Sermon #2009                                                                                 Miscellaneous Sermons

 

      Title:         Five Things God Taught

Nebuchadnezzar

 

      Text:                                  Daniel 4:34-35

      Subject:               The Greatness of God

and                            

The Insignificance of Man                         

 

      Date:                                Sunday Evening — September 9, 2012

      Tape #                 AA-78

      Readings:           Larry Brown and Mark Henson

     

Daniel 4:1-37

 

1 ¶ Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.

2 I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me.

3 How great [are] his signs! and how mighty [are] his wonders! his kingdom [is] an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion [is] from generation to generation.

4 ¶ I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace:

5 I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.

6 Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise [men] of Babylon before me, that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream.

7 Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.

8 But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name [was] Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, and in whom [is] the spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream, [saying],

9 O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods [is] in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.

10 Thus [were] the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof [was] great.

11 The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth:

12 The leaves thereof [were] fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it [was] meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it.

13 I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven;

14 He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches:

15 Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and [let] his portion [be] with the beasts in the grass of the earth:

16 Let his heart be changed from man’s, and let a beast’s heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him.

17 This matter [is] by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.

18 This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise [men] of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation: but thou [art] able; for the spirit of the holy gods [is] in thee.

 

19 ¶ Then Daniel, whose name [was] Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream [be] to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies.

20 The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;

21 Whose leaves [were] fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it [was] meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation:

22 It [is] thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth.

23 And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and [let] his portion [be] with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him;

24 This [is] the interpretation, O king, and this [is] the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king:

25 That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.

26 And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule.

27 Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.

 

28 ¶ All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.

29 At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.

30 The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?

31 While the word [was] in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, [saying], O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.

32 And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling [shall be] with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.

33 The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles’ [feathers], and his nails like birds’ [claws].

34 ¶ And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion [is] an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom [is] from generation to generation:

35 And all the inhabitants of the earth [are] reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and [among] the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

36 At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.

37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works [are] truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.”


Introduction

 

The title of my message is — Five Things God Taught Nebuchadnezzar. Our text will be Daniel 4:34-35. Here we are given a very clear, Divinely inspired declaration of the indescribable greatness of our God and the utter insignificance of man.

 

(Daniel 4:34-35) “And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion [is] an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom [is] from generation to generation: 35 And all the inhabitants of the earth [are] reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and [among] the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?”

 

Nebuchadnezzar was a great and mighty king in Babylon. He ruled with an ironclad fist and a rod of steel. No one dared defy him. This mighty king was a very proud man. He had accomplished more than most men dream about; and he was proud of it. He was a boastful, blasphemous idolater. But Nebuchadnezzar was an object of mercy to whom the Lord God was determined to make Himself known.

 

God had purposed from eternity to display in Nebuchadnezzar His greatness, His glory, and His grace. He was determined to make the proud Babylonian King to know and acknowledge that “the most High rules things in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.” —— Clearly, this is the theme and emphasis of this chapter (vv. 17, 25, 26, 32). Daniel 4 was written to teach us both the greatness of God and the insignificance of man.

 

(Daniel 4:17) “This matter [is] by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.”

 

(Daniel 4:25-26) “25 That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. 26 And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule.”

 

(Daniel 4:32) “And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling [shall be] with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.”

 

You know the story of Nebuchadnezzar. God set out to bring this proud man down, to humble him, to break him, and to make Himself known to him; and He did it.

  • God took away his mind. Nebuchadnezzar became a raving lunatic!
  • He was put out of his kingdom and driven away from society.
  • For seven years he grazed like a wild beast, living in the fields.

 

Then, after seven years of lunacy, God gave Nebuchadnezzar’s mind back to him, restored him to his kingdom, and Nebuchadnezzar was a changed man. God had taught him what all men, sooner or later, must learn. Our text is the confession Nebuchadnezzar of what God had taught him.

 

(Daniel 4:34-35) “And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion [is] an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom [is] from generation to generation: 35 And all the inhabitants of the earth [are] reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and [among] the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?”

 

Proposition: This is a declaration of the glorious majesty and greatness of our God and of the utter insignificance of man.

 

I hope that by now we have all learned to rejoice in the sovereign majesty of the Lord our God.

