The Attributes of God: Our Contemplation of God

In my previous weekly word articles on the attributes of God, I have attempted to give just a glimpse of the wondrous and amazing perfections of God. These are attributes that can only be attributed to Him and Him alone. In writing these articles, I have learned even more so how feeble and limited my thoughts and intellect are concerning trying to comprehend the Divine character of God. Although one of Job's friends, Zophar wrongfully insisted that his intense suffering was a result of sin in his life, he had an accurate view of God's infinite greatness. "Can you fathom the depths of God or discover the limits of the Almighty? They are higher than the heavens -- what can you do? They are deeper than Sheol -- what can you know? Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea." Job 11:7-9. 

While it is true that we can never fully comprehend the depth of God's attributes, it shouldn't give reason to throw our hands up in the air and say, "What's the use?" Instead, we should strive to prayerfully and reverently learn as much as we can. God has graciously revealed enough to us through His Word to give us a proper attitude and view of His sovereign Deity. The fact that it is impossible for our finite minds to completely and perfectly comprehend the Divine nature of God should teach us humility and reverence.

Pastor and author Arthur W. Pink commented in his book, The Attributes of God, that while there is a great difference between the knowledge we have of God in this life compared to the knowledge we will have of Him in heaven, we must understand that while we will be glorified we will never be Divine. He goes on to say that even in our glorified state, we are still finite creatures and will never be able to fully comprehend the infinite God.

In our contemplation of God, we need to remember what Paul wrote in Colossians 1:16-  . "For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities -- all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and by him, all things hold together." God is an all-sufficient Being. He is all-sufficient in Himself and to Himself. If He was in need of anything external He would not have been independent and more importantly, He would not have been God. 

Being all-sufficient makes God the Supreme Sovereign of the universe. King Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged and praised God when his sanity returned to him, "Then I praised the Most High and honored and glorified him who lives forever. For his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation. All the inhabitants of the earth are counted as nothing, and he does what he wants with the army of heaven and the inhabitants of the earth. There is no one who can block his hand or say to him, 'What have you done/'" Daniel 4:34, 35. 

As we think about the absolute dominion of God over all, it's encouraging to remember that He is always morally perfect, just, and good. As He exercises His sovereignty according to His own pleasure, everything He does is righteous and holy. As we contemplate God's attributes, His Solitariness, His Decrees, His Knowledge, His Foreknowledge, His Supremacy, His Sovereignty, His Immutability, His Holiness, His Power, His Faithfulness, His Goodness, His Patience, His Grace, His Mercy, His Love, and His Wrath, may we join Paul in his doxology in 1 Timothy 1:17, "Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen."

Pastor Bryan

PREVIOUS ARTICLES

4/16/2026 – The Future Salvation of Israel (Isaiah 12) – David

4/9/2026 – The Wrath of God – Bryan

4/2/2026 – The Messiah's Work (Isaiah 11:6-16) – David

3/26/2026 – The Love of God – Bryan

3/19/2026 – "The Fire That Would Not Go Out..." – Ed

3/12/2026 – Finally (Isaiah 11:1-5) – David

3/05/2026 – The Mercy of God – Bryan

2/26/2026 – "A Light on Maple Street" – Ed

2/19/2026 – Do Not Fear (Isaiah 10:20-34) – David

2/12/2026 – The Grace of God – Bryan

2/05/2026 – "Out of the Depths" – Ed

1/29/2026 – The Rod of God's Anger (Isaiah 10:5-19) – David

1/22/2026 – The Patience of God – Bryan

1/15/2026 – "The Shepherd who Left Home" – Ed

1/08/2026 – His Anger Doesn't Turn Back (Isaiah 9:8-10:4) – David

1/01/2026 – The Goodness of God – Bryan

Weekly Word Archive (2025 and earlier)