The Sovereignty of God in Blessing Others Theologically
The sovereignty of God in blessing others is rooted in His character and actions as described in the Bible. According to Easton's Bible Dictionary, God's sovereignty is "his absolute right to do all things according to his own good pleasure" [1]. This sovereignty is exercised in various ways, including blessing others.
In the biblical context, blessing involves God bestowing gifts, temporal or spiritual, upon His people [2]. For instance, Genesis 28:3 records Isaac's blessing to Jacob, "May God Almighty bless you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, that you may be a company of peoples" [4]. This blessing is not limited to material prosperity but also includes spiritual benefits.
The goodness of God is a fundamental aspect of His character that underlies His sovereignty in blessing others. Easton's Bible Dictionary describes God's goodness as "a perfection of his character which he exercises towards his creatures according to their various circumstances and relations" [3]. This goodness is manifested in various ways, including benevolence, mercy, and grace.
The Bible teaches that God's sovereignty in blessing others is closely tied to His love and mercy. According to Torrey's Topical Textbook, God's love is "sovereign, great, abiding, unfailing, unalienable, constraining, and everlasting" [7]. This love is demonstrated in His actions towards His people, including the gift of salvation and the provision of their needs.
In the view of some traditions, God's sovereignty in blessing others is also linked to His election of individuals to eternal life. Easton's Bible Dictionary notes that "there is an election of individuals to eternal life" based on God's good pleasure [8]. This election is not based on human merit but rather on God's sovereign choice.
The Psalms frequently express praise and thanksgiving for God's blessings and sovereignty. For example, Psalms 107:31 exhorts, "Let men give praise to the Lord for his mercy, and for the wonders which he does for the children of men!" [5]. This praise is not limited to individual experiences but also extends to God's general providence and governance of the world.
In the New Testament, the apostle Paul entrusts believers to "God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build up, and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified" [6]. This entrustment reflects the understanding that God's sovereignty in blessing others is exercised through His gracious word.
The sovereignty of God in blessing others is a theme that is developed throughout the biblical tradition. It is rooted in God's character, exercised in His actions, and celebrated in the praise and thanksgiving of His people. As Matthew Henry notes, God's providence secures "the happiness of his peculiar people by promise and covenant, but the order of mankind, and the world in general, he secures by common providence" [9].
Sources
- 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).”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Bless — (1.) God blesses his people when he bestows on them some gift temporal or spiritual (Gen. 1:22; 24:35; Job 42:12; Ps. 45:2; 104:24, 35). (2.) We bless God when we thank him for his mercies (Ps. 103:1, 2; 145:1, 2). (3.) A man blesses himself when he invokes God's blessing (Isa. 65:16), or rejoices in God's goodness to him (Deut. 29:19; Ps. 49:18). (4.) One blesses another when he expresses good wishes or offers prayer to God for his welfare (Gen. 24:60; 31:55; 1 Sam. 2:20). Sometimes blessings were uttered under divine inspiration, as in the case of Noah, Isa”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Goodness of God — A perfection of his character which he exercises towards his creatures according to their various circumstances and relations (Ps. 145:8, 9; 103:8; 1 John 4:8). Viewed generally, it is benevolence; as exercised with respect to the miseries of his creatures it is mercy, pity, compassion, and in the case of impenitent sinners, long-suffering patience; as exercised in communicating favour on the unworthy it is grace. "Goodness and justice are the several aspects of one unchangeable, infinitely wise, and sovereign moral perfection. God is not sometimes ”
- Genesis “May God Almighty bless you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, that you may be a company of peoples, -- Genesis 28:3”
- Psalms “Psalms 107:31 (BBE) — Let men give praise to the Lord for his mercy, and for the wonders which he does for the children of men!”
- Acts “Now, brothers, I entrust you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build up, and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. -- Acts 20:32”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Love of God, The — Is a part of his character -- 2Co 13:11; 1Jo 4:8. Christ, the especial object of -- Joh 15:9; 17:26. Christ abides in -- Joh 15:10. Described as Sovereign. -- De 7:8; 10:15. Great. -- Eph 2:4. Abiding. -- Zep 3:17. Unfailing. -- Isa 49:15,16. Unalienable. -- Ro 8:39. Constraining. -- Ho 11:4. Everlasting. -- Jer 31:3. Irrespective of merit -- De 7:7; Job 7:17. Manifested towards Perishing sinners. -- Joh 3:16; Tit 3:4. His saints. -- Joh 16:27; 17:23; 2Th 2:16; 1Jo 4:16. The destitute. -- De 10:18. The cheerful giver. -- 2Co 9:7. Exhibited in The g”
- 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 (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 103:19: Here is, I. The doctrine of universal providence laid down, Psa 103:19. He has secured the happiness of his peculiar people by promise and covenant, but the order of mankind, and the world in general, he secures by common providence. The Lord has a throne of his own, a throne of glory, a throne of government. He that made all rules all, and both by a word of power: He has prepared his throne, has fixed and established it that it cannot be shaken; he has afore-ordained all the measures of his government and does all according to the counsel of his own will. He ha”