Well, please turn with me in your Bibles to Proverbs chapter 3. Proverbs chapter 3. Proverbs 3, I'll begin reading, or I'll read verses 19 and 20. The Lord, by wisdom, founded the earth. By understanding, He established the heavens. By His knowledge, the depths were broken up and clouds dropped down the dew. Amen. Well, let us pray. Our Father in heaven, we thank you for the written word. We thank you for this book of Proverbs and the great wisdom that it contains for us. And God as well, it informs us concerning who you are and what you do. And Lord God, as we receive these things, may our hearts be drawn out to worship, to praise and to glorify you. For you are indeed God most high. You are worthy to be praised, worthy to be glorified. worthy to be honored and adored by your creatures. We thank you for so great a salvation. We thank you that you brought us to this place where we see Father, Son, and Spirit as that one who is altogether lovely and chief among 10,000. And we pray that even tonight the Holy Spirit would be at work in our hearts that we would see the glory of God revealed in the pages of the Proverbs, and that, Father, this would be a great blessing to each of our hearts. Do forgive us now for our sins and our transgressions. Build us up in our most holy faith, and we pray through Christ the Lord. Amen. Well, as we see through this book of Proverbs, Solomon has a lot to say about God. He certainly has a lot to say about man and things that we need to do as man in God's world, but as well, he ascribes certain things or many things to God Almighty. And tonight, the particular theme that I want to look at is the sovereignty of God. I want to look at the sovereignty of God in creation, the sovereignty of God in providence, and then finally, the sovereignty of God in redemption. But in the first place, notice what Solomon says here concerning God and creation. In verse 19, the Lord, by wisdom, founded the earth. By understanding, He established the heavens. By His knowledge, the depths were broken up and clouds dropped down the dew. So notice in the particular context, Solomon's commendation is wisdom to the sons of men. If you look at verse 13, he says, happy is the man who finds wisdom and the man who gains understanding. For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver and her gain than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies and all the things you may desire cannot compare with her. Length of days is in her right hand, in her left hand riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, and happy are all who retain her. So that is a commendation of wisdom to the sons of men. He continues this in verse 21. My son, let them not depart from your eyes. Keep sound wisdom and discretion, so they will be life to your soul and grace to your neck. Then you will walk safely in your way, and your foot will not stumble. When you lie down, you will not be afraid. Yes, you will lie down, and your sleep will be sweet. Do not be afraid of sudden terror, nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes. For the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught. So if we were to say one main theme that Solomon commands over and over again, it is wisdom. And sandwiched between this commendation of wisdom is God's use of wisdom in the creation of the world. The Lord, by wisdom, founded the earth. As well, this underscores or highlights the sovereignty of God. This world didn't just pop into being. This world didn't just appear. It didn't come through sort of natural processes. Rather, it was the living and the true God that made this world and all things in it, and that's what Solomon highlights. He, by wisdom, founded the earth. By understanding, he established the heavens. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth, the totality of the cosmos. Everything that is, God made it. He goes on to say, by his knowledge the depths were broken up and clouds dropped down the dew. So God is sovereign with reference to creation. And of course, as we consider this particular proverb, we ought to go back to Genesis chapter 1, what Solomon is explaining. In Genesis chapter 1, you see the sovereignty of God underscored in a whole host of ways. I just want to focus on three. In the first place, the sovereignty of God is indicated to us by the means or rather the reason why God created. It's according to the will of God that God made man. It wasn't anything outside of God that constrained Him to create, but rather God according to His good pleasure. In the language of our confession of faith, it pleased God. There was nothing compelling God to make this world and everything in it. Rather, He did it according to the goodness of His own pleasure. Paul highlights this in Acts 17. He says, There oftentimes circulates this teaching or this idea that when it comes to creation, God made because there was something lacking in God. God needed us. God needed some sort of completion or some sort of satisfaction in his creatures. Nothing could be further from the truth. Creation does not add to God. Creation does not diminish from God. As the Apostle Paul says, God is independent. God is absolutely sovereign. One man, John Webster says, yet the triune God could be without the world. No perfection of God would be lost. No triune bliss compromised were the world not to exist. No enhancement of God is achieved by the world's existence. It pleased God in the language of our confession of faith, rightly capturing what goes on here in Genesis 1.1. