![]() ![]() and ten nations rose from its ruins (Dan 7:24 Rev 17:12-13), God put in their hearts to fulfill His will and direct their nations to support the popes and the revived form of the Roman Empire (Rev 17:17). When the Roman Empire collapsed in 476 A.D. There is no reason for you to worry about a boss or a family member or enemy, for He can easily cause a change in any man’s heart that will entirely alter the situation you grieve over. He even rules chance events with no regard for statistical probability (Pr 16:33). Knowing this fact, you should understand He totally controls lesser men and simpler circumstances, so trust Him fully and wait for His mercy (Pr 16:9 Ruth 2:3 Jas 4:13-15). ![]() He knows exactly what they are doing He can alter their choices and power at anytime He will judge them (Eccl 5:8 Ps 82:1-8 Dan 2:21). Though a nation’s rulers are in high positions of authority, God is much higher than they are. Knowing this fact, you should not marvel or worry about rulers perverting judgment and justice in a nation. Just as legislators often write tax laws to implement policy or grant preferential favor to segments of the nation, God moves those legislators for His will and your profit. Knowing this fact, you should submit to their laws, knowing they and their decisions are controlled and directed by the LORD for His glory and your benefit (Rom 13:1-7 Isaiah 49:23). Nehemiah also prayed in preparation for soliciting the King of Persia (Neh 1:4,11 2:1-6). Esther knew the most powerful influence she had on her king-husband was prayer (Esth 4:16). ![]() Knowing this fact, you should pray confidently for kings and all in authority, knowing God can and does direct their hearts and decisions (I Tim 2:1-2 Jer 29:4-7). As easily as He directs rivers back and forth as they move water toward the sea, and as easily as a farmer directs water by channels and sluices for the benefit of his fields, so God turns the hearts of kings any direction He desires to accomplish His holy purposes. Nevertheless, the Lord is no less in control of evil than He is of good, and no sin takes place apart from His sovereign will.Almighty God has total rule over men’s hearts, even kings’ hearts. Scripture is clear that God exercises His sovereignty over wickedness more indirectly, for "God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one" (James 1:13). However, God's control extends even to the evils committed by rulers. Given the importance of water for life, the emphasis in today's passage seems to be on the Lord's direction of the hearts of kings to do what is right and to bless His people. It is a similarly easy task for Him to direct the hearts of kings to accomplish His purposes. This was no easy task for human beings, but the Creator who set rivers and streams on their courses can with ease direct water where He wants it to go (Ps. Due to the arid conditions of the region, farmers in the ancient world-and even today-had to redirect the natural flow of rivers and streams to supply their gardens with life-giving water. The metaphor of the king's heart as being like a God-directed stream borrows from common ancient Near Eastern life. Kings and other national leaders can accomplish only what the Lord wills for them to accomplish. They are not ultimately sovereign God is. Even rulers, who have fewer constraints upon them and what they can do than "ordinary" people have, are finally directed by the Creator (Prov. Today's passage, for instance, is a strong armation that the Lord is in control not only of physical forces but even of the final dispositions and plans of the heart. Given the practicality of the doctrine of divine sovereignty, it comes as no surprise that Proverbs, perhaps the most self-evidently practical book in the entire canon of Scripture, contains some of the most important teaching on God's rule over His creation. But if the only wise God is truly in control of absolutely everything that ever happens in the universe, we know that even apparently random events have purpose, and that He can work all things together for good for those who love Him (Rom. If there is no sovereign Lord directing all things, we are without hope in this world and life has no transcendent meaning. In light of the chaos and unpredictability of so much of life, we come to understand why this doctrine is so important. Divine control and foreordination of whatsoever comes to pass, the Reformed tradition has argued, is among the most comforting of all the doctrines revealed in the Bible. ![]()
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