Sovereignty

God’s Anger And Mercy - Romans 9:14 – 9:24 (commentary)

This passage begins with a question which makes us ask, “Is God unjust in choosing Isaac over Ishmael and Jacob over Esau? Moses over Pharaoh and Israel over Egypt” (vv. 14-18)? Paul responds, “Not at all! God is not under obligation to give mercy to anyone.” …

Choosing Zion For His Dwelling Place - Psalms 68:15 – 68:23 (commentary)

The great mountains of the land of Basham (v. 15) no doubt refers to Mount Hermon, the highest snow capped peak in the Middle East, just a few miles north of Basham. The psalmists intent was to show that Israel would be victorious by divine design (sovereignty), rather than by hu …

Praising God For All He Has Done - Psalms 75:1 – 75:10 (commentary)

One day the Jews in Jerusalem looked out the gates of their city and were terrified to see their Assyrian enemies camped outside. The Assyrian tents were still there and their flags were flapping in the breeze. However vultures were circling the camp and there was a stillness of …

God is Ruling According to His Plan - Psalms 93:1 – 93:5 (commentary)

From the “Beginning” of history until the time of Samuel “Theocratic” rule was Israel’s sole form of government. It failed, not because God failed but because Israel failed. When the people demanded of Samuel that he give them a king so they might be like the …

Our Steps Are Ordered by The Lord - Psalms 107:33 – 107:43 (commentary)

This hymn of praise explains how the Lord has the power to change things. His authority is limitless. He can reverse the condition of anything and therefore the way of life for anybody. In this passage we see how the Lord has great power over nature (vv. 33-39). He is sovereign and can ...

Balaam foretells the happiness of Israel - Numbers 24:1 – 24:25 (commentary)

This chapter begins by explaining how Balaam realized the Lord’s intention to bless Israel, so he did not try to use his sorcery as he usually did (v.1) but he looked toward the wilderness and saw the tribes encamped in formation and the Spirit of the Lord came on him (v. 2). He …

God’s Sovereignty in Shaping the World - Proverbs 16:1 – 16:11 (commentary)

These verses emphasize God’s role as sovereign king of the universe. We may make plans, but the answers are from God (v. 1). We think our ways are pure, but God weighs the motives of each of us (v. 2). It says that “the Lord weighs the spirits.” It takes ...

Israel Degraded - Ezekiel 19:1 – 19:14 (commentary)

Ezekiel explains in prophetic form the last declining years of Judah. He uses an illustration of a lioness and her cubs to illustrate his message (vv. 1-9). With this picture of the lioness and her cubs he raised the curiosity of his listeners. It is suggested that the li …

Dimensions and Design of the Temple - Ezekiel 41:1 – 41:26 (commentary)

Chapters 40-43 give the temple’s measurements and then describe how it would be filled with God’s glory. As you read all of these details, remember that God is sovereign over everything and even restoring the faithful to Himself. Ezekiel climbed the stairs and entered thr …

The Kings And Their Successors - Daniel 11:1 – 11:9 (commentary)

Chapter 11 is set around the same time as the events of Chapter 6. Daniel made a choice to support and strengthen King Darius the Mede in the first year of his reign (v. 1). This chapter contains detailed prophecy of events that were to take place in Israel for the next three hundred ...

God Spoke to Jeremiah Through Ordinary Experiences - Jeremiah 1:11 – 1:19 (commentary)

In this passage two signs were given the prophet as sort of an outline of his prophetic ministry: (1) The first was a vision which caused Jeremiah to see the branch of an almond tree (v. 11). This branch represented God who was watching to see that His word is fulfilled (v. 12). …

God is Sovereign - Jeremiah 22:24 – 22:30 (commentary)

Jehoiachin (who was only 23 years old) followed his father Jehoiakim to the throne (v. 24). After a three-month reign Jehoiachin surrendered to Nebuchadnezzar and he and his mother Nehushta (the widow of King Jehoikim (2 Kings 24:8) was deported to Babylon where they both …

Depending on The Power of God - Jeremiah 24:1 – 24:10 (commentary)

The prophet is shown a vision of two baskets of figs (v. 1). One was a basket of good figs, the other of rotten, stinking and smelly figs (vv. 2-3). God said “These figs are like the people.” The good figs represented those who are going to be carried captive to Babyl …

What it Means to Have God on Your Side - Deuteronomy 2:16 – 2:37 (commentary)

Although Edom, Ammon, and Moab had harassed Israel God would not give Israel their land (vv. 16-23). Instead, they were instructed to bypass their nations and let God take care of them. However, the situation changed with Sihon and the Amorites (vv. 24-25). The Amorites under ...

Job Says He Longs For God - Job 23:1 – 23:17 (commentary)

Instead of arguing with his friends, or compromising his integrity by giving in to Eliphaz’s appeal, Job ignores them completely and speaks to the Lord. Job has already made it clear that his dispute was not with man, but with God. Job has two complaints against the Lord: Go …

Queen Vashti Dismissed as Queen - Esther 1:10 – 1:22 (commentary)

On the last day of a seven-day feast in the Shushan palace, the king was feeling happy because of so much wine and called for Vashti to appear before his drunken nobles to show her beauty and she refused (vv. 10-11). The king wanted her to wear her crown and let his people and officials ...

The Advice of Ahithopel And Hushai - II Samuel 17:1 – 17:14 (commentary)

Ahithophel told Absalom that he will choose twelve thousand men and attack David at night while he is tired and discouraged (vv. 1-2). He will panic and everyone will run away so I can kill him (v. 3). Then I will bring everyone back to you and this way there won’t be a civ …

God’s Sovereignty In Shaping The World - Proverbs 16:1 – 16:4 (commentary)

These verses emphasize God’s role as sovereign king of the universe. We may make plans, but the answers are from God (v. 1). We think our ways are pure, but God weighs the motives of each of us (v. 2). It says that “the Lord weigheth the spirits.” That is why we need to be very ...