Sovereignty and Human Responsibility in Trials

The concept of God's sovereignty and human responsibility is intricately linked in the context of trials, where justice is administered and the fate of individuals is decided. In biblical teachings, the balance between divine sovereignty and human agency is a recurring theme, particularly in the Psalms and the writings of the apostle Paul.

The Psalmist appeals to God's sovereignty in judgment, addressing Him as "O God! to whom vengeance belongeth; and thou Judge of the earth" ^[2]. This characterization of God as the ultimate judge underscores the idea that He is the final arbiter of justice. Similarly, the apostle Paul grapples with the relationship between God's sovereignty and human responsibility in Romans 9, concluding that God "hath mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth" ^[1]. This passage highlights the tension between divine sovereignty and human agency.

In the administration of justice, biblical commentators emphasize the importance of impartiality and righteousness. According to John Gill, judges are instructed to "hear the causes between your brethren; and judge righteously" ^[4]. This directive is reinforced by Matthew Henry, who notes that it is a "fundamental error in the administration of justice" to consider the parties involved rather than the merits of the case ^[7]. The biblical emphasis on righteous judgment underscores human responsibility in the pursuit of justice.

The interplay between divine sovereignty and human responsibility is further illustrated in the context of prayer and judgment. The Psalmist petitions God not to "enter into judgment with thy servant" ^[6], acknowledging human frailty and the impossibility of standing before a righteous God without fault. This sentiment is echoed in the call to rescue the oppressed and defend the innocent, as Matthew Henry exhorts believers to "bestir ourselves all we can to save them, by disproving the false accusations on which they are condemned" ^[5].

The Baptist/Reformed tradition, as represented by John Gill, emphasizes the importance of doing "judgment and justice" ^[3], a theme that is also present in the Nonconformist/Puritan tradition, as seen in Matthew Henry's commentary. Both traditions stress the need for righteous judgment and the defense of the oppressed, highlighting human responsibility in the administration of justice.

The tension between divine sovereignty and human responsibility is not resolved in a straightforward manner in the biblical text or its interpretations. Instead, the sources suggest that both aspects are integral to the biblical understanding of justice and trials. While God's sovereignty is acknowledged as the ultimate foundation of justice, human beings are held accountable for their actions in the administration of justice.

The historical development of this doctrine is evident in the writings of various biblical commentators, who grapple with the complexities of divine sovereignty and human responsibility. The Nonconformist/Puritan and Baptist/Reformed traditions, in particular, offer nuanced interpretations that highlight the interplay between these two concepts.

Sources

Romans (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Romans 9:18: Therefore hath he--"So then he hath." The result then is that He hath mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth--by judicially abandoning them to the hardening influence of sin itself (Psa 81:11-12; Rom 1:24, Rom 1:26, Rom 1:28; Heb 3:8, Heb 3:13), and of the surrounding incentives to it (Mat 24:12; Co1 15:38; Th2 2:17). Second objection to the doctrine of Divine Sovereignty:”
Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 94:1: In these verses we have, I. A solemn appeal to God against the cruel oppressors of his people, Psa 94:1, Psa 94:2. This speaks terror enough to them, that they have the prayers of God's people against them, who cry day and night to him to avenge them of their adversaries; and shall he not avenge them speedily? Luk 18:3, Luk 18:7. Observe here, 1. The titles they give to God for the encouraging of their faith in this appeal: O God! to whom vengeance belongeth; and thou Judge of the earth. We may with boldness appeal to him; for, (1.) He is judge, supreme judge, jud”
Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 119:117: AIN.--The Sixteenth Part. AIN. I have done judgment and justice,.... As king of Israel; which is the character given of him, Sa2 8:15; and in which he was a type of Christ, Jer 23:5; and as a private person; which is everyone's duty, and every good man especially will be desirous of performing it: it is not indeed perfectly done by any, and therefore not to be trusted to; nor was it so done by David; nor did he place his confidence in it; nor did he say this in a boasting way, but in defence of himself and his innocence against those who oppressed him with their ”
Deuteronomy (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Deuteronomy 1:16: And I charged your judges at that time,.... When they were appointed and constituted, even the heads and rulers before spoken of; this charge is also new, and not recorded before: saying, hear the causes between your brethren; hear both sides, and all that each of them have to say; not suffer one to say all he has to say, and oblige the other to cut his words short, as the Targum of Jonathan paraphrases it; but give them leave and time to tell their case, and give the best evidence they can of it: and judge righteously; impartially, just as the case really ap”
Proverbs (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Proverbs 24:11: Here is, 1. A great duty required of us, and that is to appear for the relief of oppressed innocency. If we see the lives or livelihoods of any in danger of being taken away unjustly, we ought to bestir ourselves all we can to save them, by disproving the false accusations on which they are condemned and seeking out proofs of their innocency. Though the persons be not such as we are under any particular obligation to, we must help them, out of a general zeal for justice. If any be set upon by force and violence, and it be in our power to rescue them, we ought t”
Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 143:2: And enter not into judgment with thy servant,.... The house of judgment, as the Targum, or court of judicature; God is a Judge, and there is and will be a judgment, universal, righteous, and eternal; and there is a day fixed for it, and a judgment seat before which all must stand, and a law according to which all must be judged; but the psalmist knew he was but a man, and could not contend with God; and a sinful creature, and could not answer him for one of a thousand faults committed by him; and though his servant, yet an unprofitable one; his nature, his heart, his”
Proverbs (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Proverbs 28:21: Note, 1. It is a fundamental error in the administration of justice, and that which cannot but lead men to abundance of transgression, to consider the parties concerned more than the merits of the cause, so as to favour one because he is a gentleman, a scholar, my countryman, my old acquaintance, has formerly done me a kindness, or may do me one, or is of my party and persuasion, and to bear hard on the other party because he is a stranger, a poor man, has done me an ill turn, is or has been my rival, or is not of my mind, or has voted against me. Judgment is p”

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