^[3].
Convicting of sin: Difficult experiences can bring about a realization and conviction of sin ^[3].

This process of understanding God's will and growing in knowledge is not passive. True knowledge of God's will is inseparable from walking in a manner that is "worthy of the Lord," bearing fruit, and continually growing in the "full knowledge of God" ^[11]. This growth in knowledge is a dynamic process, often facilitated by the Gospel ^[11].

The "fear of the Lord" is also central to appreciating God's majesty. John Gill notes that understanding the fear of the Lord is a grace and an exercise of it, which is the "beginning of wisdom and knowledge" ^[9]. This fear is not terror but a reverential awe, worked in the hearts of believers by the Holy Spirit through the Gospel ^[9]. It is influenced by the "riches of his special grace and goodness" and particularly by God's pardoning grace and mercy, which motivate a desire to honor Him ^[9].

Furthermore, the earth will eventually be "filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord" ^[10]. This refers to the glory of Jesus Christ—His divine person, His essential deity, and the glory of His office as Mediator ^[10]. This future reality underscores the ultimate and universal recognition of God's majesty. The "multiplication of grace and peace" in believers' lives can involve a deeper discovery of God's love, an increase in the exercise of spiritual graces, or a clearer, more enlarged understanding of divine truths ^[8]. This ongoing revelation and experience of God's character contribute to a profound and ever-deepening appreciation for His majesty and mystery.

Sources

Colossians “Colossians 2:2 (BSB) — that they may be encouraged in heart, knit together in love, and filled with the full riches of complete understanding, so that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ,”
Ephesians “to the intent that now through the assembly the manifold wisdom of God might be made known to the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places, -- Ephesians 3:10”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Afflictions Made Beneficial — In promoting the glory of God -- Joh 9:1-3; 11:3,4; 21:18,19. In exhibiting the power and faithfulness of God -- Ps 34:19,20; 2Co 4:8-11. In teaching us the will of God -- Ps 119:71; Isa 26:9; Mic 6:9. In turning us to God -- De 4:30,31; Ne 1:8,9; Ps 78:34; Isa 10:20,21; Ho 2:6,7. In keeping us from again departing from God -- Job 34:31,32; Isa 10:20; Eze 14:10,11. In leading us to seek God in prayer -- Jdj 4:3; Jer 31:18; La 2:17-19; Ho 5:14,15; Jon 2:1. In convincing us of sin -- Job 36:8,9; Ps 119:67; Lu 15:16-18. In leading us to con”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Loving-Kindness of God, The — Is through Christ -- Eph 2:7; Tit 3:4-6. Described as Great. -- Ne 9:17. Excellent. -- Ps 36:7. Good. -- Ps 69:16. Marvellous. -- Ps 17:7; 31:21. Multitudinous. -- Isa 63:7. Everlasting. -- Isa 54:8. Merciful. -- Ps 117:2. Better than life. -- Ps 63:3. Consideration of the dealings of God gives a knowledge of -- Ps 107:43. Saints Betrothed in. -- Ho 2:19. Drawn by. -- Jer 31:3. Preserved by. -- Ps 40:11. Quickened after. -- Ps 119:88. Comforted by. -- Ps 119:76. Look for mercy through. -- Ps 51:1. Receive mercy through. -- Isa 54:8. Are ”
Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 13:51: 13:51 The ability to understand the mysteries of the Kingdom is a gift from God (13:10-17, 23).”
Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 1:8: 1:8-10 Wisdom and understanding come from the revelation of God’s mysterious will regarding Christ. In Paul’s writings, mysterious will (traditionally mystery) often refers to a divine truth formerly hidden but now revealed in the Good News (see 3:9). Here it refers to how God will bring everything together under the authority of Christ, so that he may be universally recognized and respected as Lord (see Phil 2:9-11; Col 1:16-20, 26-27; 2:2, 19; 4:3). Ephesians focuses specifically on the inclusion of Gentiles as well as Jews in God’s redeemed people (see Eph 3:”
Proverbs (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Proverbs 5:1: My son, attend unto my wisdom,.... Not the wisdom of the world or of the flesh, worldly wisdom and carnal policy; but spiritual and evangelical wisdom; such as one that is greater than Solomon has in him, even Christ; "for in him are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge", Col 2:3; and which he teaches and communicates to others, even all proper instructions for conduct in life: the Gospel, and each of the doctrines of it, which are "the wisdom of God in a mystery", Co1 2:7, these every child of God, and disciple of Christ, ought carefully and diligently to atten”
2 Peter (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Peter 1:2: Grace and peace be multiplied unto you,.... By a multiplication of grace may be meant a larger discovery of the love and favour of God; which though it admits of no degrees in itself, being never more or less in God's heart, yet, as to the manifestations of it, it is different, and capable of being increased, and drawn out to a greater length; or else an increase of the internal graces of the Spirit of God, as to the actings and exercise of them; or a larger measure of the gifts of the Spirit, for greater usefulness among them; or a clearer view, and a more enlarged k”
Proverbs (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Proverbs 2:5: Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord,.... The grace of fear, and the exercise of it: which is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge, and is a treasure itself, Pro 1:7. By means of the Gospel the Lord works it in the hearts of his people by his Spirit; and by the same leads them into the riches of his special grace and "goodness", which they are influenced by to "fear", and the Lord for the sake of it: and particularly they are led hereby to the pardoning grace and mercy of God, which is with him, that he may "be feared"; and it is the Gospel which induces ”
Habakkuk (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Habakkuk 2:13: For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord,.... Of the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ; of the glory of his person, as the Son of God, and truly God; which is essential to him, and underived; the same with his Father's, and what transcends the glory of all created beings; and of the glory of his office as Mediator, which itself is glorious and honourable: and this his glory lies in his fitness for it; in his faithful performance of it, and the honour given him by his Father upon it; as well as in the fulness of grace in him, which makes”
Colossians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Colossians 1:10: Greek, "So as to walk"; so that ye may walk. True knowledge of God's will is inseparable from walking conformably to it. worthy of the Lord-- (Eph 4:1). unto--so as in every way to be well-pleasing to God. pleasing--literally, "desire of pleasing." being fruitful--Greek, "bearing fruit." This is the first manifestation of their "walking worthy of the Lord." The second is, "increasing (growing) in the knowledge of God (or as the oldest manuscripts read, 'growing BY the full knowledge of God')"; thus, as the Gospel word (Col 1:6) was said to ”
Romans (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Romans 11:33: The apostle having insisted so largely, through the greatest part of this chapter, upon reconciling the rejection of the Jews with the divine goodness, he concludes here with the acknowledgment and admiration of the divine wisdom and sovereignty in all this. Here the apostle does with great affection and awe adore, I. The secrecy of the divine counsels: O the depth! in these proceedings towards the Jews and Gentiles; or, in general, the whole mystery of the gospel, which we cannot fully comprehend. - The riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God, the abundant ins”

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