Surprised by God - Psalms 94-96 and Romans 15:14-33
We are often surprised by what God does in our lives or in the lives of others. We need to keep in mind that this will be a regular occurrence, since God's ways and God's thoughts are much higher than our ways and thoughts. The problem is that we want to be able to anticipate what He will do before He does it, and we want Him to do it our way. We need to get rid of these expectations. We need to trust God to do the right thing at the right time, and we need to concentrate on being sensitive to what He is doing, so we can join Him in it. If we keep that perspective, we won't be constantly second guessing God, and we will not be caught off guard by what He does.
In Psalm 94 the psalmist seems to be surprised by how God is not dealing with the wicked as he would have dealt with them. He knows God will do something in the future, but he wonders why He is not doing anything sooner. We all fall into this trap if we don't watch out. In Psalm 95 the psalmist is amazed that God had the people wander in the wilderness and die there without entering His rest in Canaan. At least, he realized that God was the Shepherd, and He could do whatever He knew was right. In Psalm 96 the psalmist stands in awe of how God created the world in His great power. This is a good kind of being surprised by God. We should be amazed at His power all of the time.
Then, in Romans 15 I think Paul was surprised by two things. He seemed to be surprised by the signs and wonders God did through him as he witnessed to the Gentiles. We should not be surprised by what God does in our ministry, but we should expect God to do great things as we obey Him. Then, I wonder how surprised Paul was when he finally made it to Rome. He said in Romans 15 that he would come in the "fullness of the blessing of the gospel." What do you think he had in mind? Do you think he thought that he would be a prisoner, and he would arrive after a shipwreck? I don't really think that is how he envisioned going to Rome, but that is how God worked it out. Paul may have been surprised by how God did it, but he was sensitive, and he did God's will even from his confinement in Rome. That is how we should adapt and cooperate with God in doing things His way.
Tomorrow, I intend to read psalms 97-99 and Romans 16.
In Psalm 94 the psalmist seems to be surprised by how God is not dealing with the wicked as he would have dealt with them. He knows God will do something in the future, but he wonders why He is not doing anything sooner. We all fall into this trap if we don't watch out. In Psalm 95 the psalmist is amazed that God had the people wander in the wilderness and die there without entering His rest in Canaan. At least, he realized that God was the Shepherd, and He could do whatever He knew was right. In Psalm 96 the psalmist stands in awe of how God created the world in His great power. This is a good kind of being surprised by God. We should be amazed at His power all of the time.
Then, in Romans 15 I think Paul was surprised by two things. He seemed to be surprised by the signs and wonders God did through him as he witnessed to the Gentiles. We should not be surprised by what God does in our ministry, but we should expect God to do great things as we obey Him. Then, I wonder how surprised Paul was when he finally made it to Rome. He said in Romans 15 that he would come in the "fullness of the blessing of the gospel." What do you think he had in mind? Do you think he thought that he would be a prisoner, and he would arrive after a shipwreck? I don't really think that is how he envisioned going to Rome, but that is how God worked it out. Paul may have been surprised by how God did it, but he was sensitive, and he did God's will even from his confinement in Rome. That is how we should adapt and cooperate with God in doing things His way.
Tomorrow, I intend to read psalms 97-99 and Romans 16.