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. No constraint, no compulsion, nothing outside of God making him do this. As well, the sovereignty of God is highlighted in who God is. He is the triune God. Again, our confession is very good in chapter 4, paragraph 1. In the beginning, it pleased God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. So the confession identifies correctly who the God is that made the world and all things in it. And when we look at Genesis chapter 1, it's not just the plurality in the Godhead that we see in Genesis 1.26, but I would suggest that we see the distinct persons of the Godhead in the Genesis narrative. Notice in Genesis 1.1, in the beginning, God, likely a reference to the Father, created the heavens and the earth. Verse 2, the earth was without form and void, and darkness was on the face of the deep. And then notice, the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. We have the first and the third persons of the Trinity. But then notice the means by which God creates. He does it by His speech. He does it by His Word. Jesus Christ is, in fact, the Word of God. In fact, this seems to be the commentary of the psalmist in Psalm 33. You can turn there. Again, underscoring the sovereignty of God as seen, first of all, in His will, secondly, in who He is, and then thirdly, in a moment, the purpose. But notice in Psalm 33.6. By the word of the Lord, the heavens were made, and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth." Now, the breath there is also the language of spirit. So we have the references to all three persons of the Trinity involved actively at creation. And Scripture does this. It ascribes certain works of the works of God to God in general. But then certain persons of the Trinity are ascribed with particular emphases, with reference to particular deeds. Christ is active in creation, and the Scripture tells us that. That's called an appropriation. But the triune God is the one who created the world according to His sovereign will. And notice, thirdly, the purpose of God. Why does God create? Again, our confession here is excellent. In the beginning, please, God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit for the manifestation of the glory of his eternal power, wisdom and goodness. That's what God is doing in creation. If you're in Psalm 33, it's not far to get back to Psalm 19. Steve read this at the outset of our service. Notice in Psalm 19, verse one, the heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament shows his handy work. In the creation, we have a revelation of who God is. C.H. Spurgeon comments on this verse. He says, he who looks up to the firmament and then writes himself down as an atheist, brands himself at the same moment as an idiot or as a liar. And I think Spurgeon is right on. The heavens declare the glory of God. As well, the heavens declare the righteousness of God. God created to manifest His eternal power, His glory, and His wisdom. Turn over to Romans chapter 1, where you see this emphasis as well. Romans chapter 1 highlights God's purpose in creation, at least one of those purposes. In Romans chapter 1 at verse 19, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them, for since the creation of the world, His invisible attributes are clearly seen. being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse. See, the manifestation of God comes through the created order. Paul says that's the reality of it. Man is without excuse. Man knows God exists. Man sees the testimony of God whenever he looks out at the firmament, but man suppresses that truth in unrighteousness. But God made the world to manifest these things to show us His glory. John Calvin says the intention of Moses in beginning his book with the creation of the world is to render God, as it were, visible to us in His works. It is to render God visible to us in His works. And that is precisely Paul's commentary in verse 20. For since the creation of the world, His invisible attributes are clearly seen. Consider that statement. His invisible attributes are clearly seen. But they're invisible. But when you look at the firmament, when you look at the heavens, when you look at the majesty of creation, it leads you to the Creator who is majestic and glorious and wondrous. And it demonstrates that eternal power of God, that wisdom of God, that goodness of God, yea, that sovereignty of God in that He's over all things. He made the world by the word of His power in the space of six days and all very good. So God reveals Himself through the created order, and that God, as the Bible tells us, is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and there was nothing outside of God constraining Him to create. It was according to His good will. It was according to His pleasure. Now go back to Proverbs as we look secondly at the sovereignty of God in Providence. Sovereignty of God in Providence. Proverbs are filled with this particular theme. We'll confine ourselves to about 15 verses. Everybody just said, uh-oh, we're going to be here a while. No, you're not. First of all, let's define providence. A good place to go is the Westminster Shorter Catechism. What are God's works of providence? God's works of providence are His most holy, wise, and powerful, preserving and governing all His creatures and all their actions. It's a good statement, a good definition, a good working definition concerning what providence is. In terms of the demonstration of God's providence in the book of Proverbs, look first of all with me at Proverbs 22. Proverbs 22. We see God's sovereign providence in the temporal status of men. God's sovereign providence in the temporal status of man. Proverbs 22, the rich and the poor have this in common, the Lord is the maker of them all. Now, certainly that text could be invoked to teach that God creates, but I think in the context and in the way that it's worded, what is underscored there is divine providence. It's not that he just made creature, but he made some creatures to be rich and he made