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"This God is our God."
#9. The sovereignty of God.
"Be still, and know that I am God" (Psa. 46: 10).
pp. 55 - 59
When God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness", He did not add:
"and let them be immortal, be holy, be omniscient", but said: "and let them have
dominion". It is this special feature that excites the wonder of the Psalmist, when he
says:--
"What is man, that Thou art mindful of him? . . . . . Thou madest him to have
dominion over the works of Thy hands" (Psa. 8: 4-6).
There are six Hebrew words that denote "dominion":--
(1)
Radah.--To tread down, to domineer.
(2)
Mashal.--To rule, reign, govern.
(3)
Baal.--To have authority as lord or proprietor.
(4)
Yad.--Literally "The hand".
(5)
Mishtar.--A magistrate or overseer. The English "Master".
(6)
Shalat.--Act as Sultan. Overpower.
Of these, radah and mashal are of most frequent occurrence, and bear most upon our
theme. Radah in its primitive sense means "to tread", and is most translated by "rule"
and "have dominion". This is the word used in Gen. 1: 26. Mashal also means "to rule"
and "to have dominion", but with the added sense of "reigning". This is the word used in
Psa. 8: 6, thereby linking the two conceptions together. The two examples that follow
use the word Mashal:--
"The Lord hath prepared His throne in the heavens; and His Kingdom ruleth over all"
(Psa. 103: 19).
"Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and
the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and the earth is Thine; Thine is the Kingdom,
O Lord, and Thou art exalted as Head above all. Both riches and honour come of Thee,
and Thou reignest over all; and in Thy hand is power and might; and in Thine hand it is
to make great, and to give strength unto all" (I Chron. 29: 11, 12).
Let us learn from these two passages something of the sovereignty of God. First we
observe that it is used in connection with the preparation of his "throne" where He must
be regarded as King. The Scriptures abound with reference to the Lord as King:--
"The King of glory" (Psa. 24: 7).
"A great King over all the earth" (Psa. 47: 2, 7).
"The Lord's throne is in heaven" (Psa. 11: 4).
"Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool: where
is the house that ye build unto Me? and where is the place of My rest?" (Isa. 66: 1).