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“he Sovereignty Of God Over The Nations - Part 1”
The Sovereignty Of God Over The Nations - Part 1
Wade Webster
The most important thought that a man can have is what He thinks about God. If we think correctly about God, then we will likely get many other things right. If we think incorrectly about God, then we will likely get many other things wrong. Jesus suggested a similar thought in a discussion that He had with the Pharisees. He asked, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?” (Mat. 22:41-42, NKJV). What they thought about Christ was the most important thought that they could have. As you know, they got this wrong and many other wrong things followed it. They understood that Christ was going to be the son of David (Mat. 22:42), but they missed that Christ was also going to be the Lord of David (Mat. 22:45).
How we think about God is the most important thought that we can have because it determines what we do for God. If we think that God is a great God, then we will do great things for Him. If we think less of God, then we will do lesser things for Him. Compare how Solomon and the people of Malachi’s day thought about God. Solomon thought that God was a great God and he did great things for him. Consider what he said to Hiram, king of Tyre:
And the temple which I build will be great, for our God is greater than all gods. But who is able to build Him a temple, since heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain Him? Who am I then, that I should build Him a temple, except to burn sacrifice before Him? Therefore send me at once a man skillful to work in gold and silver, in bronze and iron, in purple and crimson and blue, who has skill to engrave with the skillful men who are with me in Judah and Jerusalem, whom David my father provided. Also send me cedar and cypress and algum logs from Lebanon, for I know that your servants have skill to cut timber in Lebanon; and indeed my servants will be with your servants, to prepare timber for me in abundance, for the temple which I am about to build shall be great and wonderful (2 Chronicles 2:5-9).
Great thoughts about God produce great deeds for God. In contrast, the people of Malachi’s day thought less of God and did less for Him. In fact, their thinking about God was so bad that God confronted them about it. We read,
A son honors his father, And a servant his master. If then I am the Father, Where is My honor? And if I am a Master, Where is My reverence? Says the LORD of hosts To you priests who despise My name. Yet you say, ‘In what way have we despised Your name?’ “You offer defiled food on My altar, But say, ‘In what way have we defiled You?’ By saying, The table of the LORD is contemptible.’ And when you offer the blind as a sacrifice, Is it not evil? And when you offer the lame and sick, Is it not evil? Offer it then to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you favorably?” Says the LORD of hosts. “But now entreat God’s favor, That He may be gracious to us. While this is being done by your hands, Will He accept you favorably?” Says the LORD of hosts. “Who is there even among you who would shut the doors, So that you would not kindle fire on My altar in vain? I have no pleasure in you,” Says the LORD of hosts, “Nor will I accept an offering from your hands. For from the rising of the sun, even to its going down, My name shall be great among the Gentiles; In every place incense shall be offered to My name, And a pure offering; For My name shall be great among the nations,” Says the LORD of hosts. “But you profane it, In that you say, The table of the LORD is defiled; And its fruit, its food, is contemptible.’ You also say, ‘Oh, what a weariness!’ And you sneer at it,” Says the LORD of hosts. “And you bring the stolen, the lame, and the sick; Thus you bring an offering! Should I accept this from your hand?” Says the LORD. “But cursed be the deceiver Who has in his flock a male, And takes a vow, But sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished—For I am a great King,” Says the LORD of hosts, “And My name is to be feared among the nations” (Malachi 1:6-14).
Little thoughts about God produce little deeds for God. It will be our goal in this study to get our thoughts about God to be right. Specifically, we want to get our thoughts about God’s sovereignty right. In this study, we will see God’s sovereignty defined, declared, displayed, and dismissed.
