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The Sovereignty of God's Loving Presence in Scripture

The sovereignty of God's loving presence is a pervasive theme in Scripture, underscoring God's absolute authority and benevolent character. According to Easton's Bible Dictionary, God's sovereignty is defined as "his absolute right to do all things according to his own good pleasure" [2]. This concept is rooted in various biblical passages, such as Daniel 4:25, 35, Romans 9:15-23, and Revelation 4:11.

The loving nature of God is also a dominant motif in Scripture. Torrey's Topical Textbook highlights that God's love is described as "sovereign," "great," "abiding," "unfailing," and "unalienable" [1]. Biblical references such as Deuteronomy 7:8, 10:15, and Jeremiah 31:3 illustrate the depth of God's loving-kindness. The Psalmist affirms that "the earth is full of the loving kindness of Yahweh" [9].

The intersection of God's sovereignty and loving presence is evident in the Psalms. Psalm 147:5 declares, "Great is our Lord, and mighty in power. His understanding is infinite" [3]. This portrayal of God's greatness and power is complemented by expressions of His loving-kindness, as seen in Psalm 117:2, which states, "For His lovingkindness is great toward us, And the truth of the LORD is everlasting" [7].

In the New Testament, the love of God is further expounded. I John 4:16 affirms, "God is love; and he that abideth in love abideth in God, and God abideth in him" [8]. This verse underscores the intrinsic connection between God's nature and love.

The Baptist/Reformed tradition, as represented by John Gill, interprets God's loving-kindness as a manifestation of His sovereign and free love. Gill comments on Psalm 17:7, "Show thy marvellous loving kindness," highlighting the distinguishing and everlasting nature of God's love [14]. Similarly, in his commentary on Ephesians 3:18, Gill notes that the love of Christ is "special and peculiar; free and Sovereign; as early as his Father's love, and is durable and unchangeable" [16].

The Nonconformist/Puritan tradition, represented by Matthew Henry, also emphasizes the significance of God's loving presence. Henry comments on Psalm 19:7, noting that God's glory is revealed in His works, but more profoundly in divine revelation [13].

The sovereignty of God's loving presence is thus a rich and multifaceted theme in Scripture, underscoring God's authority, benevolence, and intimate involvement in the lives of His people. As Psalm 33:5 states, "He loves righteousness and justice" [10], reflecting the harmony between God's sovereignty and loving nature.

SOURCES: [1] Torrey's Topical Textbook — TIER 1 (factual/linguistic) [2] Easton's Bible Dictionary — TIER 1 (factual/linguistic) [3] Psalms — TIER 1 (factual/linguistic) [4] Psalms — TIER 1 (factual/linguistic) [5] Torrey's Topical Textbook — TIER 1 (factual/linguistic) [6] Torrey's Topical Textbook — TIER 1 (factual/linguistic) [7] Psalms — TIER 1 (factual/linguistic) [8] I John — TIER 1 (factual/linguistic) [9] Psalms — TIER 1 (factual/linguistic) [10] Torrey's Topical Textbook — TIER 1 (factual/linguistic) [11] Easton's Bible Dictionary — TIER 1 (factual/linguistic) [12] Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) — TIER 2 (interpretive) [13] Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) — TIER 2 (interpretive) [14] Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) — TIER 2 (interpretive) [15] Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) — TIER 2 (interpretive) [16] Ephesians (Baptist/Reformed) — TIER 2 (interpretive) [17] 1 Timothy (Baptist/Reformed) — TIER 2 (interpretive) [18] Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) — TIER 2 (interpretive) [19] Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) — TIER 2 (interpretive)

