Romans 11:33

Doxology to the Eternal Sovereign

33. O the depth Here, at the close of this discussion of the case of Israel, in which he has held up for our submission the unfathomable mystery of electing sovereignty, and also the strange ways by which Divine judgment is often made the instrument of Divine mercy, the Apostle turns to the Supreme Object of his thought and love, and utters his ascription of worship and praise to the All-Wise and Almighty. Such a doxology is perfectly in the mannerof Scripture, in which the ultimateaim ever is not the glory, nor even the happiness, of Man, (dear as his happiness is to God and His messengers,) but the Glory of God.

depth Cp. Psalms 36:6, "Thy judgments are a great deep."

riches See on Romans 2:4.

wisdom and knowledge Scarcely, in such a passage as this, to be minutely distinguished. They blend into one idea omniscience acting in eternal righteousness and love.

unsearchable It is well to weigh, and accept, this word at the close of such an argument. In his very act of praise the Apostle confesses the inability of even his own inspired thought to explainthe Divine mercies and judgments, in the sense of clearing all difficulties. "Who art thou that repliest against God?" "Clouds and darkness are round about Him;" and, in certain respects, it is only the intelligent but profound submission of faiththat can say, in view of those clouds, "Righteousness and judgment are the habitation of His throne." (Psalms 97:2.)

past finding out Same word as Ephesians 3:8, (E. V. "unsearchable," lit. "not to be tracked by footprints,") an instructive parallel passage.