{"id":1448,"date":"2011-02-27T01:25:15","date_gmt":"2011-02-27T01:25:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/markdroberts\/2011\/02\/sunday-inspiration-from-the-high-calling-fathoming-the-unfathomable.html"},"modified":"2011-02-27T01:25:15","modified_gmt":"2011-02-27T01:25:15","slug":"sunday-inspiration-from-the-high-calling-fathoming-the-unfathomable","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/2011\/02\/sunday-inspiration-from-the-high-calling-fathoming-the-unfathomable.html","title":{"rendered":"Sunday Inspiration from The High Calling: Fathoming the Unfathomable"},"content":{"rendered":"
Fathoming the Unfathomable<\/font>
<\/b><\/div>\n
Psalm 36:1-12<\/div>\n

Your unfailing love, O LORD, is as vast as the heavens;
?     your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds.
Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,
?     your justice like the ocean depths.<\/p>\n

Psalm 36:5-6<\/div>\n

I’ve said “God is great” several thousand times in my life. This is true, not only because people in my line of work tend to say things like that, but also because, when I was a boy, my family repeated this line when we said grace before dinner: “God is great. God is good. Let us thank him for this food. Amen.”<\/p>\n

We can say “God is great” until we’re blue in the face, yet the reality of which we speak eludes our comprehension. God’s greatness exceeds our capacity even to begin to understand it. It’s a little like the brightness of the sun. I know the sun is very bright. But I can’t even begin to look at the sun because its luminescence far exceeds the limitations of my sight.<\/p>\n

When David sought to celebrate the greatness of God, he also looked to nature for analogies that might helps us to begin to grasp that which is beyond our reach. “Your unfailing love, O LORD, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the ocean depths” (36:5-6a). Each of these natural images conveys the immensity of God. Each tries to paint a picture of God’s limitless character. Of course, the reality far exceeds the analogy. God’s love, faithfulness, righteous, and justice are far greater than any natural object or expanse. Nevertheless, the awesome magnitude of the sky and clouds, of mountains and oceans, helps us to begin to fathom the unfathomable.<\/p>\n

Perhaps, as you read this, you are in a place of sublime physical beauty. You can look around right now and let your mind consider the greatness of God. More likely, however, you are sitting in your den or office, perhaps even riding on the subway or eating your breakfast. You might want to stop and remember places you have been that suggest something of God’s own vastness. I am thinking of a raft trip my family and I took on the Snake River in Grand Teton National Park. As the sun set behind the towering Teton peaks, rays of brilliant light shone streaked across the sky. I was astounded by the immensity and beauty of God’s creation. Yet God’s greatness and glory far exceeds even this. <\/p>\n

\"teton-sky-8.jpg\"<\/form>\n

QUESTIONS FOR FURTHER REFLECTION: What are some of the most awe-inspiring natural scenes you have ever witnessed? As you think about them, what do they suggest to you about God’s greatness? In what ways has nature helped you to envision the vastness of God’s love, faithfulness, justice, and righteousness? <\/p>\n

PRAYER:<\/p>\n

There’s a wideness in God’s mercy,
Like the wideness of the sea;
There’s a kindness in His justice,
Which is more than liberty.<\/p>\n

There is grace enough for thousands
Of new worlds as great as this;
There is room for fresh creations
In that upper home of bliss.<\/p>\n

For the love of God is broader
Than the measure of our mind;
And the heart of the Eternal
Is most wonderfully kind.<\/p>\n

It is God: His love looks mighty,
But is mightier than it seems;
‘Tis our Father: and His fondness
Goes far out beyond our dreams.<\/p>\n

