God, who is unsearchable, searches every heart

The Verse of the Day for May 15, 2022, comes from Ecclesiastes 11:5 in the New Living Translation:

Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things.

This verse reminds us that God, the creator of the universe, is far beyond our ability to comprehend. In thinking about this verse, the word “unsearchable” comes to mind, a term uniquely applied to the Lord, God Almighty:

Romans 11:33-36 (NLT) also reveals His incomprehensible nature:

³³ Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!

³⁴ For who can know the Lord’s thoughts?
    Who knows enough to give him advice?
³⁵ And who has given him so much
    that he needs to pay it back?

³⁶ For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.

In the Book of Job and in the Psalms, we find similar sentiments expressed:

Job 5:9 (NLT):

He does great things too marvelous to understand.

He performs countless miracles.

Job 11:7-9 (NLT)                                               

⁷ “Can you solve the mysteries of God?

Can you discover everything about the Almighty?

⁸ Such knowledge is higher than the heavens—

And who are you?

It is deeper than the underworld*—

What do you know?

⁹ It is broader than the earth

And wider than the sea.

The Psalmist also notes the incomprehensible nature of the Creator in Psalm 139:1-6 (NLT)

¹ O Lord, you have examined my heart

And know everything about me.

² You know when I sit down or stand up.

You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.

³ You see me when I travel

And when I rest at home.

You know everything I do.

⁴ You know what I am going to say

Even before I say it, Lord.

⁵ You go before me and follow me.

You place your hand of blessing on my head.

⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,

Too great for me to understand!

In describing the ways of God, one of the terms used is “unsearchable” which is also translated “indelineable, marked by being impossible to plot, travel, or trace to the end of, therefore, incomprehensible or impossible to understand.”

Today’s blog post also brings to mind a previous entry focusing on the “Word of the Day” which turned out to be “research,” whose root is “search,” a term related to what God continually does to the human heart.

Research, in its most literal sense, means to “re-search” or to “search again. God, our Father, as the ultimate “Researcher” conducts this grand “research project” whose primary purpose is for the advancement of human knowledge about God, that we might “fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” In the process we discover, interpret, and develop knowledge, which we apply as we grow in our understanding of the Creator and His vast universe. This original psalm centers on “searching” or “trying,” as in examining closely and scrutinizing in detail in order to render some kind of assessment or evaluation. Introducing the work is a section of Scripture from Romans 8:27-28 (NKJV):

27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose

God Searches

Romans 8:27-28

God searches the depths of each soul and probes each heart,

To uncover each motive and extract the pure,

Discarding dross, thus perfecting the refiner’s art.

The word of prophecy stands as even more sure,

The touchstone to measure the essence of all life.

All else shall fail, but the Word shall ever inspire.

This two-edged sword, sharper than a finely honed knife–

Living, powerful, piercing each thought and desire,

Penetrating soul and spirit, joints and marrow–

Probing deepest emotions, dispelling the dark.

Life-giving and powerful, swift as an arrow

That finds its target and that always hits its mark

Reaching its own perfection, to its fullest extent,

The Word of God prospers wherever it is sent.

In thinking about God as “the ultimate researcher,” I also recall Psalm 139 where the Psalmist recognizes that God knows all about the most intricate and delicate complexity of His matchless creation. Spiritually speaking, we can view all of Psalm 139 as an invitation to deepest, divine inspection, as the celebrated psalm closes with this heartfelt request:

Psalm 139:23-24 (NLT} :

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 Point out anything in me that offends you,
and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

He who is unsearchable, whose ways are past finding out, searches the hearts of His creation.

We close with Gwen Smith offering a contemporary song of worship “Unsearchable”:

You cannot understand the activity of God

The Verse of the Day for May 15, 2018 is found in Ecclesiastes 11:5 in the New Living Translation:

Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things.

This verse reminds us that God, the creator of the universe, is far beyond our ability to comprehend. In thinking about this verse, the word “unsearchable” comes to mind, a term discussed in previous blog post that is revised and re-posted here:

Romans 11:33 (AMP) also sets forth the incomprehensible greatness of God Almighty:

³³ Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and decisions and how unfathomable and untraceable are His ways!

Here is the rendering in the New International Version:

[Doxology] Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!