 

“Keep silence all created things,

And wait Your Maker’s nod;

My soul stands trembling while she (speaks)

The honors of her God.

 

Life, death, and hell, and worlds unknown,

Hang on His firm decree;

He sits on no precarious throne,

Nor borrows leave to be.

 

Chained to His throne a volume lies,

With all the fates of men,

With every angels form and size

Drawn by the eternal pen.

 

His providence unfolds the book

And makes His counsels shine;

Each opening leaf and every stroke

Fulfil some bright design.

 

Here He exalts neglected worms,

To scepters and crown;

(And then,) the following page He turns,

And treads the monarch down.

 

Not Gabriel asks the reason why,

Nor God the reason gives,

Nor dares the favorite angel pry

Between the folded leaves.

 

My God, I would not long to see

My fate with curious eyes,

What gloomy lines are writ for me,

Or what bright scenes may rise.

 

In Thy fair book of life and grace

May I but find my name

Recorded by electing grace

Beneath my Lord the Lamb!”

—– Isaac Watts

 

Attempting to refute the things taught in these verses, some have suggested that they are not inspired, that they are only the rantings of a heathen king. But their arguments are of no value. — 3 Reasons –

·      Nebuchadnezzar is here telling us what he had experienced. God Himself was his Teacher. He knew by personal experience the things he here declares.

·      The Holy Spirit has been pleased to include these words in the Volume of Inspiration.

·      All that Nebuchadnezzar here teaches is repeatedly confirmed throughout the Scriptures.

 

Five Divinely Revealed Facts

 

In these two verses Nebuchadnezzar the king speaks as a prophet of God. Let those who are wise hear the voice of the learned. Here are five things that all men and women must, sooner or later, learn and acknowledge. These are not questionable or debatable issues. They are Divinely revealed facts that must be acknowledged. You will acknowledge them, either in the experience of God’s saving grace in Christ, or in the experience of His endless wrath in hell. May God graciously teach them to you now.

 

Eternal, Self-existent God

 

First, the Lord Jehovah is the eternal, self-existent God. Nebuchadnezzar was a religious man before; but now he had discovered Who God is. He said, “Mine understanding returned to me, and I blessed the most High, and praised and honored him that liveth for ever and ever.”

 

Our God sits upon the throne of heaven and says, “I live forever!” He “hath life in Himself.” He is the great “I AM.” Only our God can declare, “I am God, and beside Me there is none else.” He declares, “I lift up My hand to heaven, and say, I live forever!

 

The Lord Jehovah alone is eternal. He is the only underived, self-existent, self-sustained Being. The God we worship is the only Being in the universe who necessarily and from His own nature exists. God alone must be! All his creatures depend upon His will for everything. He depends upon nothing! He only “hath immortality” (1 Timothy 6:16; 1:12). Essentially, that means two things…

 

1. God alone is truly independent. — We are dependent upon many things for our existence: food, heat, light, water, air, shelter, clothing. And all of that God gives us. All life depends upon Him! But He needs nothing from any of His creatures. God is! Nothing of His Being is derived from something else; but all that exist is derived from Him. He was as glorious before He made the worlds as He is now. He was as great, as blessed, as happy as satisfied before He spoke this vast universe into existence as He is today Nothing in God’s great Being depends upon anything outside of Himself!

 

2. The Lord our God alone is immutable. — All our lives are full of changes; but God never undergoes change of any kind. “The creature is made subject unto vanity.” But the Creator is without variableness or shadow of turning. He says, “I am the Lord; I change not” (Malachi 3:6; Psalms 102:25-27; Hebrews 1:10-12; 13:8). Our God does not change and cannot change…

·      In His Being!

·      In His Purposes!

·      In His Love!

·      In His Grace!

 

(Malachi 3:6) “For I [am] the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.”

 

(Psalms 102:25-27) “25 Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens [are] the work of thy hands. 26 They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: 27 But thou [art] the same, and thy years shall have no end.”

 

(Hebrews 1:10-12) “10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: 11 They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; 12 And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.”

