While on the plane to Seattle I read a section of Chrysostrom's commentary on the Psalms. I am about to write a paper on Psalm 8, and while reading his comments on that Psalm I came across this quote:
"whatever you say about God is greatly inferior to that being and is a mark of considerateness. I mean, what would you like to say about God? God is great. But this is a trifling remark in respect to God: greatness as far as it goes is finite, whereas God is infinite. This is a trifling remark in respect to God. I mean, the fact that he is infinite I know, but what he is, or where he is I do not know."
This holy unknowing has resonated with me. The Triune God has revealed himself to mankind, has redeemed humanity and given us access to himself through his Son, and yet remains hidden and unknowable. As I processed this thought with my brother over a coffee I realized that we should always be weary of those who would claim to know our God. A god that is knowable is not a god but an idol. The truth is that which we can comprehend about the Triune God is not comparable to that which we cannot comprehend. I believe that our lack of reverence in our prayer and our worship (my own included) is due in part to a false sense of familiarity with our God that is based upon a presumption that we know him. Maybe we could regain a reverent fear of our God if we could humble ourselves and admit that what we do not know about our God, and especially his will, for ourselves and humanity in general, far outweighs that which we can know.
This of course does not mean that we cannot speak at all about God, or his will, but it simply means that when we do we should do so with a humility and reverence that acknowledges the greatness of our God who dwells in unapproachable light.
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2 comments:
I agree with your observation "A god that is knowable is not a god, but an idol." Interesting preparation for your paper on Psalm 8!
Here's a related paradox around the meaning of knowing God:"We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen" (Colossians 1:15: The Message)
...and yet..."since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse." Rom. 1:19-20.
"The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven." Hebrews 1:3
"Philip said,'Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.'
Jesus answered: 'Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'?"
John 14:8-9
I absolutely agree with you in your call for reverence and humility before God. We can know only as much as he is willing to let us know of him. It will take eternity to begin to discover the greatness of God.
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