On Thy Sovereignty
‘He doetlL according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth.” — Dan. iv. 35.
How blessed that elementary truth — “The Lord reign eth!” To know that there is no chance or accident with God — that He decrees the fall of a sparrow — the destruction of an atom — the annihilation of a “World!
The Almighty is not like Baal, “asleep.” “He that keepeth Israel” can never for a moment “slumber.” “Manrposes — God disposes.” ‘Thou didst it!” is the history of every event, past, present, and to come. His purposes none can change — His counsels none can resist!
My soul! how cheering to know that all that befalls thee and thine is thus ordered in the eternal purpose of a Covenant God! Every minute circumstance of thy lot — appointing the bounds of thy habitation — meting out every drop in the cup of life — arranging what by thee is called its “vicissitudes” — decreeing all its trials, and at last, as the great Proprietor of life, revoking the lease of existence when its allotted term has expired!
How it would keep the mind from its guilty proneness to brood and fret over second causes, were this grand but simple truth ever realized — that all that befalls us are integral parts in a stupendous j)lan of wisdom — that there is no crossing or thwarting the designs and dealings of God; none can say, “What doest Thou?” — all ougU to say, “He doeth all things well.”
We dare not venture, with presumptuous gaze, to penetrate into “those secret things which belong unto the Lord our God.” In all that is fitted in the consideration of this august theme of the Divine Decrees to impart encouragement and consolation, let us rejoice; in all that is mysterious and incomprehensible, let us with childlike reverence exclaim, “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!”
The contemplation of the Sovereignty of God formed subject-matter of rejoicing to the Saviour himself in His humiliation: “Even so. Father, for so it seemeth good in Thy sight!” And what supplied material for comfort and joy to an Almighty Sufferer may well dry the tears and soothe the pangs of His suffering people.
O how sinners may magnify their God by a calm submission to His will, seeing no hand but One in their trials — in giving or taking: “The Lord gave — the Lord taketh away!” “AYho knoweth not in all these things the hand of the Lord hath done this?”
“Till Death the weary spirit free, My God hath said, ‘Tis good for thee,
To -walk in faith, and not by sight.
Take it on trust a little while, Soon shalt thou read the mystery right,
la the full sunshine of His smile 1”
Will it not further help to the breathing of the prayer, “Thy will be done,” when I think, in connection with the Sovereignty of God, of the grand end of His immutable decrees — ‘’ It is His own glory!” “Of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things P“^ What more can I desire? —” all things God’s glory and my own good! —
“I WILL BOTH LAT ME DOWN IN PEACE AND SLEEP; FOR THOU, LOED, ONLY MAKEST ME DWELL IN SAFETY!”
ianttttuU) iliglrt,