God's Sovereignty in Human Daily Choices and Decisions

God's sovereignty refers to His absolute right to do all things according to His own good pleasure ^[2]. This concept extends to His eternal, unchangeable purpose, which encompasses all events in their causes, conditions, successions, and relations, determining their certain future ^[1]. This divine purpose is often referred to as God's decrees ^[1]. The Bible asserts that God "does whatever he pleases" (Psalm 115:3) and has "absolute power in heaven and on earth" ^[14].

The sovereignty of God is foundational to understanding His involvement in human daily choices and decisions. It implies that nothing is haphazard; everything has its proper place within God's overarching purpose ^[9]. This perspective is articulated in various biblical texts, such as Daniel 4:35, which states that God "does as he pleases" ^[2]. Similarly, Romans 9:15-23 and 1 Timothy 6:15 also speak to God's ultimate authority ^[2].

One aspect of God's sovereignty is His righteousness, which is described as the infinite rectitude and perfection of His nature ^[11]. God's will is considered the eternal rule of equity, and He acts in accordance with it in every situation ^[11]. His government of the world through providence is based on principles of justice, ensuring that He never wrongs any of His creatures ^[11]. The Psalms declare, "But God is the judge. He puts down one, and lifts up another" (Psalm 75:7), and "Dominus judicat populos. Judica me, Domine, secundum justitiam meam, et secundum innocentiam meam super me" (Psalm 7:9) ^{[3, 7]}. This righteousness is everlasting and serves as the standard for His judgments, promises, and threatenings ^{[10, 11]}.

The concept of predestination is closely linked to God's sovereignty. Predestination, in its proper usage, refers to God's plan or purpose of salvation ^[5]. The Greek word translated "predestinate" appears in passages like Acts 4:28, Romans 8:29-30, 1 Corinthians 2:7, and Ephesians 1:5, 11, all conveying the same meaning: that God's eternal, sovereign, immutable, and unconditional decree governs all events ^[5]. While acknowledging the difficulties and "secret things" associated with this doctrine, the revealed word of God serves as the guide ^[5]. Tyndale House notes on Ecclesiastes 6:10-7:22 that God's sovereign rule is both sobering and a source of hope, suggesting that "everything has already been decided" and that it was "known long ago what each person would be" ^[12]. This perspective discourages arguing with God about one's destiny, referencing Romans 9:20-24 ^[12].

Another related concept is the election of grace, which speaks to God's choice of individuals or nations for specific purposes or eternal life ^[6]. This includes the election of individuals to office or honor, such as Abraham, Jacob, Saul, David, Solomon, and the apostles ^[6]. Nations, like the Hebrews, were also chosen for special privileges (Deuteronomy 7:6; Romans 9:4) ^[6]. Furthermore, there is an election of individuals to eternal life, grounded in God's good pleasure (Ephesians 1:5, 11; Matthew 11:25, 26; John 15:16) ^[6].

Despite God's comprehensive sovereignty, human beings are still presented in scripture as having reason and freedom of will. For instance, in Genesis 2:16, God commands Adam, who is seen as a "public person, the father and representative of all mankind," to receive law ^[13]. This indicates that while God's decrees are ultimate, human beings are expected to respond to His commands and are held accountable for their choices. The final judgment, where Christ will pass sentence on human actions, underscores this accountability (Matthew 25; Romans 14:10, 11; 2 Corinthians 5:10) ^[4]. This judgment pertains to Christ as mediator, who will complete and publicly manifest the salvation of His people and the overthrow of His enemies, demonstrating the righteousness of His work ^[4].

The tension between God's sovereignty and human free will has been a subject of theological discussion. John Gill, commenting on Job 25:2, emphasizes God's universal dominion over all angels and men, stating that "his kingdom rules over all" ^[16]. Matthew Henry, in his commentary on Psalm 82:1, asserts God's "supreme presidency and power in all councils and courts," noting that "God stands, as chief director, in the congregation of the mighty" and "judges among the gods," referring to inferior magistrates ^[15]. This implies that even the decisions made by human authorities are ultimately under God's oversight and control ^[15].

The Puritan theologian Matthew Henry also notes that God's word is "righteousness itself, the standard of righteousness," and that it will judge humanity in righteousness, determining their everlasting state ^[10]. This perspective highlights that God's sovereign plan is not arbitrary but is executed according to His righteous character ^{[8, 11]}. The decrees of God are not merely a display of raw power but are characterized by holiness, wisdom, and justice ^[1]. Therefore, while God's sovereignty means that He has a purpose for all things, including human choices, it does not negate the moral responsibility of individuals.

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).”
Psalms “Dominus judicat populos. Judica me, Domine, secundum justitiam meam, et secundum innocentiam meam super me. -- Psalms 7:9”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Judgment, The final — The sentence that will be passed on our actions at the last day (Matt. 25; Rom. 14:10, 11; 2 Cor. 5:10; 2 Thess. 1:7-10). The judge is Jesus Christ, as mediator. All judgment is committed to him (Acts 17:31; John 5:22, 27; Rev. 1:7). "It pertains to him as mediator to complete and publicly manifest the salvation of his people and the overthrow of his enemies, together with the glorious righteousness of his work in both respects." The persons to be judged are, (1) the whole race of Adam without a single exception (Matt. 25:31-46; 1 Cor. 15:51, 52”
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”
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”
Psalms “But God is the judge. He puts down one, and lifts up another. -- Psalms 75:7”
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”
Job (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Job 23:13: in one mind--notwithstanding my innocence, He is unaltered in His purpose of proving me guilty (Job 9:12). soul--His will (Psa 115:3). God's sovereignty. He has one great purpose; nothing is haphazard; everything has its proper place with a view to His purpose.”
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”
Ecclesiastes (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ecclesiastes 6:10: 6:10–7:22 God’s sovereign rule over everything is sobering, but it is ultimately a source of hope. 6:10 Everything has already been decided: Cp. Rom 8:29; Eph 1:5, 11. • It was known long ago what each person would be: Cp. Ps 139:15-16. • no use arguing with God about your destiny: Cp. Rom 9:20-24.”
Genesis (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Genesis 2:16: Observe here, I. God's authority over man, as a creature that had reason and freedom of will. The Lord God commanded the man, who stood now as a public person, the father and representative of all mankind, to receive law, as he had lately received a nature, for himself and all his. God commanded all the creatures, according to their capacity; the settled course of nature is a law, Psa 148:6; Psa 104:9. The brute-creatures have their respective instincts; but man was made capable of performing reasonable service, and therefore received, not only the command of a C”
Daniel (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Daniel 4:35: 4:35 He does as he pleases: God has absolute power in heaven and on earth.”
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”
Job (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Job 25:2: Dominion and fear are with him,.... Not with man, as Sephorno interprets it, as that with him is power to rule over the imagination (the evil figment of his heart) to choose the good, and refuse the evil; and with him is fear of punishment, and also the fear of God to restrain him from evil; but with God, as may easily be perceived from the whole context, though his name is not expressed in this clause, and not till Job 25:4; this dominion he is possessed of is universal; his kingdom rules over all, over all the angels, good and bad; over all men, over all the nations of”

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