He is Lord of All

 

Rather flippantly, some call God the man in the sky, or the big boss. This is like the disrespect given to an earthy father by calling him ‘my old man’ instead of father, dad, or daddy. I’m finally understanding His total sovereignty and feel even more angst at the inadequacy of such titles. Our God is far more than those words convey.

This morning, Charnock points to Scriptures that I’d not noticed nor thought about. His examples expand my concept of God and fill me with thoughts of worship and much gratitude, just as the OT prophets said: 

You have heard; now see all this; and will you not declare it? From this time forth I announce to you new things, hidden things that you have not known. (Isaiah 48:6)
Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known. (Jeremiah 33:3)

Charnock reminds me that angels and all creatures belong to God's authority. He is called “The Lord of Hosts” which often refers to angelical legions. They are “His hosts” and “ministers that do his pleasure.” For example, when Jesus was born, the gospel writer said:
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:13–14)

The OT prophet also declared what God told him: “I made the earth and created man on it; it was my hands that stretched out the heavens, and I commanded all their host.” (Isaiah 45:12) “All their host” is employed by God to do His will and not one resists Him. This includes all the inanimate creation in heaven. He calls the stars by name (Psalm 147:4) and He rules them to do His will like a general of an army appoints the position of every regiment in a battle. 

Imposing names is also a sign of dominion. I’m reminded of how God told Adam to name all other living creatures, and later told to have dominion over them. The stars, named by God, are under His sovereign dominion. Along with kings, and a raging river, this is what God says of them:

The kings came, they fought; then fought the kings of Canaan, at Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo; they got no spoils of silver. From heaven the stars fought, from their courses they fought against Sisera. The torrent Kishon swept them away, the ancient torrent, the torrent Kishon. March on, my soul, with might! (Judges 5:19–21)

The sun also serves God's purposes:

At that time Joshua spoke to the Lord in the day when the Lord gave the Amorites over to the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, “Sun, stand still at Gibeon, and moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.” And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, until the nation took vengeance on their enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? The sun stopped in the midst of heaven and did not hurry to set for about a whole day. (Joshua 10:12–13)

Creation obeys God without resistance as if they desire to share in the ruin of the enemies of their Creator and Sovereign God. The weather also does His bidding:

Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all deeps, fire and hail, snow and mist, stormy wind fulfilling his word! Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars! Beasts and all livestock, creeping things and flying birds! Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth! Young men and maidens together, old men and children! Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his majesty is above earth and heaven. (Psalm 148:7–13)

I know Jesus commanded storms to cease and am fully assured that global warming is the least of our worries should God tell the weather to declare His wrath against sin.

PRAY: Jesus, You control all creation. If You say GO, all go. If You say COME all come. We humans are the only ones who resist You and want our own way. Yet mercy and grace changes that resistance to praise. I see Your power in many ways, and my desire deepens to see it and Your incredible goodness in the hearts of all who vainly want to run their own lives. Remind me often that You are Lord of all. Amen.