A mystery! Not like a murder mystery, where a detective can find just enough evidence to answer all our questions. No, what Paul means by mystery here in Romans 9-11 is a kind of thing that we will not grasp even once we have found answers. It envelopes us and draws us into the unsearchable depths of God. We do not approach with tools or equations, but with wonder and adoration.
The heart of Israel has been hardened (11:25). This is the mystery of Israel and the Church. How God can lavishly give mercy to the gentiles, harden the heart of Israel, and at the same time blame them for not being available to the gospel (10:1-4) is mysterious indeed. But somehow, some way, this is exactly how the will of God is finding its ultimate end. The nations will continue to find their way to Jesus, and then Israel will too. “In this way all Israel will be saved!” (11:26) This is not beyond God’s ability or desire to do so. Once God has called someone, that calling is irrevocable (11:29). God has been promising all along to renew the heart of Israel, which is why Paul quotes from Isaiah 59: “Out of Zion will come the deliverer who will banish ungodliness from Jacob.” He could just as easily have quoted from Jeremiah 31, Ezekiel 36, Joel 2, Zechariah 13, and much more!
And then comes the doxology of 11: 33-36. The explosive outburst of praise. How unsearchable is the mind of our God! How unfathomably deep are his riches and wisdom and knowledge! From him and through him and to him are all things! Glory to him forever!
There is no other place for this grand mystery to bring us. Mystery brings us to doxology. Rebellion against God brings us to doxology. Boundless mercy brings us to doxology. All of our questions, trials, and tears, have to end with us on our knees, saying, “From him and through him and to him are all things! Glory to him forever!”
Why is this so absolutely necessary? Because it’s better than the alternative, which is that we’ll praise and worship and glorify afterwe’ve solved the mystery, after our questions are answered, after things make sufficient sense to us on our terms. In that case, God is no longer God and now we are God, those who decide when the questions have been sufficiently answered or not. And the thing we call God is just something that works for us, bowing down to our needs. But praise and worship cannot happen only on our terms. This is why even the most bitter and angry of the Psalms still end with a word of praise or hope, because all our questions and trials and tears must bring us to doxology. It is the only way for us to stay sane. It is a sign that faith and love are alive and vibrant within us, even in the midst of pain and confusion.
Every gift, every calling, every mystery, every mercy is from him and through him and to him. What can we do but express our wonder and adoration at the unsearchable depths of God? Everything broken, everything in our world and in our hearts in need of healing is moving in the direction of God’s will and God’s mercy. And so, Paul proceeds to begin chapter 12 with the words: “I beg you, on the basis of this mercy, to offer your bodies, church, as a living sacrifice.” The mercy of God is renewing all things. Let us surrender to it. Let that mercy shape us to be more forgiving, more generous, more compassionate, more like Jesus in every way. Our God has called us to that, and his calling is irrevocable. So why should we resist it?
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