The final section of Romans 11 is designated as a doxology or hymn of praise. Derived from two Greek words, doxa, meaning “glory” and legein, meaning “to speak,” Romans 11:33-36 give praise to the indescribable virtues of God:

³³ Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and decisions and how unfathomable and untraceable are His ways! ³⁴ For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been His counselor? ³⁵ Or who has first given to Him that it would be paid back to him? ³⁶ For from Him [all things originate] and through Him [all things live and exist] and to Him are all things [directed]. To Him be glory and honor forever! Amen.

In the Book of Job and in the Psalms we find similar sentiments expressed:

Job 5:9 (NLT):

He does great things too marvelous to understand.

He performs countless miracles.  

Job 11:7-9 (NLT)

⁷ “Can you solve the mysteries of God?

Can you discover everything about the Almighty?

⁸ Such knowledge is higher than the heavens—

And who are you?

It is deeper than the underworld*—

What do you know?

⁹ It is broader than the earth

And wider than the sea.

The Psalmist also notes the incomprehensible nature of the Creator in Psalm 139:1-6 9 (NLT)

¹ O Lord, you have examined my heart

And know everything about me.

² You know when I sit down or stand up.

You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.

³ You see me when I travel

And when I rest at home.

You know everything I do.

⁴ You know what I am going to say

Even before I say it, Lord.

⁵ You go before me and follow me.

You place your hand of blessing on my head.

⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,

Too great for me to us to understand!

In describing the ways of God, one of the terms used is “unsearchable” which is also translated “indelineable, marked by being impossible to plot, travel, or trace to the end of, therefore, incomprehensible or impossible to understand.”

All in all, it clearly becomes evident that God’s ways are not our ways; indeed, His ways are far past finding out.

Gwen Smith offers another contemporary song of worship “Unsearchable”:

Life’s grandest paradox

Instead of the usual Verse of the Day, we begin with “The Word for the Day for January 3, 2018: Paradox:

Often used in literature and in life, the term is defined as “a seemingly absurd or self-contradictory statement or proposition that when investigated or explained may prove to be well founded or true.”  Paradoxes are often contrary to what we believe and thus can widen our understanding, as we think more deeply regarding the subject discussed.

Here is paradoxical statement, “Sometimes less is more” or think about this:  “It is only in losing that we really win.” How about “You can save money by spending money.”

The Bible is full of examples of paradox. Consider these words:

You save your life by losing it: “Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it” (Luke 17:33).  To be wise, we must become fools. “If any man among you seems to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise” (I Corinthians 3:18). To be first, we must be last. “So the last shall be first, and the first last” (Matthew 20:16).

The term paradox brings also brings to mind God, our all-wise, all knowing Father, whose ways are past finding out.  Romans 11:33 sets forth the incomprehensible greatness of God Almighty:

³³ Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and decisions and how unfathomable and untraceable are His ways!

In the Book of Job and in the Psalms we find similar sentiments expressed:

Job 5:9 (NLT):

He does great things too marvelous to understand.

He performs countless miracles.  

Job 11:7-9 (NLT)

⁷ “Can you solve the mysteries of God?

Can you discover everything about the Almighty?

⁸ Such knowledge is higher than the heavens—

And who are you?

It is deeper than the underworld*—

What do you know?

⁹ It is broader than the earth

And wider than the sea.

In describing the ways of God, one of the terms used is “unsearchable” which is also translated “indelineable, marked by being impossible to plot, travel, or trace to the end of, therefore, incomprehensible or impossible to understand.”  All in all, it clearly becomes evident that God’s ways are not our ways; indeed, beyond the most profound examples of paradoxes, His ways are past finding out.

The Word for the Day is the inspiration behind this poetic response.

Life’s Grandest Paradox

One word: the power of a single light, 

like a cloven tongue of fire

to shatter the darkest night.

Lonnell E. Johnson

 

No matter how we try, God will not be put in a box,

For we know it is His glory to conceal a matter.

Behold, He brings death to life: the ultimate paradox.

To water wastelands and to refresh the most barren place.

The full extent of God’s power no mortal can define:

The heavy burden of dark sin He unshackles with grace.

Despite the weaknesses of our frail flesh, He makes us strong,

Causing the barren womb to flourish as a fruitful vine;

He fills our mouths with laughter, releasing our joyful song.

With our blinded eyes wide opened, now we can really see:

We are an enigma you can’t figure, an anomaly.

It is what it is and not what it may appears to be.

We are life’s grandest Paradox with a capital P.

We conclude with a musical expression of who God is and what He does, as Gwen Smith offers contemporary song of worship “Unsearchable”: