“Show Me Your Glory” by Steve Lawson
Last week my copy of “Expositor” magazine (that just happens to have Steve Lawson as its Executive Editor) arrived. The issue focuses on “preaching and the sovereignty of God.” In the lead article Steve writes, “The truth of divine sovereignty is not taught in every verse in the Bible. Therefore, you should not preach on this weighty subject in every sermon.” Yet Derek Thomas adds in a later article, “Preaching the sovereignty of God will bring you and your congregation to doxology.” I will strive to follow Steve’s advice while hoping before the end of every sermon and during all our worship we joyfully proclaim the glory of God.
Steve unpacks several “main headings” that help us understand God’s sovereignty. First, he highlights “the supremacy of God’s reign over all that exists.” In Psalm 103:19 David declared, “The Lord has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.” Steve observes, “This announces that God is above or superior to all others. He is chief, greatest, and highest, supreme in power, rank, and authority…As the absolute Sovereign, God is governing every aspect of this terrestrial globe.” Without doubt I can add that God’s rule extends to the outer limits of all space. No stray atom anywhere is exempt from His sovereign rule.
Psalm 93:1 proclaims God’s glory, “The Lord reigns, He is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed with majesty and is armed with strength. The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved.” This psalm, along with 96:10; 97:1; and 99:1, use the phrase “The Lord Reigns” to drive home the point that “God is presently exercising His will every moment of every day…There are no boundaries on His jurisdictions. There is no statute of limitations on His reign. He was never put into office by the votes of creatures, and He will never be impeached. Heaven and earth are run not by a democracy but by a theocracy, not be a majority vote but by the choice of One.”
Is this practical? Steve says there is only one “rightful response to the announcement of the sovereignty of God – the rejoicing of the entire earth. Otherwise, we would have untold reasons to weep, because human history would be in total disarray and chaos.” The supreme God is, per Psalm 135:6, “in heaven and does whatever He pleases.” That psalm had stated in v3 that God is good and in v5 that “our God is greater than all gods.” Certainly that gives comfort to His people. He is worthy of praise. Will you praise Him today? Pastor Gillikin