Romans 11:33-36
The only fitting response to God’s sovereign mercy is worship.
33 Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past tracing out!
34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?”
35 “Or who has first given to him, and it will be repaid to him again?”
36 For of him, and through him, and to him are all things. To him be the glory for ever! Amen.
The only fitting response to God’s sovereign mercy is worship.
To respond in worship to the revelation of God’s sovereign mercy, wisdom, and unsearchable purposes.
Romans 11:33-36 closes Romans 9-11, where Paul has defended God’s faithfulness to his promises in light of Israel’s unbelief and Gentile inclusion. Romans 9 emphasized God’s sovereign purpose in election and mercy. Romans 10 emphasized Israel’s unbelief, the nearness of the word of faith, and the necessity of gospel proclamation. Romans 11 showed that God has not rejected his people, that a remnant remains by grace, that Gentiles have been grafted in by mercy, that Israel’s hardening is partial and temporary, and that God’s gifts and call are irrevocable. The doxology gathers the entire argument into worship.
Paul writes to a mixed Roman church wrestling with the relationship between Israel, the Gentiles, the law, the promises, and the gospel. After addressing Israel’s unbelief and Gentile inclusion, Paul ends the section with worship before God’s wisdom and mercy. Believers in Rome, including Jewish and Gentile Christians who needed humility before God’s mercy and unity under God’s saving purpose Romans 11:33-36 stands at the turning point between the theological exposition of Romans 1-11 and the practical exhortation of Romans 12-16. It concludes the exposition of mercy before Paul calls believers to offer their bodies as living sacrifices in view of God’s mercies.
The Remnant, the Grafted Gentiles, and the Mercy of God Toward Israel
God has not rejected Israel, for he preserves a remnant by grace, grafts Gentiles in by faith, warns against arrogance, and will complete his mercy-purpose so that all glory belongs to him.