Ezekiel chapter 30 verses 1-3 (NIV)
The word of the LORD came to me: “Son of man, prophesy and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: “‘Wail and say,
“Alas for that day!”
For the day is near,
the day of the LORD is near—
a day of clouds,
a time of doom for the nations.”
In chapters thirty and thirty-one of Ezekiel, the phrase, “This is what the Sovereign Lord says,” is declared seven times. That was what caught my attention. This weekend the Bible lesson for our Junior Church is about Saul becoming Israel’s first King, and yesterday was King Charles III’s seventy-sixth birthday, so it seems appropriate to ponder the importance of God’s sovereignty. God makes numerous claims about Himself in the Bible and points to Himself as the ultimate source of all power, authority, and everything that exists. That’s the biblical meaning of absolute sovereignty.
King Charles is not an absolute monarch in the sense that the power that belonged to the sovereign was in the past, relinquished to the Parliament and Government which makes the law on behalf of the monarch. There are times when the King, and the late Queen Elizabeth made a speech which is broadcast nationwide. The most well-known being the Christmas Speech. For some people watching that broadcast is very much part of their Christmas, whilst others, who have no interest in the royal family, will completely disregard it. The choice is ours whether to pay heed to what is said or not.
God, on the hand is the absolute Monarch, with supreme control. The prophesy that He commanded Ezekiel to bring concerned the downfall of Egypt and its Pharaoh at that time. Egypt’s rulers had a long history of powerful dynasty, but mistreated God’s people and other countries round about. God was about to bring retribution to Egypt that would prove its rulers were not as invincible as they thought. The prophesy made that clear, and the things spoken came to pass because of God’s absolute sovereignty.
Today, we can choose to ignore God’s teaching and instruction, because many of us believe we are the masters of our own destiny. But God is still in control and we ignore His precepts at our peril. For those of us who seek to follow Him, it is a comfort to know that He is indeed the Sovereign Lord, and nothing is outside of His power. Egypt’s retribution came in God’s timing. We need therefore to remember that when God speaks, we need to listen and act on what He says.
Dear Lord,
I’m grateful that because You are the Sovereign Lord, nothing is hidden from You. You are able to act justly and right, at the time that You have planned. Yet even as the absolute Monarch over all things, You are interested in every area of my life, and because of the work of Jesus, it is possible for me to call You, Abba, Father. But I recognise Your Sovereignty and offer You the worship and praise that You are due. You are a good and righteous God. Amen.