 

(Hebrews 13:8) “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”

 

Perfection demands immutability. It will not allow change. Go back into eternity past, as far back as your mind will carry you. There sits Jehovah, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit upon His throne in the fulness of His triune glory. Now run into the farther most distance of eternity future. Still the eternal, triune God sits upon His throne, exactly as He always has been, in all the fulness of His glory, unchanged and unchangeable. Satan and the legions of hell attack His throne. But God is unaffected. Mankind, like a mighty army is risen up in enmity against Him. But God is unchanged. There He sits in the calm serenity of absolute sovereignty, in His immutable glory!

 

Everlasting Dominion

 

Secondly, Our Great God is the God “Whose dominion is an everlasting dominion.” — “His kingdom is from generation to generation.” — Not only is He the eternal God, He is also the reigning Monarch of the universe. He is God upon the throne of indisputable and uncontestable sovereignty. He reigns over all by right, because He is God (Matthew 20:15). — “The Lord hath prepared His throne in the heavens, and His kingdom ruleth over all” (Psalms 103:19). — “The Lord sitteth upon the flood; yea, the Lord setteth King forever” (Psalms 28:10).

 

God reigns everywhere, at all times, over all things, absolutely. Satan may lead one third of the heavenly hosts in rebellion against Him; but Jehovah reigns! Adam may rebel against his dominion; but Jehovah reigns! Pharaoh may torment and afflict His people; but still Jehovah reigns! Judas may betray His Son, wicked men may crucify Him, doing exactly what they will to do; yet Jehovah reigns and does exactly as He will, even by the hands of wicked men! He has never vacated His throne for a second and never shall! Amid all the calamities and tragedies of life, amid all the sins of men and demons, amid all the corruptions and upheavals of society, our God reigns!

·       In Creation!

·       In Providence!

·       In Grace!

 

Man Nothing

 

Thirdly, Nebuchadnezzar learned, and so must we, that man is nothing! — “And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing!” (See Isaiah 40:15, 17).

 

(Isaiah 40:15-17) “15 Behold, the nations [are] as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing. 16 And Lebanon [is] not sufficient to burn, nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt offering. 17 All nations before him [are] as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity.”

 

We are nothing in ourselves and can make nothing of ourselves, but what He allows. —— We are nothing in comparison with God, less than nothing, just vanity!

 

“Great God, how infinite Thou art!

What worthless worms are we!”

 

Any man who is taught of God is made to know his own nothingness.

 

Illustrations: Isaiah — “Woe is me!”

Mephibosheth — “Such a dead dog as I am!”

David — “Who am I, O Lord God?”

Job — “I abhor myself!”

 

What is man that Thou art mindful of him, or the son of man that Thou visitest him?” — Who are you? Who am I? Who are we that the most High God should think of us? We are grasshoppers before Him, worthless, insignificant, offensive, and repugnant! Before Him, we are less than nothing!

·      In our election we are nothing (John 15:16).

·      In our redemption we were nothing (Isaiah 63:3; Galatians 3:13).

·      In our regeneration we were nothing (John 3:8; 6:63).

·      In our justification we are nothing (Romans 3:24).

·      In our sanctification we are nothing (1 Corinthians 1:30).

·      In our preservation we are nothing (1 Peter 1:5).

·      In heavenly glory we shall yet own ourselves to be nothings and nobodies and cry, “Christ is All!” (Psalms 115:1; Revelation 4:10-11; 5:9-10).

 

(Psalms 115:1) “Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, [and] for thy truth’s sake.”

 

(Revelation 4:10-11) “10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”

 

(Revelation 5:9-10) “9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.”

 

God alone saved us and called us, justified and sanctified us, preserves us and will present us before the presence of His own glory, without fault, holy and unblameable in His sight. And God alone shall have the praise!

 

Sovereignty Exercised

 

Fourthly, Nebuchadnezzar learned that God’s infinite power is constantly at work, sovereignly accomplishing His will. Read the next line of our text. — “And He doeth according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth.” There are no exceptions! (Psalm 115:3; 135:6).

·       God’s will is done in heaven. – Always!

·       God’s will is done on the earth. – Always!

·       God’s will is done in hell. – Always!

 

With unexplainable, infinite, sovereign power God almighty so governs all beings and all things that all, either willingly or unwillingly, accomplish His will. Both the good and the evil acts of men and angels are so completely and absolutely ruled by our God that nothing ever comes to pass except according to God’s will and power (Proverbs 16:1, 9; 19:21; Acts 2:23; 4:27-28).