some creatures to be poor. In other words, in his providence, some have a lot and others don't have so much. So God is sovereign in providence with reference to the temporal status of men. We see as well the sovereign providence of God in the plans of men, and Proverbs 16 is packed with this theme. Proverbs chapter 16, the sovereign providence of God in the plans of men. Notice in 16.1, the preparations of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. Verse 2, all the ways of man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirits. Verse 9, a man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps. Now, we'll notice at the end of our message this evening, when we make a couple of observations concerning providence, sovereign providence ought never to be interpreted as something that removes the responsibility of man. It ought never to be thought that because God is sovereign, we don't use the means. Well, certainly we use the means, and Solomon recognizes that, and Solomon highlights that. A man's heart does plan his way, but ultimately, the direction comes from God Almighty. That's providence. That's God's sovereignty. That's His most holy, wise, and powerful preserving and governing all His creatures and all their actions. Turn over to 1921. 1921. There are many plans in a man's heart. Nevertheless, the Lord's counsel, that will stand. So we see God's providence in the temporal status of men. We see God's providence in the plans of men. Thirdly, the sovereign providence of God in the final destinies of men. Notice in Proverbs 16 again at verse 4. The Lord has made all for himself, yes, even the wicked for the day of doom. I take this as a reference to the doctrine of reprobation. God is sovereign. God in his providence makes man even for the day of doom. And then finally, in terms of the demonstration of providence, the sovereign providence of God is the first cause of all things, according to not only Solomon, but the entirety of the Bible, and it cannot be thwarted. It cannot be stopped. It cannot be derailed. It cannot go off the tracks. God's sovereignty, God's providence is such that no creature can stay his hand and no creature can say, what doest thou? In fact, if you look at Solomon's statement in Proverbs 21 at verse 30. Proverbs 21 at verse 30. There is no wisdom or understanding or counsel against the Lord. There is no wisdom or understanding or counsel against the Lord. What's Solomon's point? All of us try as we may to derail the sovereign providence of God. We cannot. God the Lord has spoken. God the Lord has decreed. God the Lord will in fact execute that decree according to His good pleasure. And, of course, Daniel 4 is great commentary on this particular theme, from the mouth of Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel chapter 4, verse 34, and at the end of the time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored Him who lives forever. For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation. All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing. He does according to His will in the army of heaven. And among the inhabitants of the earth, no one can restrain his hand or say to him, what have you done? That is blessed for the people of God. That terrifies the non-people of God, to be sure. They rail against such things. They love the idea that there is a sovereign God that is in control of all things. But we, as the people of God, welcome it. We, as the people of God, embrace it. We, as the people of God, find it to be most soothing and most comforting that everything that transpires in this world is according to plan. Now, that doesn't mean we have it all figured out. That doesn't mean we can give a precise theological and philosophical discussion or debate or argument for all the bad things that happen. But faith rests ultimately in the reality that God has purposed all things, ultimately for His own glory and for the good of those who love Him, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Brethren, we will simply never be able to explain to the satisfaction of an atheist or to a God-hater how evil things in this world will ultimately redound to the praise and glory of God. But does the Bible teach it? Absolutely, positively it teaches it, and faith lays hold of that, and faith finds great comfort in that reality. And then in terms of the description of God's providence with reference to His goodness, So when we think of providence, we typically think of it in its good sense. Not that it doesn't appeal or apply to those things like reprobation, to those things like wickedness and evil and vileness and all of that sort of thing. But Solomon commends to us God's providence, goodness in his providence. He speaks of God chastening his people in Proverbs 3, 11 and 12. Now you might think, well, that doesn't seem like it's very good. Of course it's excellent. You as parents know that if you don't chasten your children, it is representative of the fact that you don't care for your children. The man who loves his child disciplines him. The man who loves his child chastens him. This is the apostle's point in Hebrews chapter 12. You're an illegitimate son if God doesn't chasten you. You're not the real thing if God doesn't deal with you in that way. It is a blessed thing that the Lord chastens his people. As well, the blessing of God upon the home of the just in Proverbs chapter 3. Proverbs chapter 3. Just getting a feel for the description of His goodness in Providence. 