God's Sovereignty in Uncertain Times and Trials
God's sovereignty is understood as His supreme authority and control over all things, a concept that provides a framework for understanding uncertain times and trials [5]. The Bible describes God's counsels and purposes as great, wonderful, immutable, sovereign, and eternal, asserting that none can disannul them and they shall be performed [5]. This sovereignty extends to all aspects of creation and history, including events that humans cannot control [8].
The justice and righteousness of God are integral to His sovereign character [1, 3]. His justice is described as plenteous, incomparable, incorruptible, impartial, unfailing, and undeviating, forming the habitation of His throne [1]. Similarly, His righteousness is very high, abundant, beyond computation, everlasting, and enduring forever [3]. These attributes assure believers that even in difficult circumstances, God's governance is just and right [1, 3, 9, 12]. The Psalmist declares that God's righteous government is the hope of the pious and the terror of the wicked [12].
In times of trial, God's protection is presented as indispensable, seasonable, unfailing, effectual, uninterrupted, encouraging, and perpetual [4]. This protection is afforded to those who heed God, returning sinners, the perfect in heart, and the poor [4]. Jesus Himself will protect Christians who persevere through trials, even during the "great time of testing" in the end times [7]. The perpetuity of God's rule over human affairs, even when His people seem oppressed, serves as a ground for hope of restoration [10].
Even tumultuous times and events that bring history to a close are part of God’s sovereign plan [11]. The depth of God's riches, wisdom, and knowledge means His judgments are unsearchable and His ways untraceable [2]. God's sovereign power and authority are revealed through the armies of heaven [13]. The suffering and death of Christ, for instance, occurred according to God's counsels and purposes [5]. God's willingness to show the immutability of His counsel to the heirs of promise is emphasized through His use of an oath, confirming His determined plan for salvation [6].
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Justice of God, The — Is a part of his character -- De 32:4; Isa 45:21. Declared to be Plenteous. -- Job 37:23. Incomparable. -- Job 4:1. Incorruptible. -- De 10:17; 2Ch 19:7. Impartial. -- 2Ch 19:7; Jer 32:19. Unfailing. -- Zep 3:5. Undeviating. -- Job 8:3; 34:12. Without respect of persons. -- Ro 2:11; Col 3:25; 1Pe 1:17. The habitation of his throne. -- Ps 89:14. Not to be sinned against -- Jer 50:7. Denied by the ungodly -- Eze 33:17,20. Exhibited in Forgiving sins. -- 1Jo 1:9. Redemption. -- Ro 3:26. His government. -- Ps 9:4; Jer 9:24. His judgments. -- Ge 18:2”
- Romans “Romans 11:33 (Rotherham) — Oh! the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments! and untraceable his ways!”
- 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: Protection — God is able to afford -- 1Pe 1:5; Jude 1:24. God is faithful to afford -- 1Th 5:23,24; 2Th 3:3. Of God is Indispensable. -- Ps 127:1. Seasonable. -- Ps 46:1. Unfailing. -- De 31:6; Jos 1:5. Effectual. -- Joh 10:28-30; 2Co 12:9. Uninterrupted. -- Ps 121:3. Encouraging. -- Isa 41:10; 50:7. Perpetual. -- Ps 121:8. Often afforded through means inadequate in themselves. -- Jdj 7:7; 1Sa 17:45,50; 2Ch 14:11. Is afforded to Those who hearken to God. -- Pr 1:33. Returning sinners. -- Job 22:23,25. The perfect in heart. -- 2Ch 16:9. The poor. -- Ps 14:6; 72:12-14.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Counsels and Purposes of God, The — Are great -- Jer 32:19. Are wonderful -- Isa 28:29. Are immutable -- Ps 33:11; Pr 19:21; Jer 4:28; Ro 9:11; Heb 6:17. Are sovereign -- Isa 40:13,14; Da 4:35. Are eternal -- Eph 3:11. Are faithfulness and truth -- Isa 25:1. None can disannul -- Isa 14:27. Shall be performed -- Isa 14:24; 46:11. The sufferings and death of Christ were according to -- Ac 2:23; 4:28. Saints called and save according to -- Ro 8:28; 2Ti 1:9. The union of all saints in Christ, is according to -- Eph 1:9,10. The works of God according to -- Eph 1:11. Shoul”
- Hebrews (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Hebrews 6:16: Wherein God, willing,.... Or "wherefore", as the Syriac and Ethiopic versions render it; that is, whereas an oath is used among men to confirm anything that might be doubted; therefore God, in condescension to the weakness of men, made use of one; being very desirous and determined, more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel; by which is meant, not the Gospel nor the ordinances of it, though these are sometimes called the counsel of God; but the decree of God, concerning the salvation of his people by Jesus Christ, which is im”
- Revelation (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Revelation 3:10: 3:10 Jesus will protect Christians who persevere through trials (cp. Isa 43:2-4; John 10:27-28; 1 Cor 10:13; Heb 6:18-19). • The great time of testing refers to the end times, when the world experiences tribulation.”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 107:33: 107:33-42 These two sections (107:33-38, 39-42) expand the theme of the Lord’s sovereignty over things that humans cannot control. 107:33-35 The Lord can choose to make the earth fertile or barren (74:15; Isa 35:6-7).”
- Psalms (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Psalms 22:27: His case illustrates God's righteous government. Beyond the existing time and people, others shall be brought to acknowledge and worship God; the fat ones, or the rich as well as the poor, the helpless who cannot keep themselves alive, shall together unite in celebrating God's delivering power, and transmit to unborn people the records of His grace.”
- Lamentations (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Lamentations 5:19: (Psa 102:12). The perpetuity of God's rule over human affairs, however He may seem to let His people be oppressed for a time, is their ground of hope of restoration.”
- Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 24:6: 24:6 these things must take place: Tumultuous times are part of God’s sovereign plan as he brings history to a close (see 24:7, 29-30; 2 Thes 2:8-12). • The end could refer to the close of an epoch (such as at AD 70) or the end of human history as we now know it (cp. Matt 24:13-14; see also 10:22; 13:39-40, 49).”
- Psalms (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Psalms 35:23: (Compare Psa 7:6; Psa 26:1; Th2 1:6). God's righteous government is the hope of the pious and terror of the wicked.”
- Luke (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Luke 2:13: 2:13 The armies of heaven reveal God’s sovereign power and authority (2 Kgs 6:17; Ps 148:2). “Lord of Heaven’s Armies” is a common Old Testament name for God (e.g., 1 Sam 1:11; 17:45; 2 Sam 7:8; Isa 5:16; Rom 9:29; Jas 5:4).”