 

(Proverbs 16:1) “The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, [is] from the LORD.”

 

(Proverbs 16:9) “A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.”

 

(Proverbs 19:21) “[There are] many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.”

 

(Acts 2:23) “Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:”

 

(Acts 4:27-28) “27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, 28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.”

 

Illustration: Shemei and David – (1 Samuel 16:9-14).

 

Spurgeon said this – “The miracle of Divine glory lies in this – God has made men free-agents, endowed them with a will, with which will He never interferes, except according to the laws of mind; that He leaves them absolutely free to do what they will; and yet, such is the magnificent strategy of heaven, such is the marvelous force of the Divine mind, that despite everything, the will of God is done.”

 

God rules everywhere! But just suppose, if you dare, that He does not! – If God does not rule everywhere and everything, then somewhere there is something that rules God, and He is not supreme! If God does not have His will, someone else does, and that someone is a rival to God. Such a blasphemous doctrine would scare me to death, were it true. Nothing would be safe. No promise could be believed. The very throne of God would be in constant jeopardy! I dare not even believe that sin is exempted from the sovereign control of God’s purpose, providence, and grace and the over-ruling dominion of His power (Psalms 76:10; Romans 6:17-18).

 

(Psalms 76:10) “Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.”

 

(Romans 6:17-18) “17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.”

 

Will Irresistible

 

Fifthly, Nebuchadnezzar found out, (and all men will one day find this out), — The will of God is irresistible and unimpeachable. Read the last line of our text – “And none can stay His hand, or say unto Him, What doest thou?” (See Isaiah 14:24, 26, 27; 46:9-10).

 

(Isaiah 14:24) “The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, [so] shall it stand.”

 

(Isaiah 14:26-27) “26 This [is] the purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth: and this [is] the hand that is stretched out upon all the nations. 27 For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul [it]? and his hand [is] stretched out, and who shall turn it back?”

 

(Isaiah 46:9-10) “9 Remember the former things of old: for I [am] God, and [there is] none else; [I am] God, and [there is] none like me, 10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times [the things] that are not [yet] done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.”

 

You can argue with God, if you dare be so brazenly proud and presumptuous (Isaiah 45:9). I am not here to apologize for His works or to vindicate His character. I am here as His messenger, to tell you who He is and what He has done. And this I declare…

 

No one can hinder God, or even cause Him to pause in the accomplishment of His will. The creature is powerless to resist, stop, hinder, or alter the will of the Creator. His will is irresistible. You can no more resist the will of God than wax can resist fire!

 

It is right for God’s will to be done.He is God! Who knows better than God what is right? Whatever He does is right. And the day is coming when all the world will be made to see the rectitude of His government (Daniel 4:37).

 

(Daniel 4:37) “Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works [are] truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.”

 

“God moves in a mysterious way

His wonders to perform;

He plants His footsteps in the sea

And rides upon the storm.

 

Deep in unfathomable mines

Of never failing skill

He treasures up His bright designs

And works His sovereign will.

 

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;

The clouds ye so much dread

Are big with mercy and shall break

In blessings on your head.

 

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,

But trust Him for His grace;

Behind a frowning providence

He hides a smiling face.

 

His purposes will ripen fast,

Unfolding every hour;

The bud may have a bitter taste,

But sweet will be the flower.

 

Blind unbelief is sure to err

And scan His work in vain;

God is His own interpreter,

And He will make it plain.”

—– William Cowper

 

Blessed Doctrine

 

Before I finish, let me show you something of the blessedness of this doctrine. — Here are five things that demonstrate the blessedness of the doctrine of God’s glorious sovereignty.

 

1. It shuts sinners up to God! — You have no alternative. You are in the hands of God. You must be reconciled to Him, or you must be damned. The only terms of peace He will accept is the blood and righteousness of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. You must bow to Christ, or He will crush you in His wrath. — “Be ye reconciled to God!

 

2. Nothing so greatly encourages our faith in our God as the knowledge of His glorious sovereignty (Romans 8:31). — We trust a God with whom nothing is impossible. Our Divine Protector and Provider is the infinite God!

