My Thoughts on the Comparative Attributes of God
The comparative attributes of God contrast human abilities with the divine nature. Everyone has some knowledge but only God has all knowledge (omniscience). Everyone has presence but only God has presence at all times everywhere (omnipresence). Every person has some degree of power but only God has unlimited power (omnipotence).
Illustration: Psalm 139 lays a foundation for understanding the comparative attributes. The omniscience of God is seen in verses 1-6. The omniscience of God is seen in verses 7-11. The omnipotence of God is seen in verses 12-16.
This Psalm of David in itself is a faint glimpse of the true power of God. Nobody can truly comprehend the power of God to the fullest. Moses asked to see God but was warned that no man can see God and live (Exodus 33:19-23). What can be seen is simple that the Psalm provides a view of God's three attributes - He is omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent. Satan is powerful but not all-powerful. The three attributes provide three reasons why Satan is a defeated foe. Satan knows a lot but he isn't all-knowing. Satan can move in one place or another rather fast but he can't be everywhere at once. Satan can cause harm but he can't resurrect or truly heal. Satan's permission is also restricted by God especially when it comes to attacking believers. Satan had to get God's permission first before he could even harm Job.
Reading through the Psalm has David unable to comprehend God's three attributes. David calls such knowledge to be wonderful, too high, that he can't attain unto it. David then mentions that God is everywhere whether in Heaven or in Hell. Revelation 14:10-11 says that people in Hell will be tortured in the very presence of the Lamb. God may tell them to depart from Him but He is still there even in their torture. David acknowledges that God is everywhere. David then acknowledges in God's omniscience saying he's fearfully and wonderfully made. David was certainly the ideal guy having the good looks, character, and the ability yet he refused to glory in them. David calls himself imperfect in verse 16.
After verse 16, we further read David's submission to God. David submits to the very three attributes of God in every area of his life. This is something very hard to do but not impossible with God's help. David considers the indignation against those who rebel against God. David also asks God to help him to reveal any ounce of wickedness that he wants to be dealt with. David sure had his sins which God had convicted him unto repentance throughout his life. It's not just during his infamous affair with Bathsheba or his unlawful census. We also read David had his doubts during the time he ran away from Saul or when he decided to multiply wives when it was strictly forbidden. David also made a poor father to most of his children resulting in pains with Amnon (his firstborn) and the loss of Absalom in his older years. David himself was not a perfect man yet he called a man after God's own heart for his service.
This has me thinking that God has his best reasons to restrain His power. Chastisement may not always come immediately like a patient parent who doesn't punish his or her child in public. Chastisement may also not come always immediately lest the offending child of His be unable to take the full fury of His power. God may have His reasons for allowing certain evils. Job himself was soon questioned if he was there when God created the Universe in Job 38. We can see that God's three attributes are in perfect harmony just like the Father, the Son, and the Spirit are all in complete harmony. If God didn't restrain His power then we would all be dead. God is using His power in perfect harmony with His omniscience and omnipresence. God has His divine timetable which He will never defy because He is God and He will do accordingly. God knows what He's doing in both the denials and deliverances.God knows what He's doing when He refuses deliverance or gives it. It's just like how one wicked person is delivered from wickedness while the other is allowed to die in his wickedness. It's like why God allowed Judas Iscariot to go to Hell yet Paul of Tarsus was delivered from the road to Hell to heaven. It's infinitely that difficult to understand all of that. Grace can be denied and supplied at God's will with perfect knowledge of why He has done both. So why am I getting mad when I'm told that it's God's will that there's both suffering and deliverance in this earthly life?
What would be amazing was that Jesus Christ (God the Son), in full obedience to God the Father, temporarily suspended all three attributes. This is also termed as kenosis or the emptying of one's self as Philippians 2:7 states it. As a man, Jesus voluntarily suspends His omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence in full obedience to God the Father. Jesus had to truly learn things as a boy. Jesus wasn't everywhere at once in His ministry because He voluntarily suspended his omnipresence. Jesus wasn't lying when He said that no man but the Father knew the time when the end would be near (Matthew 24:26). Jesus' power was also limited at that time in full obedience to the Father. Jesus never lost these attributes. Instead, Jesus voluntarily did suspend them in His humanity in full obedience to the Father. Jesus became a man yet He remained as God in a perfect paradox. Jesus did so in order to become the perfect man to fulfill the Law so He can become the perfect sin sacrifice for the world.
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