Diving Deep into the Ocean of God's Sovereignty: Finding Reverence, Security, and Freedom

Sometimes, we need to dive deep into the ocean of God's sovereignty. We need to immerse ourselves in the weight and depth of His control, feeling the pressure of His sovereignty pressing against us. It's like being submerged in deep and heavy water, where every pore of our being is touched by His all-encompassing power. In this vast ocean, we find countless rivers of providence flowing, each one merging into the currents of God's infallible revelation. It is in these moments that we feel most reverent, secure, and free.

In order to experience this, we need to hear directly from God Himself about His authority. It's not enough to rely on vague generalizations about His power. We need to hear His specific words, which have a unique power to settle our nerves, make us stable, wise, and courageous. We need to treat the Bible as the voice of God, turning what it says about Him into what He says about Himself.

So, let's listen to what God says about His authority. Let's praise Him for the fact that all authority in the universe belongs to Him (Romans 13:1). He is the one who institutes and allows those in positions of authority (John 19:11). We stand in awe of the fact that He does whatever pleases Him, both in heaven and on earth (Psalm 135:6). His work is done according to the counsel of His will (Ephesians 1:11). He declares the end from the beginning, and nothing can stand against His purposes (Isaiah 46:9-10).

Moreover, we marvel at the fact that God shares His authority with His Son, Jesus. He has given all authority in heaven and on earth to His Son (Matthew 28:18). He loves His Son and has given all things into His hand (John 3:35). His Son has authority over all flesh (John 17:2). All things have been put in subjection under His feet, except for God Himself (1 Corinthians 15:27). He has been raised from the dead and seated at the right hand of God, far above all rule and authority (Ephesians 1:20-22). Angels, authorities, and powers are subject to Him (1 Peter 3:22).

We also submit to God with reverence, knowing that through His Son, He removes and installs the rulers of the world. He is the one who changes times and seasons, who removes kings and sets up kings (Daniel 2:20-21). He loosens the bonds of kings and binds a waistcloth on their hips (Job 12:18). He struck down Herod because he did not give God glory (Acts 12:23).

But God's authority does not stop at raising up and putting down rulers. He also governs all their deeds in every age. The king's heart is like a stream of water in God's hand, and He turns it wherever He wills (Proverbs 21:1). He can put an end to the wealth and power of nations, as He did with Egypt through Nebuchadnezzar (Ezekiel 30:10, 18, 24). He can break the Assyrian in His land and make his yoke depart from His people (Isaiah 14:24-25). He will make the nations the inheritance of His Son, and the ends of the earth will be His possession. He will break them with a rod of iron (Psalm 2:8-9).

All of this is a reminder that no plan of man can succeed unless God permits it. He brings the counsel of the nations to nothing and frustrates the plans of the peoples (Psalm 33:10). No wisdom, understanding, or counsel can prevail against Him (Proverbs 21:30).

Indeed, nothing can thwart God's holy plans. No purpose of His can be thwarted (Job 42:2). He does according to His will among the host of heaven and the inhabitants of the earth, and none can stay His hand or question His actions (Daniel 4:35). There is no one who can deliver from His hand; He works and no one can turn it back (Isaiah 43:13).

In light of all this, we are humbled and acknowledge that we are nothing compared to God's greatness. The nations are like a drop from a bucket, and the dust on the scales in comparison to Him (Isaiah 40:15, 17). He sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers to Him. He brings princes to nothing and makes the rulers of the earth as emptiness (Isaiah 40:22-23).

But the beauty of our hope is that God magnifies His greatness by lifting up the lowly and putting down the proud. Who but God can say to a king, "Worthless one," and to nobles, "Wicked man"? He shows no partiality to princes or regard for the rich, for they are all the work of His hands (Job 34:18-19). He shatters the mighty without investigation and sets others in their place (Job 34:24). He looks on everyone who is proud and brings them low, treading down the wicked where they stand (Job 40:12). He kills and brings to life; He brings down to Sheol and raises up. He makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and exalts (1 Samuel 2:6-7). He scatters the proud in the thoughts of their hearts and brings down the mighty from their thrones, exalting those of humble estate (Luke 1:51-52).

And all of this will continue forever. God's dominion is everlasting, and His kingdom endures from generation to generation (Daniel 4:34). His dominion will not pass away, and His kingdom will not be destroyed (Daniel 7:14). His Son will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end (Luke 1:33).

Therefore, overflowing with praise and gratitude, we find rest in God's absolute sovereignty over our lives. We rejoice to hear Him say, "Your times are in My hand" (Psalm 31:15). We can trust that everything is under His control, and He has a plan and purpose for each one of us.

In conclusion, delving into the ocean of God's sovereignty brings us a sense of awe, reverence, and security. We can rest in the knowledge that all authority belongs to God, and He governs the world with wisdom and power. His Son, Jesus, shares in this authority, and through Him, God removes and installs rulers. He governs all their deeds, and no plan can succeed without His permission. We are humbled by God's greatness and His ability to lift up the lowly and put down the proud. His dominion is everlasting, and His kingdom will endure forever. Our times are in His hands, and we can trust in His sovereign control over our lives.