Gods Sovereignty

Sermon on Isaiah 14:24-27 - Lords Day August 17th, 2025 - Trinity Reformed Church

Intro:
Sometimes people in the world understand the sovereignty of God more than the people in the pews. The sovereignty of God makes people uncomfortable. With the things going in the world it makes people question His sovereignty. If God is so good then why is there so much evil? Job 19:25-27 questions.

We must be careful when we speak of God that He is not equal to us. He is distinct from us. WCF there is a chasm between us because He is eternal. The Lord uses language of how to speak of Him. Most importantly to trust in Him.

There is an authority over us. Federal and state. There is a church government not to punish evil doers but to restore sinners. There is a Father who is the head of the household. Christ is the head over all.

When we speak of God it is of a transcendent authority or sovereignty. We must speak and think according to the scriptures.

1. Our God sovereign over all creation:  V24 

as I plan so it shall be. Gods eternal decrees. We do not believe in an in-personal God. Decree can be confusing.

Prescriptive will of God: What God prescribes to His creatures. The 10 commandments.

The decreeable will of God. What God has planned from eternity. Our government makes decrees but it is a limited power. Gods decree is not limited. There is no one to frustrate it. As the Lord has purposed, so shall it be.

2. Lord God is sovereign over all history: v25

God here is raising up the Assyrian empire. Empires aren't raised up by chance but according to His will and purpose. Here He raises them up to punish the Israelite's. They will come to the southern kingdom and He will break the Assyrian army.

God is absolutely sovereign over all these historic empires in their rising and falling and all according to His purpose.

3. The Lord is sovereign over all nations: V26

Gods purpose that is purposed. God says I did this according to my purpose. There is not a single square inch on the earth where He is not sovereign. It may violate Gods prescriptive will but it cannot violate His descriptive will. God will judge them for violating His prescriptive will but His purpose will stand(descriptive will).

The scripture is clear we have an enemy. The spiritual evil is at work. The idols that our nation has created. Maybe not a statue but mammon is their God. The initiation of Jobs suffering was the Lord saying "have you considered my servant Job" - but even satan was under Gods sovereignty. If God is not sovereign over Satan then He is not sovereign at all. The Lord is allowing evil for now. We are in the age of evil. The rumors of wars are in this age but at the same time this is the age of the Spirit of God.

This doesn't mean we ignore everything or live under a rock. God does not diminish our responsibility.

4. God is sovereign over all humanity. V27

God is even sovereign over us. Prov 21:1 - Even the best of men, even the greatest, even the most sovereign God rules over even them. Exodus 4:21 - Moses is commanded to go and you would think it's to make Pharaoh would believe. But it's to harden his heart. Pharaohs heart: Exodus 7:28, 8:15, 32; 9:7, 19:8

Gods sovereignty is not like our sovereignty. The way we exercise our sovereignty is by violating the sovereignty of others. When God exercises sovereignty it is not a violation of the sovereignty of the creature. Pharaoh was free but yet it was God who was exercising His sovereignty and will.

The greatest sovereign of the time said who can say to you "what have you done"

In Acts 16 the Lord opens Lydia's heart.

We are brought to Christ because of Gods sovereign will. Romans 8:28 - according to His sovereign will. Acts 2:22-23 - according to the purpose and foreknowledge of God. Acts 4:27-28 - "your purpose" - mans sovereignty yet God was sovereign over this.

The greatest betrayal in history when Jesus was crucified (mans sovereignty) was to bring Gods people to salvation (Gods sovereignty). Do you know this sovereignty? God works through evil to bring about His glory. Run to Him. The sovereign God offers His sovereign purposes. So run to Him, trust in Him.

Acts 4:27-28 (NKJV) 27 “For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together 28 “to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done.

Acts 2:22-23 (NKJV) 22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know-- 23 “Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death;

James 1:13 (NKJV) Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.

Acts 16:14 (NKJV) Now a certain woman named Lydia heard [us.] She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul.

Daniel 4:34-35 (NKJV) 34 And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever: For His dominion [is] an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom [is] from generation to generation. 35 All the inhabitants of the earth [are] reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven And [among] the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand Or say to Him, “What have You done?”
Exodus 4:21 (NKJV) And the LORD said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you do all those wonders before Pharaoh which I have put in your hand. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go.

Proverbs 21:1 (NKJV) The king’s heart [is] in the hand of the LORD, [Like] the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.

Isaiah 14:24-27 (NKJV) 24 The LORD of hosts has sworn, saying, “Surely, as I have thought, so it shall come to pass, And as I have purposed, [so] it shall stand: 25 That I will break the Assyrian in My land, And on My mountains tread him underfoot. Then his yoke shall be removed from them, And his burden removed from their shoulders. 26 This [is] the purpose that is purposed against the whole earth, And this [is] the hand that is stretched out over all the nations. 27 For the LORD of hosts has purposed, And who will annul [it?] His hand [is] stretched out, And who will turn it back?”