God Is Sovereign
The Scriptures are replete with examples of the rising and falling of rulers and nations. What is clear in every case is that it is the Lord God who humbles the proud, judges the nations, sends great calamity, appoints rulers, and does all these things to accomplish his purposes.
“Remember this and stand firm recall it to mind, you transgressors, remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’ calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it” (Isaiah 46:8-11).
The “bird of prey from the east” refers to Cyrus, the coming Persian king who will execute judgment upon the idolatry and wickedness of Babylon. In light of this revelation, God’s people are not to trust in the idols and false gods of Babylon for God will humiliate the idols of self-worship and destroy the pride of a people bent against him. God knows the end from the beginning because God “declares the end from the beginning.” There is none like him. He is the only God, sovereign, almighty, all-wise, and rules over all his creation.
Proverbs 21:1 reminds us, “The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.” The powerful Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar learned this when he was humbled by God and made a madman. When his reason returned to him, Nebuchadnezzar “blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, ‘What have you done?’” (Daniel 4:34-35). May we have the sense to remember this in our day!
The prophets also understood than when either blessing or calamity came, it was by the hand of the Lord. “Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it? Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that good and bad come?” (Lamentations 3:37-38). Jeremiah said these words when he witnessed the defeat of the kingdom of Judah and the destruction of the city of Jerusalem. He laments and weeps for his people who are being destroyed. Yet, knowing the one, true, sovereign God, Jeremiah is able to say, “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).
In the midst of national upheaval, war, and calamity, Jeremiah is able to point his heart and mind to the steadfast love of God and his faithfulness in the accomplishment of his purposes. He laments and he worships. He is sorrowful, yet rejoicing.
Lament and sorrow seem to come more naturally to us in hard times. Yet, worship and joy come in all seasons when we behold God, stable and steadfast on his throne, accomplishing his purposes to bring glory to his name and salvation to his people.
The Lord Is King
We are no longer under the old covenant but the character of God never changes and his mercies remain new each morning. Under the new covenant, the Bible makes clear that Jesus is the king of the nations, and exercises all authority in heaven and on earth.
Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Mt 28:18). He is described as “the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth” (Rev 1:5). He is “far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come” (Eph 1:21). In adoration, the Scriptures say, “Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations!” (Rev 15:3). “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him” (Col 1:16). It is clear that Jesus Christ is “Lord of lords and King of kings” (Rev 17:14).
We must remember that Jesus Christ—the same yesterday, today, and forever—reigns over all. Therefore, even in times of calamity, uncertainty, or chaos, we can rejoice. In fact, we must rejoice!
God is sovereign. He accomplishes all his purposes. He is loving, faithful, gracious, and compassionate. He will build his church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it (Matt 16:18). If there is anything we’ve learned in these past two years, is that when the nations rage against God and plot to usurp him, they do so in vain (Psalm 2). God’s purposes advance, his gospel goes forth, Christ is preached, his people redeemed, and his saints strengthened. So take heart, look to the worthy and reigning Christ and rejoice.
“The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice!” (Psalm 97:1).