As we accept responsibility for our lives and make wise decisions, we can rest in the fact
that God is sovereign over all things. In part 9 of Proverbs: Wisdom for a Successful Life, Pastor Dan Cox reads from Proverbs 16:9.
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Study Notes
Sovereignty & Responsibility in Proverbs…
- God knows all things (Proverbs 15:3, 11; 16:2)
- God is sovereign over all things (Proverbs 16:1, 4, 9, 33; 19:21; 20:24; 21:1, 30-31; 25:2)
- Human beings are responsible for their choices (Proverbs 9:10-12)
The Paradox of Sovereignty & Responsibility…
- God is absolutely sovereign, but His sovereignty never functions in Scripture to reduce human responsibility.
- Human beings are responsible creatures- that is, they choose, they believe, they disobey, they respond, and there is moral significance in their choices; but human responsibility never functions in Scripture to diminish God’s sovereignty or to make God absolutely contingent.
Attempts to Resolve the Paradox…
- Unbiblical Attempts: Deny Sovereignty or Deny Responsibility
- Specific Sovereignty: Human freedom places no limitations on divine sovereignty.
- General Sovereignty: Human freedom does place some limitations on divine sovereignty.
Mystery…
The bottom line…
- Fear the LORD
- Make wise, God-honoring choices
- Rest in God’s control