Trust in God's Sovereignty and Goodness in the Doctrine of Examples
Trust in God's sovereignty and goodness forms a foundational posture in Christian doctrine, rooted in the biblical witness that God's character is both perfectly righteous and actively engaged with his people. The psalmist commands, "Trust in the LORD and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness" [4], linking trust directly to ethical action and covenant faithfulness. This trust rests on the conviction that God's righteousness is "very high," "abundant," and "everlasting" [2], forming "the habitation of his throne" [2].
The doctrine finds its clearest expression in the life of Christ, who "set an example" of resignation to the Father's will [3], most vividly in Gethsemane where he prayed, "Not my will, but yours be done" [3]. This pattern of trust amid suffering becomes normative for believers, who are called to exhibit "submission to the sovereignty of God in his purposes" [3] even in loss of goods, children, or bodily suffering [3]. The New Testament grounds this boldness not in human strength but in faith in Christ, through whom believers have access to God [1]. Paul describes this as "the righteousness of God by the faith of Jesus Christ, unto all, and upon all that believe" [5].
Abraham exemplifies this trust paradigmatically. When God promised him a numerous seed, "he believed in the Lord" [6]—the Targums specify "in the Word of the Lord" [6], understood as the pre-incarnate Christ. John Gill notes that Abraham "believed in him as his Saviour and Redeemer; he believed in him for righteousness" [6], and God "counted it to him for righteousness" [6], crediting not the act of faith itself but its object.
God's sovereignty over nature and nations provides further grounds for confidence. Jamieson, Fausset & Brown observe that "God's great power and goodness are the grounds of this confidence," illustrated in "His control of the mightiest agencies of nature" [8]. The psalm tradition celebrates how God's dominion over "the natural world, in some of its most terrible and wonderful exhibitions" [9] encourages trust. Matthew Henry affirms that God's righteousness means "he is what he should be, and in every thing acts as becomes him" [7], with "his will the eternal rule of equity" [7]. This divine consistency—that God's judgments are "upright" [7] and his ways perfectly aligned with his character—anchors the believer's confidence even when circumstances appear contrary to divine goodness.
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Boldness, Holy — Christ set an example of -- Joh 7:26. Is through faith in Christ -- Eph 3:12; Heb 10:19. A characteristic of saints -- Pr 28:1. Produced by Trust in God. -- Isa 50:7. The fear of God. -- Ac 4:19; 5:29. Faithfulness to God. -- 1Ti 3:13. Express your trust in God with -- Heb 13:6. Have, in prayer -- Eph 3:12; Heb 4:16. Saints shall have, in judgment -- 1Jo 4:17. Exhortations to -- Jos 1:7; 2Ch 19:11; Jer 1:8; Eze 3:9. Pray for -- Ac 4:29; Eph 6:19,20. Ministers should exhibit, in Faithfulness to their people. -- 2Co 7:4; 10:1. Preaching. -- Ac 4:31; Ph”
- 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”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Resignation — Christ set and example of -- Mt 26:39-44; Joh 12:27; 18:11. Commanded -- Ps 37:7; 46:10. Should be exhibited in Submission to the will of God. -- 2Sa 15:26; Ps 42:5,11; Mt 6:10. Submission to the sovereignty of God in his purposes. -- Ro 9:20,21. The prospect of death. -- Ac 21:13; 2Co 4:16-5:1. Loss of goods. -- Job 1:15,16,21. Loss of children. -- Job 1:18,19,21. Chastisements. -- Heb 12:9. Bodily suffering. -- Job 2:8-10. The wicked are devoid of -- Pr 19:3. Exhortation to -- Ps 37:1-11. Motives to God's greatness. -- Ps 46:10. God's love. -- Heb 12:”
- Psalms “Psalms 37:3 (NASB) — Trust in the LORD and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.”
- Romans “Romans 3:22 (Geneva1599) — To wit, the righteousnesse of God by the faith of Iesus Christ, vnto all, and vpon all that beleeue.”
- Genesis (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Genesis 15:6: And he believed in the Lord,.... The Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan are,"in the Word of the Lord;''in the essential Word of the Lord, in Christ the Lord his righteousness; he believed in the promise of God, that he should have a seed, and a very numerous one; he believed that the Messiah would spring from his seed; he believed in him as his Saviour and Redeemer; he believed in him for righteousness, and he believed in his righteousness as justifying him before God: and he counted it to him for righteousness; not the act of his faith, but the object of it; and not ”
- 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 (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Psalms 65:6: God's great power and goodness are the grounds of this confidence. These are illustrated in His control of the mightiest agencies of nature and nations affecting men with awe and dread (Psa 26:7; Psa 98:1, &c.), and in His fertilizing showers, causing the earth to produce abundantly for man and beast.”
- Psalms (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Psalms 29 (introduction): Trust in God is encouraged by the celebration of His mighty power as illustrated in His dominion over the natural world, in some of its most terrible and wonderful exhibitions. (Psa 29:1-11) Give--or, "ascribe" (Deu 32:3). mighty--or, "sons of the mighty" (Psa 89:6). Heavenly beings, as angels.”