The Sovereignty of God in Vocation and Work
The sovereignty of God refers to God's absolute right to govern all things according to his own good pleasure [2]. This divine prerogative extends to every aspect of creation and human experience, including vocation and work. The Bible presents God's power as an attribute that is great, strong, glorious, mighty, everlasting, sovereign, effectual, irresistible, and incomparable [7]. This power is exhibited in creation, the conception of Christ, raising Christ from the dead, and giving spiritual life [4].
God's sovereignty is demonstrated through his works, which are described as great and glorious [1, 8]. Psalm 111:6 states, "He has shown his people the power of his works," referring to God's omnipotence in what he has accomplished for them, such as giving Israel the land of Canaan [10]. The works of God are "exquisite in all his wills" (Psalm 110:2, Latin Vulgate) [3]. This understanding of God's comprehensive power and will undergirds the concept of his sovereignty over human endeavors.
In the context of vocation and work, God's sovereignty means that he is the ultimate source of skill and ability. For instance, in the construction of the tabernacle, God specifically called Bezalel and Oholiab by name and "filled them with the Spirit of God" to qualify them for their tasks [9]. This suggests that even secular employments and the skills required for them are gifts from God, originating from him and improved by him [9]. Therefore, all knowledge and skill should be directed to his honor [9].
The concept of God's sovereignty also implies that he exalts individuals through his power, and "who teaches like him?" [6]. This perspective encourages a cheerful submission to divine providence in all aspects of life, including one's calling [8]. The wisdom and omnipotence of God are manifested in various natural phenomena, and these serve as a reminder of his control over all things [12].
The "work of God" is also understood as a foundational element of acceptable obedience, serving as the prerequisite and proper spring of all other works [11]. This "work of works" is to believe in him whom God has sent [11]. For believers, keeping Christ's works "unto the end" involves standing firm against idolatrous practices and doctrines, such as those associated with Jezebel in Revelation, and bearing testimony against them [13]. This perseverance in faith and obedience is part of the sovereign plan of God for his people.
The glory of God, which is eternal and highly exalted, is exhibited in Christ, in his name, majesty, power, and holiness [1]. This glory is also seen in his works and in his Church [1]. The power of Christ, as the Son of God, is supreme, unlimited, and everlasting, extending over all flesh and all things [5]. He upholds all things and is able to subdue all things [5]. This comprehensive power and glory of God and Christ underscore the divine sovereignty over all human activities, including their vocations and daily work.
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Glory of God, The — Exhibited in Christ -- Joh 1:14; 2Co 4:6; Heb 1:3. Exhibited in His name. -- De 28:58; Ne 9:5. His majesty. -- Job 37:22; Ps 93:1; 104:1; 145:5,12; Isa 2:10. His power. -- Ex 15:1,6; Ro 6:4. His works. -- Ps 19:1; 111:3. His holiness. -- Ex 15:11. Described as Great. -- Ps 138:5. Eternal. -- Ps 104:31. Rich. -- Eph 3:16. Highly exalted. -- Ps 8:1; 113:4. Exhibited to Moses. -- Ex 34:5-7; 33:18-23. Stephen. -- Ac 7:55. His Church. -- De 5:24; Ps 102:16. Enlightens the Church -- Isa 60:1,2; Re 21:11,23. Saints desire to behold -- Ps 63:2; 90:16. God”
- 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 “Magna opera Domini : exquisita in omnes voluntates ejus. -- Psalms 110:2”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Power of the Holy Spirit, The — Is the power of God -- Mt 12:28; Lu 11:20. Christ commenced his ministry in -- Lu 4:14. Christ wrought his miracles by -- Mt 12:28. Exhibited in Creation. -- Ge 1:2; Job 26:13; Ps 104:30. The conception of Christ. -- Lu 1:35. Raising Christ from the dead. -- 1Pe 3:18. Giving spiritual life. -- Eze 37:11-14; Ro 8:11. Working miracles. -- Ro 15:19. Making the gospel efficacious. -- 1Co 2:4; 1Th 1:5. Overcoming all difficulties. -- Zec 4:6,7. Promised by the Father. -- Lu 24:49. Promised by Christ. -- Ac 1:8. Saints Upheld by. -- Ps 51:12”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Power of Christ, The — As the Son of God, is the power of God -- Joh 5:17-19; 10:28-30. As man, is from the Father -- Ac 10:38. Described as Supreme. -- Eph 1:20,21; 1Pe 3:22. Unlimited. -- Mt 28:18. Over all flesh. -- Joh 17:2. Over all things. -- Joh 3:35; Eph 1:22. Glorious. -- 2Th 1:9. Everlasting. -- 1Ti 6:16. Is able to subdue all things -- Php 3:21. Exhibited in Creation. -- Joh 1:3,10; Col 1:16. Upholding all things. -- Col 1:17; Heb 1:3. Salvation. -- Isa 63:1; Heb 7:25. His teaching. -- Mt 7:28,29; Lu 4:32. Working miracles. -- Mt 8:27; Lu 5:17. Enabling ot”
