The Sovereignty of God in Human Decision Making
The sovereignty of God in human decision making is rooted in the biblical concept of God's decrees, which are described as "his eternal, unchangeable, holy, wise, and sovereign purpose, comprehending at once all things that ever were or will be" [1]. This understanding is supported by various scriptural references, including Daniel 4:25, 35, which affirm God's absolute right to do all things according to his own good pleasure [2].
In the context of human decision making, God's sovereignty is often related to the doctrine of predestination, which suggests that God's eternal purpose governs all events, including human choices [4]. The Bible speaks of God's foreknowledge and predestination of individuals to eternal life, with the ground of this election being God's good pleasure (Ephesians 1:5, 11; Matthew 11:25, 26; John 15:16) [3].
The Psalms also highlight God's sovereignty over human affairs, with Psalm 75:7 stating that "God is the judge; He puts down one and exalts another" [5]. Similarly, Daniel 4:17 declares that "the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whom He wishes" [6].
Different Christian traditions interpret the extent of God's sovereignty in human decision making. The Baptist/Reformed tradition, represented by John Gill, emphasizes the role of God's counsel in governing all things, including human choices [9]. In contrast, the Methodist/Wesleyan tradition, as represented by Adam Clarke, highlights the wisdom and power of God's appointment in human salvation, suggesting a more synergistic understanding of human decision making [10].
The Nonconformist/Puritan tradition, represented by Matthew Henry, stresses the righteousness of God's government and the importance of reverence for God's word, which is seen as the standard of righteousness and the basis for judgment [7, 8].
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Decrees of God — "The decrees of God are his eternal, unchangeable, holy, wise, and sovereign purpose, comprehending at once all things that ever were or will be in their causes, conditions, successions, and relations, and determining their certain futurition. The several contents of this one eternal purpose are, because of the limitation of our faculties, necessarily conceived of by us in partial aspects, and in logical relations, and are therefore styled Decrees." The decree being the act of an infinite, absolute, eternal, unchangeable, and sovereign Person, compre”
- 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).”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Election of Grace — The Scripture speaks (1) of the election of individuals to office or to honour and privilege, e.g., Abraham, Jacob, Saul, David, Solomon, were all chosen by God for the positions they held; so also were the apostles. (2) There is also an election of nations to special privileges, e.g., the Hebrews (Deut. 7:6; Rom. 9:4). (3) But in addition there is an election of individuals to eternal life (2 Thess. 2:13; Eph. 1:4; 1 Pet. 1:2; John 13:18). The ground of this election to salvation is the good pleasure of God (Eph. 1:5, 11; Matt. 11:25, 26; John 15”
- 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”
- Psalms “But God is the judge. He puts down one, and lifts up another. -- Psalms 75:7”
- Daniel “Daniel 4:17 (BSB) — This decision is the decree of the watchers, the verdict declared by the holy ones, so that the living will know that the Most High rules over the kingdom of mankind and gives it to whom He wishes, setting over it the lowliest of men.’”
- Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 119:142: Observe, 1. That God's word is righteousness, and it is an everlasting righteousness. It is the rule of God's judgment, and it is consonant to his counsels from eternity and will direct his sentence for eternity. The word of God will judge us, it will judge us in righteousness, and by it our everlasting state will be determined. This should possess us with a very great reverence for the word of God that it is righteousness itself, the standard of righteousness, and it is everlasting in its rewards and punishments. 2. That God's word is a law, and that law is tr”
- 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”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 33:11: The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever,.... By which are meant, not the doctrines of the Gospel, nor the ordinances of it; though these will stand firm, and remain to the end of the world; but the purposes and decrees of God, which are wisely formed in himself, are eternal and unfrustrable, and relate to all things in providence and grace. The Lord does all things according to the counsel of his will in the government of the world, and in the salvation of men: the choice of persons to everlasting life is according to it; and so are their redemption, effectual call”
- 1 Corinthians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 Corinthians 1:25: The foolishness of God is wiser, etc. - The meaning of these strong expressions is, that the things of God's appointment, which seem to men foolishness, are infinitely beyond the highest degree of human wisdom; and those works of God, which appear to superficial observers weak and contemptible, surpass all the efforts of human power. The means which God has appointed for the salvation of men are so wisely imagined and so energetically powerful, that all who properly use them shall be infallibly brought to the end - final blessedness, which he has promised to ”