What Does it Mean That God is Sovereign?

I’ve asked myself many times throughout my life what it means that God is sovereign. I mean, I’ve gathered that it means He is in control, but how is that demonstrated in life? I see a super example in the life of David beginning with three intriguing verses.

As Israel’s king, David came up with the noble desire to build a house (a temple) for the Lord. The Ark of the Covenant had been moved hither and yon and was housed in the tent of the tabernacle. It occurred to David that he had a better dwelling place than did the ark that represented God. That just seemed wrong to David. God deserved better than that. Let’s read this.

David didn’t even have to finish his thought before the prophet Nathan started tracking with him. He assured David that his idea was great and honorable to God. “Yes,” was Nathan’s no-brainer response to David’s desire.

If you get curious and read on in verses 4-17, you will learn that this plan of David’s to build God a house was not approved by God. Here’s where I see the sovereignty of God. Let’s approach it with these verses:

(Isa 55:8-9) For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

• David’s high thoughts: “I have a house. But God doesn’t have a house. I will build Him one.”
• God’s higher thoughts: “I’ve never had a house and never asked for one, and I don’t need one now.”

God chose this occasion and this conversation to actually lay out His grand plan that David did not know, nor could he have known had the sovereign one who reigns over all not chosen to reveal the bigger picture right then and there. God announced the establishment of an eternal kingdom from David’s seed. In the near term, that was Solomon who was assigned the task of building the temple and beginning this promised kingdom. And because we see Jesus in every page of the Bible, we note that Solomon was a proxy for Jesus who would be of David’s seed on down the road, and His kingdom would and will last forever.

Life is a tapestry, and we live on the underside unable to see the pattern and beauty that’s visible from above. The master weaver has a grand plan that He is threading together.

God’s sovereignty is not simply His foreknowledge. He knows what will happen, yes, but He’s also in control of it. He brings about events for His purposes and His glory.

What do we learn about God from David’s story?

There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand. (Prov 19:21)

The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand: (Isa. 14:24)

David was allowed to hear God’s ultimate plan in response to his own little plan. In our age, we are allowed to hear God’s decisive plan too… from reading His word:

Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: (Eph. 1:9)

By the way, the top of that tapestry is more complete now than it was in David’s day. It’s still the same one. God described His final design and purpose in the next verses.

That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: 11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will. (Eph 1:10-11)

Jody

The Secret to Accomplishing God's Work

Has anyone ever heard of Bezaleel? He is the kind of guy you’d like to know when you want to finish your basement or remodel a room. He was the best of the best when it came time to build the tabernacle. If we were making it today, we’d go to Home Depot and Hobby Lobby to get materials and decorations, including the fabric required to make the tent. But in Exodus, they didn’t have stores. The furniture, pots, candlesticks and utensils had to be handmade and hand engraved. The fabric had to be hand woven and embroidered. Someone had to do that.

Bezaleel was the guy God picked to oversee all this made-from-scratch work. For me, any of the required work to make the tabernacle would have been like climbing a mountain. Not one thought of how to accomplish it would have entered my head. Fortunately, there was Bezaleel who was gifted in those areas. How did that happen, anyway?

“And he hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship; And to devise curious works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, And in the cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of wood, to make any manner of cunning work. And he hath put in his heart that he may teach, both he, and Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. Them hath he filled with wisdom of heart, to work all manner of work, of the engraver, and of the cunning workman, and of the embroiderer, in blue, and in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even of them that do any work, and of those that devise cunning work.” (Ex 35:31-35)

This was a case of God equipping a man to do God’s work. How fulfilling do you suppose it was for Bezaleel to have this talent and to get to use it for a divine purpose?

I’m thinking of my verse for the year and how this story sheds more light on it. “A man’s heart deviseth his way, but the Lord directeth his steps.” (Prov. 16:9) God not only directed Bezaleel’s hands and feet, He directed his mind by giving him the thought processes and the ability to teach others how to help him. He had a whole package of ability from God that went well beyond just his steps.

But God directs me and you, too, with steps, thoughts, ideas, skills, communication abilities—everything we need to do the job He has in mind for us. We fit in God’s great work, the church—His body in motion. It’s a spiritual building He uses to equip the saints for the work of ministry. And He put in His people different sets of abilities to help build it. This is what Eph. 4 is all about. It makes me look at my place in the church (local and universal) in a new light. God wants to use me in the area in which He has gifted me. How am I doing? How are you doing?

Yesterday we looked at For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. (Phil. 2:13) Today we see For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Jody