Is God Sovereign and Good?

“O Lord God of hosts,

who is mighty as You are, O Lord,

with Your faithfulness all around You?”

Psalm 89:8 ESV

This is a rhetorical question, there is no one so mighty or faithful as Jehovah. He is not this omnipotent( all powerful) God who sits enthroned above the heavens not caring about the people and world He created. His steadfast love and faithfulness are a part of everything that He does or does not do. He always acts in love towards those whose hearts are toward Him. He never acts in an unrighteous manner. He is the most powerful of all beings and yet He acts in mercy towards us. He could so easily snuff us out and yet He is long suffering, forgiving sin and waiting for people to come to Him.

I am not nearly so patient. I have often said that if I were God the world would have been gone a long time ago. I don't know how He stands to watch us every moment of every day, seeing us turn away from His offering of grace and fellowship day after day after day. Even those of us who have tasted and know that He is good often choose something or someone else to try and find fulfillment. I confess that too often I am scrolling through Facebook or Instagram, often reading good and helpful blogs or articles that have been posted but none so good as to replace fellowship with my Creator and Saviour.

Often when something hard is going on in the lives of people we care about or in the world in general. We as Christians will make this statement: “God is in control.” We mean to comfort but sometimes I think we have emphasized the sovereignty, Lordship and control of God without emphasizing the goodness, steadfast love and faithfulness of God and we end up with people who are mad, bitter and hateful towards this God who didn't stop whatever happened to them. Or we have gone to the other extreme, we have emphasized the love of God without the might and justice of God. Balance is called for and trust in this mighty, supreme being who acts both in love and righteousness to save. God is always willing to give up the earthly to gain the eternal. We just can't see what He sees or know what He knows. He is omniscient (all knowing) after all.

This verse says that God is God, Lord – ruler of all. Host could refer to an army or to His creation, which would include all things. In this case, it seems to be referring to the physical creation as verses 9, 11 and 12 talk of His rule over nature: “You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise You still them. The heavens are Yours; the earth also is Yours; the world and all that is in it, You have founded them. The north and the south, You have created them; Tabor and Hermon joyously praise Your name.” Some commentaries say that Tabor and Hermon, mountains to the east and west of Jerusalem, are representative of those directions, indicating that Jehovah is Lord of all.)

Given the fact that He is Lord and Creator of all therefore He is mighty. There is no one or thing that can thwart Him. What He has made He will sustain and use for His glory, drawing people to Himself that they might know true life eternally.

His faithfulness surrounds Him. In all that He does He acts righteously. He always does what is right. He is good!! He is just!! No matter which direction He turns there is no sin or unrighteousness to be found in Him. His motives are pure and right as well as His thoughts and actions. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” James 1:17ESV He sends rain on the just and the unjust. (Matthew 5:44-45) “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV His grace is sufficient. (2 Corinthians 12:9) He paid the price that we owed for the sins that we have committed and the ones we are yet to commit. He gave all that we might know Him. “For the wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23 ESV

O Lord, help us to know that You alone are God, sovereign and good, faithful and true, showing undeserved kindness and mercy. Thank You that You do not treat us as our sins deserve but that You act in love towards us. Thank You that we are in Your hands and that You are worthy of our trust. Help us to trust in You, to believe You and walk in Your truth.