Sources

  1. 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”
  2. 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).”
  3. Psalms “Great is our Lord, and mighty in power. His understanding is infinite. -- Psalms 147:5”
  4. Psalms “God reigns over the nations. God sits on his holy throne. -- Psalms 47:8”
  5. 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”
  6. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Loving-Kindness of God, The — Is through Christ -- Eph 2:7; Tit 3:4-6. Described as Great. -- Ne 9:17. Excellent. -- Ps 36:7. Good. -- Ps 69:16. Marvellous. -- Ps 17:7; 31:21. Multitudinous. -- Isa 63:7. Everlasting. -- Isa 54:8. Merciful. -- Ps 117:2. Better than life. -- Ps 63:3. Consideration of the dealings of God gives a knowledge of -- Ps 107:43. Saints Betrothed in. -- Ho 2:19. Drawn by. -- Jer 31:3. Preserved by. -- Ps 40:11. Quickened after. -- Ps 119:88. Comforted by. -- Ps 119:76. Look for mercy through. -- Ps 51:1. Receive mercy through. -- Isa 54:8. Are ”
  7. Psalms “Psalms 117:2 (NASB) — For His lovingkindness is great toward us, And the truth of the LORD is everlasting. Praise the LORD!”
  8. I John “I John 4:16 (ASV) — And we know and have believed the love which God hath in us. God is love; and he that abideth in love abideth in God, and God abideth in him.”
  9. Psalms “He loves righteousness and justice. The earth is full of the loving kindness of Yahweh. -- Psalms 33:5”
  10. 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.”
  11. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: God — (A.S. and Dutch God; Dan. Gud; Ger. Gott), the name of the Divine Being. It is the rendering (1) of the Hebrew 'El, from a word meaning to be strong; (2) of 'Eloah_, plural _'Elohim. The singular form, Eloah, is used only in poetry. The plural form is more commonly used in all parts of the Bible, The Hebrew word Jehovah (q.v.), the only other word generally employed to denote the Supreme Being, is uniformly rendered in the Authorized Version by "LORD," printed in small capitals. The existence of God is taken for granted in the Bible. There is nowhere any argume”
  12. Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 45:11: So shall the King greatly desire thy beauty,.... Which lies in the comeliness or righteousness of Christ put upon her; in the holiness of Christ reckoned to her; in being washed from all sin in the blood of Christ; in the graces of the Spirit being implanted in her, in which the beauty of holiness lies; in the salvation she is interested in, and beautified with; in enjoying the order and ordinance of Christ's house, and in having the presence of God and Christ with her: and this beauty is not natural, nor acquired by her, but what is given her; it is not an outward, ”
  13. Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 19:7: God's glory, (that is, his goodness to man) appears much in the works of creation, but much more in and by divine revelation. The holy scripture, as it is a rule both of our duty to God and of our expectation from him, is of much greater use and benefit to us than day or night, than the air we breathe in, or the light of the sun. The discoveries made of God by his works might have served if man had retained his integrity; but, to recover him out of his fallen state, another course must be taken; that must be done by the word of God. And here, 1. The psalmist gives”
  14. Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 17:7: Show thy marvellous loving kindness,.... Such is the lovingkindness of God to his people in Christ; which is sovereign, free, special, distinguishing, everlasting, and unchangeable; it is better than life, and passes knowledge; and which is set upon men and not angels, some and not all, and these many of them the worst and vilest of men, and all of them by nature children of wrath as others; and which has appeared in choosing them in Christ, putting them into his hand, and making a covenant with him for them; in sending him into the world to suffer and die for them; i”
  15. Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 117:2: For his merciful kindness is great towards us,.... Not us Israelites only, of whom David was, but Gentiles also; or otherwise there would be no force in the reason why all people and nations should praise the Lord: but it respects the time when these should become one people, partaking of the same grace, blessings, promises, and privileges; in which the grace, mercy, and lovingkindness of God, greatly appeared; "it prevailed over us" (p), as it may be rendered: the word is used of the prevailing of the waters of the flood over the earth, Gen 7:18; and so may denote t”
  16. Ephesians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ephesians 3:18: And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge,.... The love of Christ to his own, to his church and people, is special and peculiar; free and Sovereign; as early as his Father's love, and is durable and unchangeable; the greatest love that ever was heard of; it is matchless and unparalleled; it is exceeding strong and affectionate, and is wonderful and surprising: the instances of it are, his engaging as a surety for them; his espousing both their persons and their cause; his assumption of their nature; his dying in their room and stead; his payment of th”
  17. 1 Timothy (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Timothy 1:14: And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant,.... That is, the love of Jehovah the Father; so the Ethiopic version reads, "the grace of God"; of God the Father, since he is distinguished in the text from Jesus Christ. God is abundant in grace and goodness; he is rich and plenteous in mercy; there is an overflow of love in his heart to his chosen people, and in conversion it flows out, and abounds and superabounds; see Rom 5:20. with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus; these are the effects of the love and favour of God displayed in conversion, or which t”
  18. Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 119:140: Here is, 1. David's great affection for the word of God: Thy servant loves it. Every good man, being a servant of God, loves the word of God, because it lets him know his Master's will and directs him in his Master's work. Wherever there is grace there is a warm attachment to the word of God. 2. The ground and reason of that affection; he saw it to be very pure, and therefore he loved it. Our love to the word of God is then an evidence of our love to God when we love it for the sake of its purity, because it bears the image of God's holiness and is designed to ”
  19. Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 26:3: For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes,.... The special lovingkindness of God, shown in the choice of him in Christ, in the provision of a Saviour for him, and in the effectual calling of him; which lovingkindness is unmerited, free, and sovereign, is from everlasting and to everlasting; it is better than life, excellent beyond expression, and marvellous: and this may be said to be "before his eyes"; because it was now in sight; he had a comfortable view of interest in it, and was persuaded nothing should separate him from it; it was upon his heart, shed abroad in”
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