Amen<\/i>.<\/p>\n

(Lyrics from “There is a Wideness in God’s Mercy,” by Frederick W. Faber, 1854. I used verses 1, 4, 5, and 10 out of 12 total.)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Fathoming the Unfathomable Psalm 36:1-12 Your unfailing love, O LORD, is as vast as the heavens; ?     your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, ?     your justice like the ocean depths. Psalm 36:5-6 I’ve said “God is great” several thousand times in my life. This is true, not only because people…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":214,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1448","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sunday-inspiration"],"yoast_head":"\nSunday Inspiration from The High Calling: Fathoming the Unfathomable - Mark D. 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Roberts","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-content\/wphb-cache\/gravatar\/f2d\/f2ddf5f080861f66ea230384f9d1bab2x96.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-content\/wphb-cache\/gravatar\/f2d\/f2ddf5f080861f66ea230384f9d1bab2x96.jpg","caption":"Mark D. Roberts"},"description":"The Rev. Dr. Mark D. Roberts is a pastor, author, retreat leader, speaker, and blogger. Since October 2007 he has been the Senior Director and Scholar-in-Residence for Laity Lodge, a multifaceted ministry in the Hill Country of Texas. Before coming to Laity Lodge, he was for sixteen years the Senior Pastor of Irvine Presbyterian Church in Irvine, California (a city in Orange County about forty miles south of Los Angeles). Before his time at Irvine Pres, Mark served on the staff of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood as Associate Pastor of Education. (Thanks to Janel Pahl for taking the photo to the right.) Mark studied at Harvard University, receiving a B.A. in Philosophy, an M.A. in the Study of Religion, and a Ph.D. in New Testament and Christian Origins. He has taught classes in New Testament for Fuller Theological Seminary and San Francisco Theological Seminary. Mark has written several books, including No Holds Barred: Wrestling with God in Prayer (WaterBrook, 2005), Dare to Be True (WaterBrook, 2003), Jesus Revealed (WaterBrook, 2002), After \"I Believe\" (Baker, 2002), and Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther (Word, 1993). His most recent book is Can We Trust the Gospels? Investigating the Reliability of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John (Crossway, 2007). He is currently working on a commentary on Ephesians that will be published by Zondervan in 2014. Mark writes a devotional for The High Calling of Our Daily Work, a website associated with Laity Lodge. His \"Daily Reflections\" can be viewed online or sent as a daily email. If you wish to receive this email, just visit TheHighCalling.org and sign up. Mark serves on the editorial board of Worship Leader magazine, where he publishes articles and reviews, including his regular column \"Lyrical Poetry.\" Additionally, he has published dozens of articles in leading magazines and journals. He often speaks for churches and other Christian groups, and has been interviewed on over seventy-five radio programs nationwide. Mark is married to Linda, who is a Marriage and Family Therapist, a Spiritual Director, and a retreat speaker. They have two children, Nathan and Kara.For Publicity Photos and Bio Statements for Mark, please check here. Mark's Dossier Professional History: Senior Director and Scholar-in Residence, Laity Lodge, October 2007 to present. Senior Pastor Irvine Presbyterian Church, June 1991 to September 2007 Adjunct Assistant Professor Fuller Theological Seminary, 1994 to 2007. Courses: New Testament Theology and Exegesis. Adjunct Instructor San Francisco Theological Seminary, 1995 to 2001. Courses: New Testament Greek and Exegesis Associate Pastor of Education First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood, 1987-1991 Teaching Fellow Harvard University, 1980-1983 Education: Ph.D. in the Study of Religion. Harvard University, 1992. Area: New Testament and Christian Origins M.A. in the Study of Religion Harvard University, 1984. A.B. magna cum laude in Philosophy Harvard University, 1979. Phi Beta Kappa; Danforth Fellowship Books: Can We Trust the Gospels? Investigating the Reliability of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Crossway, 2007 No Holds Barred: Wrestling with God in Prayer. WaterBrook, 2005 Dare to Be True: Living in the Freedom of Complete Honesty. WaterBrook, 2003. Jesus Revealed: Know Him Better to Love Him Better. WaterBrook, 2002. After \"I Believe\": Experiencing Authentic Christian Living. Baker, 2002. Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther in the Communicator's Commentary Series. Word, 1993. Contacting Mark: You can reach Mark at: E-mail: mark@markdroberts.com mroberts@laitylodge.org Phone: Laity Lodge: (830) 792-1216 Address: Laity Lodge 719 Earl Garrett Kerrville, TX 78028","url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/author\/mroberts"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1448","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/214"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1448"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1448\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1448"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1448"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1448"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}