The following are thoughts provoked by Lamentations 3:19-33. If you will take the time to read this beautiful yet mysterious passage, you will have a better appreciation for this post. Jeremiah’s words brought Psalm 139 to mind which, after meeting Christ, contained the first renewing realities that penetrated my heart about who God was. Some of the major themes are His vast knowledge verses my very limited knowledge and His intimate awareness of me throughout all my days. Verse 5 and 6 capture much of the psalmist’s revelation.

Thou hast enclosed me behind and before, and laid Thy hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is too high, I cannot attain to it.

This passage in Lamentations highlights just how thin the air is at the altitude where God resides. Not too long ago I attempted to climb my first 14,000 ft mountain. The elevation change from Oklahoma to this Colorado summit was approximately two miles. As I approached this peak I was so dizzy I could not maintain my balance. It was too much for me. I had to abandon my ascent. To regain my equilibrium I had to descend to lower altitude. It was humbling and sad.

The experience caused me to think; I wonder how many of us head back down to lower elevations when we encounter the knowledge of God in the scriptures (or the ways of God in life) that are beyond our comfort zones in an attempt to maintain our rational equilibrium. The idea that God  says and does things that do not make sense is unacceptable to us, so we retreat back to lower elevations where we can nurse our illusions that God is a reasonable being (much like us but more so) where our ideas about Him are more logical and useful to us in sustaining the manageable lives we have worked out for ourselves.

This passage highlights an aspect of God that can make us dizzy; that God causes grief and He offers compassion.  Our minds spin as we wrestle with this apparent inconsistency. To restore our equilibrium we can simply set aside half of the paradox and form our beliefs, embracing what is to us, the more intellectually agreeable aspects of His nature. Probably none of us are exempt in this error, particularly in western culture where knowledge is our king and logic and reason are our servants.

I mentioned recently the value of having a Father-filtered heart. This has helped me so much in dealing with the paradoxes about God. For example, as I read this passage, I acknowledge the apparent inconsistency of God; that He causes both grief and offers compassion. But today, as I refer ideas to God, my Father, I do not hear an emphasis on causing grief. I hear, “I do not afflict or grieve willingly but even if I do, I will offer abundant lovingkindness. Out of My faithfulness, I will have a fresh supply for you each day when you awake.”

As the Father has cleansed my heart, I have had to open a new file that I have labeled “Mysteries”. This is where I can store away my questions and entrust matters to Him where my revelation is not exhaustive; only sufficient. This file is essential and it is growing since it is not really rational that fallen men should have systematic and exhaustive knowledge of an eternal and holy Being. My “Mystery” file is helping me to let God be God. Do to …..

….the depths of the riches both of His wisdom and His knowledge I must acknowledge that His judgements and His ways are unfathomable.

So now when I encounter a miracle (or the prospect of one) which defies the odds or offends my reasoning, I can gratefully return to my Psalm 139 foundation and say, “OK, Father, I don’t get it.”  I may not even like it.  But…I am enclosed (even in my ignorance) in my loving, capable Father’s trustworthy hands.

Father, I don’t have all the answers but I am inclined to dream and to pray that we will abandon our insistence on fitting You into our many rational boxes. And, rather than remaining at this altitude where we are so divided in our understanding, I pray that we might ascend together to that place where we are unified, not in our knowledge, but rather in our faith. Let us not descend when it first appears that Your Word and Your ways seem too impossible. Help us to be steady of heart remembering that “You are good to those who wait for You and seek You. Amen.

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