Now to the King … the only God…
Summary: Paul’s worship of God continues by affirming that God is the only God.
Have you ever noticed that when God talks to men, he speaks in ways that people can understand?
There is a reason for that.
If God were to speak his mind, we would not be able to understand (Isaiah 55:9).
One time, an angel of the Lord was sent to announce that a childless woman would become pregnant and give birth to a boy who was to be named Samson (Judges 13). The angel visited twice, and the second time the woman’s husband was there. He asked the angel what his name was. The angels’ response has always intrigued me:
“He [the angel] replied, ‘Why do you ask my name? It is beyond understanding.’” (Judges 13:18)
Just his name is “beyond understanding!” Imagine what else he might have been able to talk about!
When we speak of human kings, we are talking about men who hopefully have greater than average understanding. A good king does things that are good for his kingdom and his people. One who is not good thinks only of himself.
God, of course, is good (Luke 18:19). He is also King, the ultimate authority over all kings and all people (1 Timothy 6:13-15), and he is the only God.
This is important.
Just like there can only be one “King of kings” (Revelation 19:16), there can be only one God (Isaiah 45:5–6).
Of course, not everyone agrees with this.
People throughout history have claimed that there are other “gods.” Some people, I suppose, might do this out of a sincere desire to know God and their efforts are simply misguided, born out of ignorance (Isaiah 44:19). Others use the claim of a false god to manipulate people for personal gain (Acts 19:23-41).
But we are not ignorant.
We have the testimony of the Bible, a book spanning centuries while at the same time representing a single Voice. There is the testimony of the Jews themselves. They are a race of people chosen by God (Deuteronomy 7:6). And, for those who believe, we have the testimony of the Holy Spirit (John 15:26).
There is only one God, eternal, immortal, and invisible. He also happens to be the King.
Application: There is only one God.
Food for Thought: What happens when we try and force God to fit into definitions we understand?
What happens when we try and force God to fit into definitions we understand?
In an attempt to make sense of God, many like to put Him in a box. Confine Him to a being we can wrap our brains around, Our nature wants to worship a god who fits within our preconceived philosophies, and supports our understanding of life, so we can live our version of faith. We make God small so we will believe ourselves to be large.
In reality, this will keep us from experiencing who God is in all His glory and vastness. He is beyond our comprehension and we are each called to live by faith in submission to His sovereignty over all His creation.
We exist, our lives sustained in the power of our creator God.
Isaiah 55:8-9, For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
We know God as we accept Him on His terms not ours.
God is Sovereign, Psalm 103:19
God is Omnipotent, Jeremiah 32:17
God is Omniscient, Hebrews 4:13
God is Omnipresent, Psalm 139: 7-10
God is Holy, Isaiah 6:3
God is Just, Deuteronomy 32:4
God is Love, 1 John 4:8
PSALM 19:1, The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
ACTS 14:17, Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.
Thank you, Ron!
Well said and explained. Excellent reference verses, too!
Your question reminded me of a time when someone tried to explain the Trinity to me by using an egg. It was a confusing analogy because I knew more about eggs than I did about the Trinity at that time. Also, that person was using the physical to describe the spiritual. A static object to describe a dynamic God.
No matter how “nice the box” we try to put God in, it is limited and will eventually lead us into the wrong perception of Him. It may limit our faith in Him as our descriptions change or become obsolete. Even worse, we may “project” a bit of ourselves into the description. Our understanding of God is revealed to us through His Word and the Holy Spirit, and deepens as our walk with the Lord continues, not through just “words or concepts”, but through increased awareness of His presence in our life. I think we get it backwards, we want to define God in order to understand Him, but when we experience God, we then understand Him, and define Him in our testimony.
Proverbs 3:5-6
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
Thank you, Chris!
I have to say that your comment is “egg-sellent.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 happens to be one of my favorite “go to” verses, too!
Oh My, I didn’t even know there was a word like that. Tell me you didn’t just make it up.
LOL! Trade secret! 🙂