Scripture: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.” – Isaiah 55:8
Explanation of Song: Dora Greenwell (1821-1882) was an English poet, who had much of her work published in the 1860s. Much of her work had religious themes, and eventually some of her poetry was set to music by William J. Kirkpatrick, including the hymn, “I Am Not Skilled to Understand”.
Application: When I was a junior in high school, I had a nasty car accident that necessitated missing a few weeks of school. When I returned, the class that I struggled with the most was trigonometry. No matter what I did, I couldn’t grasp the concepts, and sadly, the teacher told me, “You’re smart. You can figure this out.” Smart or not, I just couldn’t get it, and I ended up dropping the class. While, I certainly was not a genius, I think that was the beginning of my journey to realizing that my intellectual capabilities definitely had their limitations.
Those limitations are also very apparent when I try to understand the Scriptures. Even with years of going to church, there is so much I don’t know about God. Fortunately, the key doctrines about sin, salvation, forgiveness, and eternal life are pretty easy to grasp, but other biblical teachings can be very difficult to comprehend, and somewhere along the way, I’ve pressured myself to understand it all. What a foolish way of thinking! I have spent so many long hours trying to figure out so many things in the Bible until, recently, God’s Spirit quietly whispered a truth that resulted in one of those “Ah ha!” moments.
It is impossible for a finite mind to understand one that is infinite.
Isaiah 55:9 records God’s words, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” I realize how futile it is for me to try and figure out God… how presumptuous of me to think my limited brain could even begin to comprehend the things of God without Him specifically illuminating my understanding. How prideful… the very sin that God hates found its way into my heart without me even realizing it! How gracious and merciful of Him to open my eyes, offer forgiveness and restoration, and pour peace in my heart. Isaiah 26:3 reminds me, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” I’ve discovered that it’s okay to ask “Why God?”, but it’s equally okay not to have to know the answers. True contentment doesn’t come from knowing it all; it comes from trusting the One who does know it all.
Memory Verse: “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” – Philippians 4:11
Stretching your thoughts:
1. What do you do when you cannot understand a particular section of the Scriptures?
I am not skilled to understand what God has willed, what God has planned;
I only know that at his right hand is One who is my Savior!
I take him at his word indeed: “Christ died for sinners,” this I read;
For in my heart I find a need of him to be my Savior!
That he should leave his place on high and come for sinful man to die,
You count it strange? So once did I, before I knew my Savior!
And oh, that he fulfilled may see the travail of his soul in me,
And with his work contented be, as I with my dear Savior!
Yes, living, dying, let me bring my strength, my solace from this spring;
That he who lives to be my King once died to be my Savior.
(from “I Am Not Skilled to Understand” by Dora Greenwell)