Wonderful, Wonderful, Wonderful
Words carry the thoughts God intends to convey to His people. They are powered by the Holy Spirit, who moves them along to their ordained destination. Pirates and terrorists hijack words from God and about God, and they hold them hostage in the realm of the inane, until they are rendered mundane.
Consider the fissiparous word, “awesome.” In today’s linguistic milieu, it is meaningless. This is the same for the word, “interesting,” which is a trigger for saying absolutely nothing about something.
The student of God’s Word must truly meditate on terms, mulling through each meaning. This is why the Word-study discipline is such a valuable exercise. The Bible has its own heavenly language, not often employed by natural man, as he communicates the wisdom of the world in the spirit of the world.
An example of this New Jerusalem jargon is the word, “grace.” Grace is a God-glorifying Word, sent from heaven, for God’s people to learn and know of the good works God does for the benefit of His beloved. The world avoids this word because it is intimately linked with the Almighty, who is the ongoing object of the world’s vituperation.
A biblical word I would like to see revitalized is the word, “wonderful.” Whenever I write this word, the old hymn, “His Name is Wonderful,” sings in my mind. As I continue to repeat the refrain, my mind informs my heart and worship ensues. To think that one of Jesus’ revealed names from prophetic Scripture (Is 9:6) is “Wonderful,” leaves me full of wonder.
The Bible speaks of the wonder of God’s works, and invites us to ruminate on them, “On the glorious splendor of Your majesty and on Your wonderful works, I will meditate (Ps 145:4).” When we do ponder anew, what the Almighty can do, we give thanks, “for I am fearfully and wonderfully made (Ps 139:14).” That’s right! God made us; we did not make ourselves.
The unelect, unregenerate, unbeliever does not believe in God’s wonderful works (Ps 78:32). Still, the believer cannot deny what he has seen. Christians are encouraged, “Remember His wonderful deeds which He has done, His marvels and the judgments from His mouth (1 Chron 16:12).”
God’s judgments are revealed in Scripture, “Your testimonies are wonderful, therefore, my soul observes them (Ps 119:129).” Isaiah the prophet knew this well, “This also comes from the Lord of hosts, who has made His counsel wonderful and His wisdom great (Is 28:29).”
Jesus’ disciples misplaced the term in the very presence of Him whose name, whose word, and works were truly wonderful. When one takes his eyes off of Jesus, he might say, ”Teacher, behold what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings (Mk 13:1)!” Knowing the idolatry in men’s hearts (Jer 17:9), Jesus assures us that everything we deem wonderful, apart from His Person and works, will be thrown down like those buildings and stones were in A.D. 70.
To the indignation of the spirit and people of the world, and to the agitation of the purveyors of false religions, we speak of what wonderful things we have seen and heard, crying, “Hosanna, to the Son of David (Mt 21:15)!” For the knowledge of God in Christ is, “too wonderful for me; it is too high, I cannot attain it (Ps 139:6).” But thanks be to God, who has, “opened my eyes, that I may behold wonderful things from Your Law (Ps 119:18).”
Christian, “Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among the peoples (Ps 96:3).” Or even, “Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done wonderful things, His right hand and His holy arm have gained victory for Him (Ps 98:1).”
We have seen that the name of the Lord Jesus Christ is wonderful. God’s eternal Word is wonderful. All His works in creation, providence, and even destruction are full of wonder. To have spiritual eyes — to see the wonder of it all — is a wonder in itself. Take time to cogitate this word afresh, and may you have a wonderful day in the process (and I mean that in the true sense of the word!).
David Norczyk
Missoula, Montana
August 1, 2022
