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God's Sovereignty in Trials and Triumphs of Life

God's sovereignty refers to His absolute right to govern all things according to His own will and good pleasure [7]. This attribute is foundational to understanding God's character and His interaction with the world, encompassing both the triumphs and trials of human experience. The concept of God's sovereignty is expressed through various aspects of His being, including His power, righteousness, and love [5, 2, 6].

The power of God is described as great, strong, glorious, mighty, everlasting, and irresistible [5]. It is exhibited in creation, upholding all things, and in salvation [1]. God's power is so profound that it is considered incomparable [5]. Similarly, Christ's power, as the Son of God, is supreme, unlimited, and extends over all flesh and all things [1]. This includes His ability to subdue all things [1]. The Lord's sovereignty extends over all of nature [11].

God's righteousness is another facet of His sovereign character, described as very high, abundant, beyond computation, everlasting, and enduring forever [2]. It is the very habitation of His throne [2, 9]. This righteousness is exhibited in His testimonies, commandments, judgments, word, and acts [2].

The love of God is also sovereign, described as great, abiding, unfailing, unalienable, constraining, and everlasting [6]. This love is manifested towards perishing sinners, His saints, the destitute, and the cheerful giver [6].

The Bible consistently affirms God's reign and ultimate authority. For instance, Psalm 47:8 states, "God reigns over the nations. God sits on his holy throne" [9]. This reign is not merely passive but active, as God governs the world by His providence and the church by His grace, both through His Son [14]. All greatness, power, glory, victory, and majesty belong to the Lord, and everything in heaven and on earth is His [12, 13].

God's sovereign acts are considered irresistible, making it useless to counter or avoid His purposes [15]. This means that even in human councils and courts, God maintains supreme presidency and power, judging among magistrates [16]. The Lord has authority over life and death [10].

The implications of God's sovereignty extend to the future, as the Lord Jesus Christ is appointed to judge the living and the dead at His manifestation and reign [3, 8, 4]. This future judgment underscores the comprehensive nature of God's rule over all creation and humanity.

Sources

  1. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Power of Christ, The — As the Son of God, is the power of God -- Joh 5:17-19; 10:28-30. As man, is from the Father -- Ac 10:38. Described as Supreme. -- Eph 1:20,21; 1Pe 3:22. Unlimited. -- Mt 28:18. Over all flesh. -- Joh 17:2. Over all things. -- Joh 3:35; Eph 1:22. Glorious. -- 2Th 1:9. Everlasting. -- 1Ti 6:16. Is able to subdue all things -- Php 3:21. Exhibited in Creation. -- Joh 1:3,10; Col 1:16. Upholding all things. -- Col 1:17; Heb 1:3. Salvation. -- Isa 63:1; Heb 7:25. His teaching. -- Mt 7:28,29; Lu 4:32. Working miracles. -- Mt 8:27; Lu 5:17. Enabling ot”
  2. 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”
  3. II Timothy “II Timothy 4:1 (YLT) — I do fully testify, then, before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who is about to judge living and dead at his manifestation and his reign--”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Excellency and Glory of Christ, The — As God -- Joh 1:1-5; Php 2:6,9,10. As the Son of God -- Mt 3:17; Heb 1:6,8. As one with the Father -- Joh 10:30,38. As the First-born -- Col 1:15,18. As the First-begotten -- Heb 1:6. As Lord of lords, &c -- Re 17:14. As the image of God -- Col 1:15; Heb 1:3. As creator -- Joh 1:3; Col 1:16; Heb 1:2. As the Blessed of God -- Ps 45:2. As Mediator -- 1Ti 2:5; Heb 8:6. As Prophet -- De 18:15,16; Ac 3:22. As Priest -- Ps 110:4; Heb 4:15. As King -- Isa 6:1-5; Joh 12:41. As Judge -- Mt 16:27; 25:31,33. As Shepherd -- Isa 40:10,11; Joh”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Power of God, The — Is one of his attributes -- Ps 62:11. Expressed by the Voice of God. -- Ps 29:3,5; 68:33. Finger of God. -- Ex 8:19; Ps 8:3. Hand of God. -- Ex 9:3,15; Isa 48:13. Arm of God. -- Job 40:9; Isa 52:10. Thunder of his power. -- Job 26:14. Described as Great. -- Ps 79:11; Na 1:3. Strong. -- Ps 89:13; 136:12. Glorious. -- Ex 15:6; Isa 63:12. Mighty. -- Job 9:4; Ps 89:13. Everlasting. -- Isa 26:4; Ro 1:20. Sovereign. -- Ro 9:21. Effectual. -- Isa 43:13; Eph 3:7. Irresistible. -- De 32:39; Da 4:35. Incomparable. -- Ex 15:11,12; De 3:24; Job 40:9; Ps 89:8.”
  6. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Love of God, The — Is a part of his character -- 2Co 13:11; 1Jo 4:8. Christ, the especial object of -- Joh 15:9; 17:26. Christ abides in -- Joh 15:10. Described as Sovereign. -- De 7:8; 10:15. Great. -- Eph 2:4. Abiding. -- Zep 3:17. Unfailing. -- Isa 49:15,16. Unalienable. -- Ro 8:39. Constraining. -- Ho 11:4. Everlasting. -- Jer 31:3. Irrespective of merit -- De 7:7; Job 7:17. Manifested towards Perishing sinners. -- Joh 3:16; Tit 3:4. His saints. -- Joh 16:27; 17:23; 2Th 2:16; 1Jo 4:16. The destitute. -- De 10:18. The cheerful giver. -- 2Co 9:7. Exhibited in The g”
  7. 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).”
  8. 2 Timothy “I command you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at his appearing and his Kingdom: -- 2 Timothy 4:1”
  9. Psalms “God reigns over the nations. God sits on his holy throne. -- Psalms 47:8”
  10. James (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on James 4:15: 4:15 The Lord has authority over life and death (Deut 32:39; 1 Sam 2:6; Matt 10:28).”
  11. Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 18:9: 18:9-11 The Lord’s sovereignty extends over all of nature (see 104:2-4; 148:5-6).”
  12. 1 Chronicles (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on 1 Chronicles 29:11: Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty,.... That is, either God is possessed of all greatness and immensity, of dignity of nature, and of all perfections; of almighty power, of excellent glory, of superiority to all beings and of honour, and majesty, and all that grandeur, might, and honour in men, and victory over others; the majestic appearance they make, and exaltation above others they have, are all of God: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; they are both made by him, an”
  13. 1 Chronicles (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Chronicles 29:11: Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty,.... That is, either God is possessed of all greatness and immensity, of dignity of nature, and of all perfections; of almighty power, of excellent glory, of superiority to all beings and of honour, and majesty, and all that grandeur, might, and honour in men, and victory over others; the majestic appearance they make, and exaltation above others they have, are all of God: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; they are both made by him, and all t”
  14. 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”
  15. Ecclesiastes (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ecclesiastes 7:13: 7:13 God’s sovereign acts are irresistible; it is useless to counter or avoid his purposes.”
  16. Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 82:1: We have here, I. God's supreme presidency and power in all councils and courts asserted and laid down, as a great truth necessary to be believed both by princes and subjects (Psa 82:1): God stands, as chief director, in the congregation of the mighty, the mighty One, in coetu fortis - in the councils of the prince, the supreme magistrate, and he judges among the gods, the inferior magistrates; both the legislative and the executive power of princes is under his eye and his hand. Observe here, 1. The power and honour of magistrates; they are the mighty. They are so”
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