Prophets in Speech We Often

¶ … Prophets

In speech we often use terms "sovereign" and "sovereignty" in reference to politics, as we associate them with power, authority and rulership. In King James Version of Bible these words are never used. Today word "sovereignty" is used to show power and almightiness of God. In Webster dictionary it is defined as "above or superior to all others; chief, greatest, supreme; supreme in power, rank or authority." It says sovereignty is "the state or quality of being sovereign; the status, dominion, rule or power of a sovereign; supreme and independent political authority."

The sovereignty of God is very important concept in Christian religion, it's the basis on which one builds his faith. It's generally agreed that without understanding sovereignty and supreme power of God over everybody and everything it's impossible to become a true Christian. In many respects it's quite obvious that faith and attitude of believers towards Holly scriptures is limited, narrowed and unclear. Ten commandments and Bible are often perceived through a scope of a certain moral obligations and norms of ethics, which quite often do not refer to person's spiritual life and his perception of the world. Such tendencies among believers became obvious long before Christ, as people failed to accept God as their sovereign Lord and King over kings.

The almightiness and sovereignty of God is full of obvious proof found in Holly Scripture. God created grace for the people of Israel, but he had a very strict condition for that. People of Israel had to obey him, they had to accept him as their only savoir and their only God and they had to obey laws or Ten Commandments. In scriptures and in books of Major Prophets we find that God is a merciful, but at the same time he is very jealous God who suffers when people of Israel disobeys him.

God's will is declared as follows:

My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure

" (Isa. 46:10

He doeth according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay His hand

" (Dan. 4:35

Bible witnesses that Israel were not loyal to God in their hearts, they did not accept God as their only Lord, as their savior and hope. Soon they rebelled against the laws set by Jehovah and returned to paganism and idols. They did not believe in his sovereignty but he provided his Divine judgment and people of Israel appeared in the hands of their enemies.

For Ezekiel the sovereignty of God is indisputable and he doesn't have a need in presenting a particular case to demonstrate it. In chapters 8-11 he shows that the glory of God has to be focused in temple, which represents unity of man and God. In chapter 8 he shows that God doesn't stand those who disobeyed him and who refused from him. It's a clear point in chapter 8: God would never stand rivals (Ezekiel 8:6).

Isaiah and Jeremiah describe sovereignty of God through the subject of paganism and idolatry critics, but their arguments have mainly theoretical basis and lack personal experience. This makes them different from arguments of Ezekiel. Arguments of Isaiah are based on religious rationalism: "God is supreme over all things"(Isa. 40:25, 26), which means that he has to be supreme over people. In Isaiah 48, verses 9 to 11 it's said:

For the sake of My name I delay My wrath, and for My praise I restrain it for you, in order not to cut you off. Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. For My own sake, for My own sake, I will act; for how can My name be profaned? And My glory I will not give to another. "

God loves His glory and He wants people to glorify Him and be totally submitted to Him. It's quite often a big problem for common people and was a problem faced by Israelites. People often question not only God's existence but also His sufficiency, and His abilities.