THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD Devotion #5 of 17

"For the kingdom is the LORD'S: and He is the governor among the nations" (Psalm 22:28); "For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods" (Psalm 95:3); "One God and Father of all, Who is above all, and through all, and in you all" (Ephesians 4:6); "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created" (Revelation 4:11)

IN GOVERNING THE WORLD

The world may appear to be in a chaotic state, but it is not. "The Lord reigns!" (1 Chron.16:31; Psa. 96:10; 97:1; 99:1) is not an obsolete saying! The political arena is not what it appears to be. No individual should neglect the responsibilities and privileges of national opportunities. In all of it, however, you must remember that God has not abdicated to the ballot box, nor has democracy displaced the rule of heaven. "The heavens do rule" is still true, and you must continue to believe it, even when circumstance seems to deny it. GOVERNOR AMONG THE NATIONS. (Psa. 22:28) "For dominion belongs to the LORD and he rules over the nations." GIVES KINGDOMS TO WHOM HE WILLS. (Dan. 4:24-26) "This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree the Most High has issued against my lord the king: you will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like cattle and be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes. The command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots means that your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules." PROMOTION FROM THE LORD. (Psa. 75:6-7) "No one from the east or the west or from the desert can exalt a man. But it is God who judges: He brings one down, he exalts another." DOES WHAT HE HAS PLEASED UPON EARTH. (Psa. 135:5,6) "I know that the LORD is great, that our Lord is greater than all gods. The LORD does whatever pleases him, in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths." MADE EARTH, GIVES TO WHOM WILLS. (Jer. 27:5-6) "With my great power and outstretched arm I made the earth and its people and the animals that are on it, and I give it to anyone I please. Now I will hand all your countries over to my servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; I will make even the wild animals subject to him." CHANGES TIMES AND SEASONS. (Dan. 2:20-21) "And said: "Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning." PERFORMS WILL AMONG INHABITANTS OF EARTH. (Dan. 4:35) "All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: "What have you done?"" How can we harmonize the conditions of our world with these affirmations--or is it necessary that we do so? If Scripture makes anything clear, it is that national leaders are not the result of merely human endeavors. It is God Himself that raises up and casts down political powers. He has reasons for doing what He does, and He uses means to accomplish His ends--but He, and He alone, is the King over all the earth.

-- TOMORROW: IN THE MATTER OF DELUSION --