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Examples of God's Sovereignty in Righteous Choices in Scripture

God's sovereignty is His absolute right to act according to His own will and pleasure [1]. This divine prerogative extends to all things, including the righteous choices made by individuals, demonstrating that even human moral agency operates within the framework of God's overarching plan. The concept of God's sovereignty is deeply intertwined with His righteousness, which is a fundamental aspect of His character [4].

The Bible consistently portrays God as righteous, a quality that is described as very high, abundant, beyond computation, everlasting, and enduring forever [4]. His righteousness is the habitation of His throne (Psalm 97:2) and is declared by the heavens (Psalm 50:6) [4, 9]. This inherent righteousness provides the character necessary for His rule, judicial decisions, and relationships, leading to harmony and order [14]. The Lord gives decisions in righteousness for all who are in trouble (Psalm 103:6), and His judgments are upright (Psalm 119:137) [5, 6]. Matthew Henry notes that God's righteousness signifies the infinite rectitude and perfection of His nature, meaning He acts as becomes Him, and His will is the eternal rule of equity [12].

God's sovereignty is evident in His "determinate purpose" and "unconditional decree" which govern all events, particularly concerning salvation [2]. This doctrine, often referred to as predestination or election, is found in passages such as Acts 4:28, Romans 8:29-30, 1 Corinthians 2:7, and Ephesians 1:5, 11 [2]. While acknowledging the difficulties associated with this doctrine, it is presented as belonging to the "secret things" of God [2].

Scripture provides numerous examples where God's sovereignty is demonstrated in the righteous choices of individuals and in the broader scope of His governance. For instance, Proverbs 21:3 states that "To do righteousness and judgment, Is chosen of Jehovah rather than sacrifice" [7]. This verse highlights that God values righteous actions and just decisions above ritualistic offerings, implying a divine preference and selection for such conduct. The "choosing of the Lord" is also reflected in names like Beraiah [3].

The "judgments of God" encompass several aspects, including the secret decisions of His will (Psalm 110:5; 36:6), the revelations of His will (Exodus 21:1; Deuteronomy 6:20; Psalm 119:7-175), and the infliction of punishment on the wicked (Exodus 6:6; 12:12; Ezekiel 25:11; Revelation 16:7) [10]. These judgments are not arbitrary but are rooted in His righteousness. Jamieson, Fausset & Brown interpret "righteousness and judgments" in Psalm 36:6 as qualities of good government, set forth as unbounded [17]. They also note that God's righteous government is the hope of the pious and the terror of the wicked (Psalm 35:23) [13].

The concept of "righteousness imputed" further illustrates God's sovereign work in making individuals righteous. This righteousness is predicted in Isaiah 56:1 and Ezekiel 16:14, revealed in the gospel (Romans 1:17), and is "of the Lord" (Isaiah 54:17) [11]. It is described as the righteousness of faith (Romans 4:13; 9:30; 10:6), the righteousness of God without the law (Romans 3:21), and the righteousness of God by faith in Christ (Romans 3:22) [11]. Christ Himself is made righteousness to believers (1 Corinthians 1:30), and believers are made the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21) [11]. This demonstrates a sovereign act of God where righteousness is not merely earned but is divinely bestowed and accounted to individuals through Christ.

The Psalms frequently emphasize God's righteousness as the foundation for His actions and His relationship with humanity. Psalm 45:4 calls for riding victoriously "on behalf of truth, humility, and righteousness," asking God's right hand to display awesome deeds [8]. This portrays God as actively championing these virtues. Tyndale House notes that the Lord’s acts of redemption demonstrate His righteousness, which provides the character required for rule, judicial decisions, and relationships, leading to harmony and order [14].

Even when humanity falls short, God's righteousness remains steadfast. Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, commenting on Isaiah 42:21, suggest that God is pleased with His own righteousness, which Christ fulfills for His people, and with them for Christ's sake [18]. This interpretation highlights that God's pleasure is not contingent on human perfection but on His own perfect righteousness, manifested through Christ, which He sovereignly applies to believers. This also includes His faithfulness to promises made to Israel's forefathers [18].

The interplay between God's sovereignty and human righteous choices is not presented as a contradiction but as a divine orchestration. God's sovereign will ensures that His purposes are accomplished, even through the free, yet guided, choices of individuals. The "righteousness" that God bestows on His people, or the grace to secure those rewards, is a result of His sovereign action [15]. The case of God's righteous government is illustrated in Psalm 22:27, where it is shown that beyond the existing time and people, others will acknowledge and worship God, and His delivering power will be celebrated and transmitted to future generations [16]. This demonstrates a long-term, sovereign plan for the spread of His worship and the recognition of His grace.

