“There is no attribute more comforting to His children than that of God’s Sovereignty. Under the most adverse circumstances, in the most severe trials, they believe that Sovereignty has ordained their afflictions, that Sovereignty overrules them, and that Sovereignty will sanctify them all. There is nothing for which the children ought more earnestly to contend than the doctrine of their Master over all creation—the Kingship of God over all the works of His own hands—the Throne of God and His right to sit upon that Throne. On the other hand, there is no doctrine more hated by worldings, no truth of which they have made such a football, as the great, stupendous, but yet most certain doctrine of the Sovereignty of the infinite Jehovah. Men will allow God to be everywhere except on His throne. They will allow Him to be in His workshop to fashion worlds and make stars. They will allow Him to be in His almonry to dispense His alms and bestow His bounties. They will allow Him to sustain the earth and bear up the pillars thereof, or light the lamps of heaven, or rule the waves of the ever-moving ocean; but when God ascends His throne, His creatures then gnash their teeth, and we proclaim an enthroned God, and His right to do as He wills with His own, to dispose of His creatures as He thinks well, without consulting them in the matter; then it is that we are hissed and execrated, and then it is that men turn a deaf ear to us, for God on His throne is not the God they love. But it is God upon the throne that we love to preach. It is God upon His throne whom we trust.” - Charles Spurgeon

Every doctrine that we ever discuss as followers of Christ has to be measured up against the entire counsel of Scripture.  Every conversation we have about who God is or how He acts needs to always be firmly rooted in what He has revealed to us through His Word. When we seek to understand the breadth and depth of theology (the study of God) our counsel must derive its root from Scripture above any logical conclusion that we may see. With that said, this is merely thoughts laid down in written form, I encourage you to study the Scriptures with a fervency to understand what we can about our Lord and be very careful about what we may add or take away from what the Word reveals to us.

I am well aware that there are many differing view about the Sovereignty of God and realize that I am still learning the fullness of this doctrine.  The purpose of this post is not to debate the doctrine of God’s Sovereignty in regards to salvation but rather address our limited view of God’s Sovereignty over events of history and control of creation. The resource that began my thoughts on this subject is a book called “Spectacular Sins” by John Piper. Since then, I have been measuring it up against the Word and wrestling with the thoughts presented. I encourage you to pick up a copy of this small book and wrestle with the Scripture that is presented. 

What do we really believe?

Do you believe that God is on His throne?  I mean, do you really believe it? When you think about how the world runs and goes about do you see it being masterfully planned out and governed by the Lord? Is the God that you believe in one who is reigning and ruling as He sees fit, or one that has limited scopes of His sovereignty?  Psalm 29 tells us that, “The Lord sits enthroned over the flood, the Lord sits enthroned as king forever” (v. 10). Psalm 33 tells us that, “The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He frustrates the plans of the peoples. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations” (v. 10-11). Isaiah tells us the the Lord blows on the reign of the rulers of the earth and they wither (Isaiah 40:23-24). The book of Job reveals that even Satan has to ask for permission to cause calamity on the righteous servant Job.  Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians that God the Father will put all things in subjection to Jesus Christ and in Philippians that even our suffering has been granted to us by Him.  What do you believe about His rule?

What happens when we limit this Sovereignty?

The Lord truly reigns and when we limit any part of His sovereignty we first hinder our wonder at the majesty of the King. Our wonder and awe of the Lord will always fall short when our view of His power and reign is small. Wonder comes from marveling at the way the Lord has ruled throughout history.  How He has brought kingdoms down with a few hundred men (Judges 7) and turned a mighty king away to be killed by his own people (Isaiah 37). Wonder stems from seeing the greatness of His power and majesty. 

Also, when we limit the sovereignty of God our sufferings become a heavy burden to bear. Very few people in life have suffered more than the those we read about in Scripture.  Take Job for instance, his suffering was immeasurable to most of us and yet he stood firm in one thing…the masterful hand and plan of God.  Say what you will about whether his questions towards God were warranted or not but one thing they do show is that the rule of God is what held Job up during the suffering.  He knew that God was involved and therefore pleaded with Him for His intervention.  Or David, who was sought after to be killed by the king.  Read his psalms and then tell me that he did not trust explicitly in the sovereign hand of God. What about Paul? (2 Corinthians 11:24-28)…the list could go on and on.  All these men held firmly onto the understanding of the reign of the Lord.  They trusted Him with their very lives and when we begin to limit His sovereignty we will find suffering too heavy to bear.

Finally, when we limit the sovereignty of God our prayers become weak.  What do you really take to God in prayer? Paul calls for us to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thess 5:17). But will you really pray without ceasing if you are unsure of the power and scope of God’s sovereignty?  When you do pray, are you encouraged at the end or still anxious? Our understanding of the soveriegnty of God effects our peace.  How can we truly rest in the grace and work of God if we do not believe He is in complete control?

Listen to the words of Paul after pondering the work of God in salvation:

“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable His ways! ‘For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been His counselor?’ ‘Or who has given a gift to Him that He might be repaid?’ For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen” (Romans 11:33-36).

Meditate on these words and let them challenge your understanding of the sovereign hand of God.  Read 2 Corinthians 1 and 12, then ask yourself if the Lord still reigns in the same ways.  Read Job and look to how the Lord acts.  Take courage that God is not out of control but rather working all things for good (Romans 8:28).  

- one who is learning to trust more and more in the Lord who sits on the throne