Tension between God's Sovereignty and Human Obedience
The tension between God's sovereignty and human obedience is a longstanding theological conundrum. The biblical text presents a complex interplay between divine control and human agency. In Romans 13:2, Paul writes that "whosoever therfore resysteth power resisteth the ordinaunce of God" [1]. This suggests that human authorities are ordained by God, and resisting them is tantamount to resisting God's ordinance.
The biblical anchor for this tension lies in passages that affirm God's sovereignty alongside human responsibility. For instance, Hosea 4:1 indicts the Israelites for their lack of truth, mercy, and knowledge of God, implying that they are accountable for their actions [2]. Conversely, Psalm 99:1 declares, "The Lord reigneth... let the people tremble" [6], underscoring God's sovereignty.
One tradition interprets this tension by emphasizing the compatibility of divine sovereignty and human obedience. According to Matthew Henry, God's sovereignty is not incompatible with human responsibility; rather, it is the foundation of all religion [8]. In his view, God's governance of the world and the church is exercised through his providence and grace, with Christ as the mediator.
one commentary tradition on 1 Peter 2:13 also navigates this tension, noting that submission to human authorities is a Christian duty, as they are "of divine appointment" [5]. However, this submission is not unconditional; it is tempered by the understanding that "our submission to governing authorities must always be in terms of our ultimate submission to God" [3].
The Nonconformist/Puritan tradition, represented by Matthew Henry, highlights the importance of obedience in the context of God's covenant with his people. In his commentary on Psalm 50:7, Henry notes that God expects his people to listen to him and that their obedience is a fundamental aspect of their relationship with him [7].
The Baptist/Reformed tradition, as represented by John Gill, also affirms God's sovereignty while emphasizing the importance of human obedience. In his commentary on Psalm 99:1, Gill notes that God's reign is a source of both comfort and terror, depending on one's relationship with him [6].
The tension between God's sovereignty and human obedience is not a contradiction to be resolved but a mystery to be navigated. As the biblical text and various Christian traditions demonstrate, both divine control and human agency are essential aspects of the Christian faith. The key is understanding how they relate to each other, with the recognition that human obedience is always exercised within the context of God's sovereignty.
In Jeremiah 7:20-23, the prophet emphasizes that obedience is more important to God than sacrifices, highlighting the need for a genuine, heartfelt response to God's will [4]. This underscores the idea that human obedience is not merely a matter of external compliance but a deeply personal and relational aspect of one's faith.
Sources
- Romans “Romans 13:2 (Tyndale) — The powers that be are ordeyned of God. Whosoever therfore resysteth power resisteth the ordinaunce of God. And they that resist shall receave to the selfe damnacio.”
- King James Version “[KJV] Hosea 4:1 — Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.”
- Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 13:1: 13:1-2 The basic command of 13:1-7 is to submit to governing authorities. In God’s ordering of the world, we answer to those in positions of authority. Our submission to them will usually take the form of obedience. However, because God stands over all governments, our submission to governing authorities must always be in terms of our ultimate submission to God (see Acts 4:19-20). The Roman Christians might have been resisting government (see study note on Rom 13:6) based on a false understanding of the Good News, as if no longer copying “the behavior and customs ”
- Jeremiah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Jeremiah 7:20: 7:20-23 The people’s offerings and sacrifices meant nothing to the Lord if disobedience ruled in their hearts. Their sacrifices did not manipulate God into doing something he would rather not do. Rather, they embodied the people’s trust in God’s gracious forgiveness. When the people tried to use the sacrificial system to manipulate God while living self-serving lives, it only infuriated him (Isa 1:10-16; Amos 5:21-27). Obedience to God allows for a personal relationship between God and his people that provides the basis for a wonderful future (Hos 6:6).”
- 1 Peter (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Peter 2:13: every ordinance of man--"every human institution" [ALFORD], literally, "every human creation." For though of divine appointment, yet in the mode of nomination and in the exercise of their authority, earthly governors are but human institutions, being of men, and in relation to men. The apostle speaks as one raised above all human things. But lest they should think themselves so ennobled by faith as to be raised above subordination to human authorities, he tells them to submit themselves for the sake of Christ, who desires you to be subject, and who on”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 99:1: The Lord reigneth,.... The King Messiah, he is made and declared Lord and Christ; he has reigned, does reign, and ever will; see Psa 93:1, let the people tremble: with awe of his majesty, and reverence of his word and ordinances; rejoicing before him with trembling, as his own people and subjects do, Psa 2:11, and so it agrees with Psa 97:1, or it may be understood of the people that are enemies to Christ, who would not have him to reign, though he shall whether they will or not; and who will sooner or later tremble for fear of him, and his righteous judgment. Jarch”
- Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 50:7: God is here dealing with those that placed all their religion in the observances of the ceremonial law, and thought those sufficient. I. He lays down the original contract between him and Israel, in which they had avouched him to be their God, and he them to be his people, and so both parties were agreed (Psa 50:7): Hear, O my people! and I will speak. Note, It is justly expected that whatever others doe, when he speaks, his people should give ear; who will, if they do not? And then we may comfortably expect that God will speak to us when we are ready to hear what”
- Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 99:1: The foundation of all religion is laid in this truth, That the Lord reigns. God governs the world by his providence, governs the church by his grace, and both by his Son. We are to believe not only that the Lord lives, but that the Lord reigns. This is the triumph of the Christian church, and here it was the triumph of the Jewish church, that Jehovah was their King; and hence it is inferred, Let the people tremble, that is, 1. Let even the subjects of this kingdom tremble; for the Old Testament dispensation had much of terror in it. At Mount Sinai Israel, and even”