Charles Hodge on Sovereignty

I continue to study and prepare for the upcoming Sunday where we will discuss the Doctrine of Divine Sovereignty.  A good summary of this doctrine, though wrapped in deep theological language, is found in Charles Hodge's wonderful Systematic Theology Volume I.  What follows is the verbatim quote from the book.  What I like is how Hodge offers some of the Bible's clearest statements of Sovereignty and anything we do to minimize God's sovereignty runs foul in light of what the text actually says.  Scripture is clear. God is Sovereign.  Wholly.  Completely.  Fully.  Universally.  To reject, ignore, or minimize any of that is to believe in a God much smaller than the God of creation and of Scripture.

I encourage you to read the following though it may be deep and at first difficult.  I do believe it is a good summary of the doctrine.  The quote is taken from here.  You can read the entire Systematic Theology work of Charles Hodge by clicking here.

§ 15. Sovereignty.

Sovereignty is not a property of the divine nature, but a prerogative arising out of the perfections of the Supreme Being. If God be a Spirit, and therefore a person, infinite, eternal, and immutable in his being and perfections, the Creator and Preserver of the universe, He is of right its absolute sovereign. Infinite wisdom, goodness, and power, with the right of possession, which belongs to God in all his creatures, are the immutable foundation of his dominion. “Our God is in the heavens; He hath done whatsoever He pleased.” (Ps. cxv. 8.) “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?” (Dan. iv. 35.) “All that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine.” (1 Chron. xxix. 11.) “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” (Ps. xxiv. 1.) “Thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all.” (1 Chron. xxix. 11.) “Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine.” (Ez. xviii. 4.) “Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioned it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?” (Is. xlv. 9.) “Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own?” (Matt. xx. 15.) He “worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.” (Eph. i. 11.) “Of Him, and through Him, and to Him are all things: to whom be glory forever. Amen.” (Rom. xi. 36.)

From these and similar passages of Scriptures it is plain, (1.) That the sovereignty of God is universal. It extends over all his creatures from the highest to the lowest. (2.) That it is absolute. There is no limit to be placed to his authority. He doeth his pleasure in the armies of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth. (3.) It is immutable. It can neither be ignored nor rejected. It binds all creatures, as inexorably as physical laws bind the material universe.

This sovereignty is exercised, (1.) In establishing the laws, physical and moral, by which all creatures are to be governed. (2.) In determining the nature and powers of the different orders of created beings, and in assigning each its appropriate sphere. (3.) In appointing to each individual his position and lot. It is the Lord who fixes the bounds of our habitation. Our times are 441in his hands. He determines when, where, and under what circumstances each individual of our race is to be born, live, and die. Nations, no less than individuals, are thus in the hands of God, who assigns them their heritage in the earth, and controls their destiny. (4.) God is no less sovereign in the distribution of his favours. He does what He wills with his own. He gives to some riches, to others, honour; to others, health; while others are poor, unknown, or the victims of disease. To some, the light of the gospel is sent; others are left in darkness. Some are brought through faith unto salvation; others perish in unbelief. To the question, Why is this? the only answer is that given by our Lord. “Even so, Father, for so it seemeth good in thy sight.”

Although this sovereignty is thus universal and absolute, it is the sovereignty of wisdom, holiness, and love. The authority of God is limited by nothing out of Himself, but it is controlled, in all its manifestations, by his infinite perfections. If a man is free and exalted, in proportion as he is governed by enlightened reason and a pure conscience, so is he supremely blessed who cheerfully submits to be governed by the infinite reason and holiness of God. This sovereignty of God is the ground of peace and confidence to all his people. They rejoice that the Lord God omnipotent reigneth; that neither necessity, nor chance, nor the folly of man, nor the malice of Satan controls the sequence of events and all their issues. Infinite wisdom, love, and power, belong to Him, our great God and Saviour, into whose hands all power in heaven and earth has been committed.