Sources

  1. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Sovereignty — Of God, his absolute right to do all things according to his own good pleasure (Dan. 4:25, 35; Rom. 9:15-23; 1 Tim. 6:15; Rev. 4:11).”
  2. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Predestination — This word is properly used only with reference to God's plan or purpose of salvation. The Greek word rendered "predestinate" is found only in these six passages, Acts 4:28; Rom. 8:29, 30; 1 Cor. 2:7; Eph. 1:5, 11; and in all of them it has the same meaning. They teach that the eternal, sovereign, immutable, and unconditional decree or "determinate purpose" of God governs all events. This doctrine of predestination or election is beset with many difficulties. It belongs to the "secret things" of God. But if we take the revealed word of God as our guid”
  3. Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Beraiah — the choosing of the Lord”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Righteousness of God, The — Is part of his character -- Ps 7:9; 116:5; 119:137. Described as Very high. -- Ps 71:19. Abundant. -- Ps 48:10. Beyond computation. -- Ps 71:15. Everlasting. -- Ps 119:142. Enduring for ever. -- Ps 111:3. The habitation of his throne. -- Ps 97:2. Christ acknowledged -- Joh 17:25. Christ committed his cause to -- 1Pe 2:23. Angels acknowledge -- Re 16:5. Exhibited in His testimonies. -- Ps 119:138,144. His commandments. -- De 4:8; Ps 119:172. His judgments. -- Ps 19:9; 119:7,62. His word. -- Ps 119:123. His ways. -- Ps 145:17. His acts. -- J”
  5. Psalms “Psalms 103:6 (BBE) — The Lord gives decisions in righteousness for all who are in trouble.”
  6. Psalms “Psalms 119:137 (BBE) — O Lord, great is your righteousness, and upright are your decisions.”
  7. Proverbs “Proverbs 21:3 (YLT) — To do righteousness and judgment, Is chosen of Jehovah rather than sacrifice.”
  8. Psalms “In your majesty ride on victoriously on behalf of truth, humility, and righteousness. Let your right hand display awesome deeds. -- Psalms 45:4”
  9. Psalms “Psalms 50:6 (YLT) — And the heavens declare His righteousness, For God Himself <FI>is<Fi> judge. Selah.”
  10. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Judgments of God — (1.) The secret decisions of God's will (Ps. 110:5; 36:6). (2.) The revelations of his will (Ex. 21:1; Deut. 6:20; Ps. 119:7-175). (3.) The infliction of punishment on the wicked (Ex. 6:6; 12:12; Ezek. 25:11; Rev. 16:7), such as is mentioned in Gen. 7; 19:24, 25; Judg. 1:6, 7; Acts 5:1-10, etc.”
  11. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Righteousness Imputed — Predicted -- Isa 56:1; Eze 16:14. Revealed in the gospel -- Ro 1:17. Is of the Lord -- Isa 54:17. Described as The righteousness of faith. -- Ro 4:13; 9:30; 10:6. The righteousness of God, without the law. -- Ro 3:21. The righteousness of God by faith in Christ. -- Ro 3:22. Christ being made righteousness to us. -- 1Co 1:30. Our being made the righteousness of God, in Christ. -- 2Co 5:21. Christ is the end of the law for -- Ro 10:4. Christ called THE LORD OF OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS -- Jer 23:6. Christ brings in an everlasting righteousness -- Da 9:2”
  12. Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 119:137: Here is, 1. The righteousness of God, the infinite rectitude and perfection of his nature. As he is what he is, so he is what he should be, and in every thing acts as becomes him; there is nothing wanting, nothing amiss, in God; his will is the eternal rule of equity, and he is righteous, for he does all according to it. 2. The righteousness of his government. He rules the world by his providence, according to the principles of justice, and never did, nor ever can do, any wrong to any of his creatures: Upright are thy judgments, the promises and threatenings an”
  13. Psalms (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Psalms 35:23: (Compare Psa 7:6; Psa 26:1; Th2 1:6). God's righteous government is the hope of the pious and terror of the wicked.”
  14. Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 22:31: 22:31 The Lord’s acts of redemption (40:9; 50:6; 71:15, 16, 24; 97:6) demonstrate that he is righteous (see 4:1). His righteousness provides the character required for rule, judicial decisions, and relationships. This virtue leads to harmony and order (see 50:6).”
  15. Psalms (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Psalms 24:5: righteousness--the rewards which God bestows on His people, or the grace to secure those rewards as well as the result.”
  16. Psalms (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Psalms 22:27: His case illustrates God's righteous government. Beyond the existing time and people, others shall be brought to acknowledge and worship God; the fat ones, or the rich as well as the poor, the helpless who cannot keep themselves alive, shall together unite in celebrating God's delivering power, and transmit to unborn people the records of His grace.”
  17. Psalms (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Psalms 36:6: righteousness [and] judgments--qualities of a good government (Psa 5:8; Psa 31:1). These all are set forth, by the figures used, as unbounded.”
  18. Isaiah (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Isaiah 42:21: his righteousness--not His people's, but His own; Isa 42:24 shows that they had no righteousness (Isa 45:24; Isa 59:16). God is well pleased with His Son ("in whom My soul delighteth," Isa 42:1), "who fulfils all righteousness" (Mat 3:15) for them, and with them for His sake (compare Isa 42:6; Psa 71:16, Psa 71:19; Mat 5:17; Rom 10:3-4; Phi 3:9). Perhaps in God's "righteousness" here is included His faithfulness to His promises given to Israel's forefathers [ROSENMULLER]; because of this He is well pleased with Israel, even though displeased with thei”
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