- Job “Job 36:22 (Webster) — Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him?”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Power of God, The — Is one of his attributes -- Ps 62:11. Expressed by the Voice of God. -- Ps 29:3,5; 68:33. Finger of God. -- Ex 8:19; Ps 8:3. Hand of God. -- Ex 9:3,15; Isa 48:13. Arm of God. -- Job 40:9; Isa 52:10. Thunder of his power. -- Job 26:14. Described as Great. -- Ps 79:11; Na 1:3. Strong. -- Ps 89:13; 136:12. Glorious. -- Ex 15:6; Isa 63:12. Mighty. -- Job 9:4; Ps 89:13. Everlasting. -- Isa 26:4; Ro 1:20. Sovereign. -- Ro 9:21. Effectual. -- Isa 43:13; Eph 3:7. Irresistible. -- De 32:39; Da 4:35. Incomparable. -- Ex 15:11,12; De 3:24; Job 40:9; Ps 89:8.”
- Job (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Job 36:24: Elihu is here endeavouring to possess Job with great and high thoughts of God, and so to persuade him into a cheerful submission to his providence. I. He represents the work of God, in general, as illustrious and conspicuous, Job 36:24. His whole work is so. God does nothing mean. This is a good reason why we should acquiesce in all the operations of his providence concerning us in particular. His visible works, those of nature, and which concern the world in general, are such as we admire and commend, and in which we observe the Creator's wisdom, power, and goodnes”
- Exodus (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Exodus 35:30: Here is the divine appointment of the master-workmen, that there might be no strife for the office, and that all who were employed in the work might take direction from, and give account to, these general inspectors; for God is the God of order and not of confusion. Observe, 1. Those whom God called by name to this service he filled with the Spirit of God, to qualify them for it, Exo 35:30, Exo 35:31. Skill in secular employments is God's gift, and comes from above, Jam 1:17. From him the faculty is, and the improvement of it. To his honour therefore all knowledg”
- Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 111:6: We are here taught to give glory to God, I. For the great things he has done for his people, for his people Israel, of old and of late: He has shown his people the power of his works (Psa 111:6), in what he has wrought for them; many a time he has given proofs of his omnipotence, and shown them what he can do, and that there is nothing too hard for him to do. Two things are specified to show the power of his works: - 1. The possession God gave to Israel in the land of Canaan, that he might give them, or in giving them, the heritage of the heathen. This he did in ”
- John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on John 6:29: This is the work of God--That lies at the threshold of all acceptable obedience, being not only the prerequisite to it, but the proper spring of it--in that sense, the work of works, emphatically "the work of God."”
- Job (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Job 37 (introduction): Elihu continues to set forth the wisdom and omnipotence of God, as manifested in the thunder and lightning, Job 37:1-5; in the snows and frosts, Job 37:6-8; in various meteors; and shows the end for which they are sent, Job 37:9-13. Job is exhorted to consider the wondrous works of God in the light, in the clouds, in the winds, in heat and cold, in the formation of the heavens, and in the changes of the atmosphere, Job 37:14-22. The perfections of God, and how he should be reverenced by his creatures, Job 37:23, Job 37:24.”
- Revelation (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Revelation 2:26: And he that overcometh,.... Jezebel and her idolatries, her children, and all that commit adultery with her; such as are not drawn into the same evil practices with them, but bravely stand their ground against the Romish antichrist and his followers, and bear their testimony against his impious doctrines and idolatrous practices: and keepeth my works unto the end; either of life, or of this church state, or of time, when Christ will personally appear, even at the end of the world; and by his works are meant, not the works which were done by him, as his miracles ”