The Book of Ecclesiastes- Part 4

A recurring theme in the book of Ecclesiastes is the sovereignty of God. The Preacher acknowledges that God is in control of all things and that human beings are subject to His will.

Ecc 3:1- There is a season (a time appointed) for everything and a time for every

delight and event or purpose under heaven.

Note: This famous passage goes on to describe the various seasons and times appointed by God, emphasizing His sovereign rule over the course of human events.

God’s sovereignty is a natural consequence of His omniscience, omnipotence, and omnipresence. What’s subject to disagreement is to what extent God applies His sovereignty.

The Theme of God’s Sovereignty……….

The theme of God's sovereignty provides a counterbalance to the Preacher's reflections on the futility of human endeavors. It offers a sense of hope and assurance that, despite the apparent meaninglessness of life, there is a divine purpose and order. It calls readers to trust in God's wisdom and to submit to His will, recognizing that He is ultimately in control. The sovereignty of God is the same as the lordship of God, for God is the sovereign over all of creation.

The major components of God’s lordship are his control, authority, and covenantal presence.

The major components of the biblical concept of divine sovereignty or lordship are

God’s control, authority, and presence.

His control means that everything happens according to his plan and intention. Authority means that all his commands ought to be obeyed. Presence means that we encounter God’s control and authority in all our experience, so that we cannot escape from his justice or from his love.

Ecc. 1:9-11- That which has been that which will be again, and that which has been done is that which will be done again. So, there is nothing new under the sun. 10 Is there anything of which it can be said, “See this, it is new”? It has already existed for the vast ages of time recorded or unrecorded which were before us. 11 There is no remembrance of earlier things, nor also of the later things that are to come; There will be for them no remembrance by generations who will come after them.

God Control’s Everything……

Note: When theologians talk about “divine sovereignty,” they usually have the first of these in mind, his control. Indeed, the Bible teaches that God controls all things. He has an eternal plan for all of nature and history.

Though Scripture teaches that God controls everything, we should not think of his sovereignty as an impersonal, mechanical determinism. God’s sovereign lordship is deeply personal. As Lord, God not only controls everything (efficaciously, universally), but also utters commands, words of life, that graciously govern the ongoing life of his creatures. As Lord He has made a sovereign commitment to be “with” those who are His. Indeed, God’s sovereignty is a broad concept, including all that God is and all that He does, even embracing His love.

We can be confident that God will have His way and that it will be good. We can trust that the One who says He loves us is fully able to act on that love in all ways. We can trust that, even when the world seems completely out of control, God is in control. We know He has the big picture covered, so we can trust Him with our daily details.