Inferences
What can we infer from what has been said? I infer that the
doctrine of the sovereignty of God is a doctrine that teaches the Christian. It
is full of instruction, and since that is so it is a duty for us to spend time
studying and reading concerning it, for if it is a duty, then the study of it
will abound greatly to our profit.
If we study His word it will become a light to our path and this
doctrine is part of His word, and if the Christian will approach his or her
study humbly and with faith, contemplating its many witnesses in the scripture,
it's reason will be clarified and it usefulness more and more apparent.
Use your reason correctly and you will find that there is nothing
more constant than that the Most High God should bear rule over all, and do
according to His will, as the scripture proclaims, in Daniel 4 for one example.
Reason will also tell the Christian that men, who are atoms of
clay, formed at His word and His breath breathed into their nostrils, should
own Him as their sovereign Lord, and so submit to Him in all things.
Beware of carnal reasoning for man tends to think that God is like
a man and reasons like a man, and that His will is like a man's will. None of
this is so. In Psa. 50:21 we read, "...Thou thoughtest that I was
altogether such an one as thyself...."
Only the saved man or woman can reason with spiritual reasoning
for spiritual things can only be understood by spiritual persons.
The apostle Paul in chapter 9 of Romans will not even discuss with
them this doctrine, for it is apparent throughout the Word of God, and so in
verses 19-21 he states it as an absolute truth and then in the remaining verses
of the chapter illustrates and illuminates what he has written, "Thou wilt
then say unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
Nay but, 0 man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed
say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath the potter power
over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another
unto dishonour?"
"Study to show thyself approved unto God a workman that
needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 11 Tim.
2:15.
The absolute sovereignty of God is a doctrine that teaches, study
it diligently.
Another inference that grows from this doctrine is stated in Psa.
95:6, "O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord
our maker."
We need to give Him the glory for this attribute by simply owning
to it in our hearts and minds, recognizing that it lays on us an indispensable
bond of obedience. We have an obligation to Him both in subjection and faith.
If we are in subjection we will be obedient for we will see Him
and Him only as our Lord and Master.
If we have faith in Him then we will recognize that all things are
for His honor and glory and if we're saved then all things are for our good.
We need to accept that God is sovereign and praise His holy name
for His mercy.
Here we need a caution. Man learns with difficulty.
If God has healed "death in the pot" once, and if once
the borrowed ax-head (which you had lost beyond recovery) has been given back
to you, 11 Kings 6:6,7, see to it you do not grow careless in things of
importance. At another time you may not only lose the head of the ax but the
handle as well.
Also, do not gather wild gourds a second time, 11 Kings 4:39,
etc., your prophet may not be present a second time. Learn from the experience
God has given you.
Do not presume upon the Lord to dally with temptations, as Samson
did, and then think to go out and shake yourself, as at other times, Judges
16:20. The divine power is too great to be trifled with, or made to serve with
the foolish conduct of men.
One final caution here, do not study this great doctrine unless
you are in good fellowship with your Mediator. Without Him it can become a
terror to the heart and mind and laughable to sinners when you try to explain
it to them. Only our Mediator can make it gracious.
Again I am able to infer from what has gone before that any who
have an interest in our sovereign God are blessed as none other on the earth.
No matter what tumult comes, what trial or temptation, no matter the natural
disasters they rest secure in the hands of God for they know that He is in
control. His own know that He is that great dictator whose word is law indeed.
Who in their right mind would not be a subject of such a king, and even more,
who would not be a favorite of this great and wonderful ruler. Such are those
of His bride, His assembly.
Continuing to infer from what we have studied concerning the
sovereignty of God, we may see in this study why God sometimes puts off
answering the doubts and queries that cause us such problems, things that we
truly desire to resolve. This act of His in putting off answering does not only
show His sovereignty but it is also to bring our hearts to a practical acknowledgement
of one of His most wonderful attributes.
Moses stated several reasons why he should not be the one to go to
Egypt to bring out God's people when actually what he was concerned about was
the fact that he had killed an Egyptian and felt he would be in grave danger
because of it.
God knew that the men who sought his life were already dead but He
was pleased to conceal it from Moses until He had brought him to a full
compliance to His will and then He reveals it to him unasked, Exod. 4:19:,
"And the Lord said unto Moses in Midian, Go, return unto Egypt; for all
the men are dead who sought thy life."
Let's take the advice of Isaiah in chapter 8 verse 17, "And I
will wait upon the Lord, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I
will look for him." Wait upon the Lord, when He feels that you are ready
He will answer.
Another inference says to me that no man who says that
"...the Lord he is God...," should ever presume to trespass on His
Majesty by seeking a reason for His decrees beyond or besides the good pleasure
of His will, in Deut. 29:29 the Lord says, "Me secret things belong unto
the Lord our God:...."
Let's leave the secret things of the Lord alone and learn to deal
with those things that are revealed. There's enough revealed to keep us
occupied during our earthly life.
Let us note also, that when men are not in submission to the
doctrine of the sovereignty of God they usually think far more highly of
themselves than they ought. Even with their great learning and understanding
they are bewildered and greatly puzzled by spiritual matters, particularly the
doctrine of election. Their reason calls it everything from ridiculous to
unfair and a doctrine that teaches religious bias.
What is made known to babes, babes in Christ, they can in no way
comprehend.
Finally the doctrine of God's absolute dominion clears away all
the garbage and rubbish which are the very principle of the teaching of the
absolute free-will of man. It is this doctrine of God's absolute dominion that
shows us the only true and proper foundation of scriptural election. It is also
the foundation for all those other important truths which are part of it and
those that are a consequence of it.