Sovereignty part 1 - How To Understand It
“There is no other God besides Me, A righteous God and a Savior; There is none except Me.
Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; For I am God, and there is no other.
I have sworn by Myself, The word has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness And will not turn back, That to Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance.”
Isaiah 45:21-23
All of creation is about Yahweh. Every page of sacred scripture is a testimony regarding the Creator God who brought all of life, the heavens and the earth, into being. "Thus says the God, Yahweh, Who created the heavens and stretched them out, Who spread out the earth and its offspring, Who gives breath to the people on it And spirit to those who walk in it" (Isaiah 42:5).
Why?
The words in the book of Isaiah bring to mind an important question. Looking to the Westminster Standards, this document begins with a question very person must ask: "What is the chief end of man?" Why did God create people? Why am I here and for what purpose? The answer put forth in the Standard is simple and direct; "Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him for ever." This answer places in the right order that emphases the prominence of our Creator. Each and every person was given life in order to worship God. Joy in its truest sense is found only in Him and only fully experienced when God is worshiped. In other words, Yahweh is the center of life, life's purpose, the reason each person has life and this is true for every human being.
Centered
Were do we go to learn to live a God centric life? There is only one place or book to learn from, the Bible. This is the Creator's revelation of Himself to His creation. Our infinite God would not be knowable otherwise. This comment is not intended to ignore what is written in Romans 1:20. Consider that this verse states exactly the point of this post, "For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, both His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse" (Romans 1:20). Even an elementary reader will understand who the subject is in this verse.
Life, which includes all of creation, is about Yahweh and testifies and points to Him. We were created by Him for Him. Every living person including those who have lived and will live, all were created for this single purpose - to glorify their Creator God which is their worship: "Him you shall fear, and to Him you shall worship, and to Him you shall sacrifice" (2 Kings 17:36b).
Soli Deo Gloria
With this as a foundation, our understanding of God's sovereignty and its absolute nature will come into focus. Everything God does is about Himself, for Himself, to carryout His purpose all of which is intended to bring Him and Him alone glory: "I am Yahweh, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another" (Isaiah 42:8).
As Creator He holds ownership rights, creation then is subject to Him and He determines the purpose of man's existence, and that purpose is for His glory. From the pages of Scripture, reveal in detail how God carries out His purpose. Yahweh declares, "The word has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness And will not turn back" (Isaiah 45:21-23).
His Word, what He says is right and will come to pass. He will accomplish His purpose and nothing will stop, "turn back" His commands. "So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what pleases Me, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it" (Isaiah 55:11). In Jeremiah 31:33 Yahweh states four times "I will" and then reveals with detail exactly what He will do in the years ahead. Then in a latter verse He follows up with the unequivocal surety of His Word and how impossible for anything or anyone to stop Him from carrying out His promise.
End To Beginning
As a student of God's Word, we have to marvel regarding how Yahweh moves human history through the millennia to accomplish His purpose. A purpose with a final outcome established before the plan even began. Looking again to Isaiah: "Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, 'My counsel will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure'" (Isaiah 46:10).
Every detail in creation, and this includes all peoples, kings and nations, is subject to the purpose of His plan and will come to pass exactly as He commands. In other words, Yahweh has the absolute right and authority to rule His creation as He "pleases." And, He posses the power and might to carry out what He commands that will accomplish His purpose. The intensity of His purpose is given in these words, "I have sworn by Myself." There is nothing above, no one or authority higher that can overrule Yahweh. He is governed only by Himself. Therefore unhindered, will He bring Himself glory! This is how to understand sovereignty and only Yahweh possess it in the purest sense.
“Forever, O Yahweh, Your word stands firm in heaven. Your faithfulness endures from generation to generation; You established the earth, and it stands. They stand this day according to Your judgments, For all things are Your slaves.” Psalms 119:89-91