 

3. This doctrine assures us that the purpose of God according to election must stand and shall be accomplished.

·       Nebuchadnezzar was chosen of God!

·       When God put him on the throne, He was doing him good.

·       When God brought him down, He was doing him good.

·       When God left him to live like a beast, He was doing him good.

·       When all others had cast him off, despised him, and counted him to be but human rubbish, God Almighty took Nebuchadnezzar up in the arms of grace.

·       Providence may move slowly (7 years); but it always moves with deliberate purpose.

·       We must not judge God’s providence, but trust it.

·       God knows how to humble proud sinners.

 

4. The doctrine of God’s sovereignty comforts suffering saints. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

 

(1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) “16 ¶ Rejoice evermore. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

 

5. This blessed doctrine of Divine sovereignty gives the triune God all praise, honor, and glory (Psalms 115:1-3; Romans 11:33-36).

 

(Psalms 115:1-3) “1 ¶ Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, [and] for thy truth’s sake. 2 Wherefore should the heathen say, Where [is] now their God? 3 But our God [is] in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.”

 

(Romans 11:33-36) “33 ¶ O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable [are] his judgments, and his ways past finding out! 34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? 35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? 36 For of him, and through him, and to him, [are] all things: to whom [be] glory for ever. Amen.”

 

Doctrine’s Affect

 

Every doctrine has an intended affect upon men. I send you home with this question: – What is the affect of this doctrine of God’s absolute, universal sovereignty upon His people?

 

·      Adoration and Worship (Psalms 99:1, 5; 100:3-4).

 

(Psalms 99:1) “The LORD reigneth; let the people tremble: he sitteth [between] the cherubims; let the earth be moved.”

 

(Psalms 99:5) “Exalt ye the LORD our God, and worship at his footstool; [for] he [is] holy.”

 

(Psalms 100:3-4) “3 Know ye that the LORD he [is] God: [it is] he [that] hath made us, and not we ourselves; [we are] his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, [and] into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, [and] bless his name.”

 

·      Humble Submission and Confident Faith (Romans 8:28).

·      Intense Love and Overwhelming Joy and Peace (Philippians 4:4-7).

 

(Philippians 4:4-7) “4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: [and] again I say, Rejoice. 5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord [is] at hand. 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

 

Illustration:                     Horatio Spafford

(“It is Well!” #256)

 

Horatio Spafford was a prominent, successful business man in Chicago, IL, in the middle 1800’s. He had enjoyed great success. He was wealthy, well-known and influential. Overnight he lost almost everything. The great Chicago fire left him in near financial ruin.

 

He decided to relocate his family. At two o’clock in the morning, November 22, 1873, he loaded his wife and four daughters onto a French luxury liner, (the largest and most luxurious in the world), and kissed them good-bye, promising to meet them in France in a few weeks, as soon as he could settle his business affairs.

 

Several days out of port, that luxurious ship, sailing peacefully toward France, was rammed by an English ship. It took the largest, best, most luxurious ship in the world just two hours to sink to the ocean floor!

 

Two hundred and twenty-six people died on that ship, including all four of the Spafford daughters. Nine days latter, when the survivors landed safely at Cardiff, Wales, Spafford received a short wire from his wife. It contained just two words - “Saved alone.”

 

As soon as possible, he booked passage on a ship to Europe to join his wife. On the way over, the Captain called Spafford to the bridge of the ship. He said, “According to my calculations, we are now passing over the place where your children drowned.” Spafford thanked the Captain, went back to his cabin, and wrote these lines…

 

“When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,

When sorrows, like sea billows roll,

Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,

‘It is well, it is well with my soul.’”

 

This man who had lost his business, his home, and his children, said to a friend, “I am glad I can trust the Lord when it costs me something.” When he and his wife finally met and embraced one another, she said, “We have not lost our children. We are only separated for a little while.”

 

How could that man and his wife bear such trials, such losses, such heartaches, with such composure? Only one answer can be given. Horatio Spafford and his wife believed God. They were convinced in their hearts of that which is recorded in Romans 8:28. "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."

 

The knowledge and understanding of God’s providence is the comfort and strength of believing hearts in the midst of their trials and temptations in this world. Blessed of God and happy, truly happy, are those people in this vale of tears who know and trust our God, the God of all providence!

 

Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don Fortner

 

 

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