3.33b. Surely He scorns the scornful, but gives grace to the humble. The wise shall inherit glory, but shame shall be the legacy of fools. I'm sorry, 3.33. The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked, but He blesses the home of the just. We see the favor of God upon those who seek wisdom in chapter 8. We're going to deal with chapter 8 in a bit more detail in a moment. As well, we see God's temporal provision in Proverbs chapter 10 at verse 3. The Lord will not allow the righteous soul to famish, but he casts away the desire of the wicked. And then again in verse 22 in chapter 10. The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and he adds no sorrow with it. And then we see the favor of God toward the good man in verse 2 of chapter 12. A good man obtains favor from the Lord, but a man of wicked intentions he will condemn. We see God's protection of his children with reference to his sovereign providence in Proverbs 14, verses 26 and 27. In the fear of the Lord, there is strong confidence and His children will have a place of refuge. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life to turn one away from the snares of death. And then again in chapter 18 at verse 10, God's protection of His children. Proverbs 18 and verse 10, the name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous run to it and are safe. I think that was a memory verse way back when, when Mrs. Mars taught Sunday school to the children. And what a blessed memory verse it is, the reality that we can run into safe harbor, the reality that God protects. the reality that God in His providence is good to us. So we've seen the rule of God over all men. Now I want to narrowly define this in an area that I think can perplex the people of God in a day and age like we live in. I want to consider the rule of God, in terms of His providence still, over civil government. The rule of God over civil government. There are a few things that occur with reference to civil government that does tend to trouble the hearts of God's people. Steve prayed for the end of abortion. We pray for the end of euthanasia. We pray that instead of celebrating sexual perversion, they would indeed criminalize such activities. I mean, we see a day and age in which we live where men call good evil and evil good, where they celebrate and they exalt vice and wretchedness and lawlessness. Well, at times the people of God can be perplexed by such things, so it's good for us to get a fresh view or at least a review of what God does in terms of civil government. In the first place, we ought to recognize that God is the one who puts men in power. And when I say men, I'm not diminishing women and their function in civil government. Man is being used in its historic sense to include men and women. But go to Proverbs 8 at verse 15. Proverbs 8 at verse 15. Christ here, speaking as wisdom, says, by me, kings reign, and rulers decree justice. By me, kings reign. We have a New Testament counterpart in Romans 13. Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Now remember that when Paul wrote Romans, it wasn't a utopian society. It wasn't paradise on earth. It wasn't a time wherein righteousness dwelled. Caesar, the Caesar at the time, was Nero. And Paul probably wrote in the mid-50s, and at that particular time, Caesar wasn't as bad, or rather, Nero wasn't as bad as he was going to become. By the early 60s, Nero was a beast. John Fox in his Book of Martyrs refers to him as a beast. I personally think he is the beast of Revelation in Revelation chapter 13. He was a godless, lawless, wicked, wretched man. But let's just go back to the mid-50s when Paul wrote Romans. He wasn't perfect. He wasn't spotless. He wasn't, you know, this anointed one that had no soil, no dirt, no ethical uncleanness. Rather, he was a wretch. Again, not as wretched as he would be, but Paul says he occupies the throne in Rome as God's agent. And that's what Christ says here as wisdom in Proverbs 8, 15, by me, king's reign. And when we look at the history of redemption, we look at God's dealings in the lives of his people, the Lord God hardened Pharaoh's heart. The Lord God separated unto Israel Saul. The Lord God set his affection upon, not again in the manner of man, upon David as the king of Israel. It was the Lord God that was responsible for the division of the kingdom in 1 Kings chapter 12. It's the Lord God who refers to Nebuchadnezzar. Nebuchadnezzar has a good moment there in Daniel chapter 4, but prior to that, Nebuchadnezzar was no friend of God and no friend of the people of God. And nevertheless, in the prophet Jeremiah, God calls him, my servant. With reference to Cyrus, the king of Persia. Cyrus was raised up by God to bring down the Babylonian Empire. And in Isaiah 45 at verse 1, God refers to Cyrus as his Christ, as his Messiah, as his anointed one. When we come to the book of Acts, we see that the activities of Pilate and Herod were according to the purpose and plan of God Almighty according to Acts chapter 4. In prayer to God, they don't say that Pilate and Herod are running around independent or autonomously, but rather they did whatever your hand purposed to do. And then when you get to the book of Revelation, in chapter 13 specifically, you have two beasts. You have one from the land and one from the sea. God is sovereign over the beasts. God is sovereign and given them a specific time to reign. God is sovereign over the kings that do sit upon the throne. That is the reality. So when we look at the White House, or we look in Ottawa, or we look at our local government, by me kings reign is what Jesus Christ says. And as our brother pointed out this morning in the prayer meeting, we do complain about them a lot. We ought to pray for them as well. First Timothy chapter two, the apostle Paul says, first of all, I urge that prayers and supplications and intercessions and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority. Paul doesn't have a place that I know of in his written corpus that says, brethren, I want us all to complain about civil government. I want us all to rail against civil government. I want us all to whine about civil government. But he does tell us to pray for civil government. Again, I'm not saying we can't legitimately exercise free speech and disagree with civil government. That's a blessing from God that we enjoy in this country. You realize that in other countries you can't rail against the sitting king. You can't say or suggest anything that isn't consistent with the various lunatics that reign in various countries. And so it is by me kings reign according to our Lord Jesus Christ. Now in terms of God's sovereign providence while they are in office, Kings, magistrates, civil rulers, government, whatever we want to refer to them as, they have a necessity upon them to rule in a proper manner. Look at Proverbs 14. Proverbs 14, 34. Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. Solomon speaks much concerning rule, government, civil authority. Proverbs 16, 12 to 15. Proverbs 16, 12. It is an abomination for kings to commit wickedness, for a throne is established by righteousness. Righteous lips are the delight of kings, and they love him who speaks what is right. As messengers of death is the king's wrath, but a wise man will appease it. In the light of the king's face is life, and his favor is like a cloud of the latter rain. Proverbs 17, verse 7. Excellent speech is not becoming to a fool, much less lying lips to a prince. Proverbs 20, verse 8. Proverbs 20, verse 8. Just grounding the responsibility that civil government has to rule or reign in a manner that is consistent with the law of God. Proverbs 20, verse 8. A king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters all evil with his eyes. Verse 28 in the same chapter. Mercy and truth preserve the king and by loving kindness he upholds his throne. And then in chapter 29 at verse 4. Chapter 29 in verse 4. The king establishes the land by justice, but he who receives bribes overthrows it. And then in 2914, the king who judges the poor with truth, his throne will be established forever. So you see, there is a responsibility incumbent upon those who have civil office to do or function in a way that is pleasing to God Almighty. Now obviously, not all of them do that. Obviously, not all of them care one bit about what God has said. Obviously, not all of them are committed Christians and believers and fearers of God. And in this, we rejoice ultimately that God is in control of civil authority. Turn to 21.1. Chapter 21 in Proverbs, at verse 1, the king's heart is in the hand of the Lord. Like the rivers of water, he turns it wherever he wishes. Again, when it comes to sovereign providence, we may not always know why God does what he does. We may not always know why God appoints men that He does appoint. We may not know why certain persons win the majority vote. We may never know that. But we know that ultimately, by me kings reign, and that ultimately the king's heart is in the hand of Yahweh, like the rivers of water. He turns it wherever He wishes. God is sovereign in the affairs of men. This ought not to lead to fatalism. This ought not to lead to a lack of engagement. This ought not to lead to any despair or gloom on the part of God's people. But conversely, it should yield comfort, stability, and security that no matter what happens, the Lord God is in control. Isn't that comforting? Isn't that good? That even though there's these madmen running around on the face of the earth, they are tethered. They are ultimately God's madmen. They are ultimately in the service of the Lord Most High. Again, when you look at the history of Israel, you had some kings reign for many, many, many years. Manasseh was 55 years. Do you imagine 55 years of a bad king? I just, I can't imagine that. Thankfully we have term limits, and thankfully we have those sorts of things that sort of put the kibosh on that. But you know what? Ultimately, the king's heart is in the hand of Yahweh. Like the rivers of water, he turns it wherever he wishes. Brethren, it is easy to despair, or if not to despair, at least to get discouraged when we look out around us. But we ought to comfort our hearts and souls with the doctrine of divine providence. God is sovereign. God is over. God governs all his creatures and all their actions. Now, let's look thirdly and finally at the sovereignty of God in redemption. Now, in some sense, it's a bit difficult to jump into Proverbs and find some of this stuff. In other words, it's not a systematic theology. Solomon doesn't write the way Birkhoff writes. These are maxims, these are principles, these are truisms, these are proverbs, and they are designed to convey wisdom. And so as we look at these particular heads, we look at these particular things, we need to sort of dig down deep and see what Solomon says with reference to redemption. And I want us to turn back to Proverbs chapter 8. Proverbs chapter 8, one of the I was almost gonna say one of the most important chapters in Proverbs. All the chapters in Proverbs are most important. Proverbs 8 is significant in terms of Christ. First of all, the identification of wisdom in Proverbs 8. This is especially noticeable in verses 24 to 36. I'm sorry, 22 to 36. We're dealing with Jesus Christ. We are dealing not with an attribute of God or a perfection of God, but rather with the second person of the Trinity. Charles Bridges, in his commentary on Proverbs, says, it must be a perverted imagination that can suppose an attribute here. So glorious are the rays of eternal supreme deity, distinct personality, and essential unity that the mysterious ever-blessed being, the word who was in the beginning with God and was God, now undoubtedly stands before us. To receive his own revelation of himself is our reverential privilege. And then I want us to see in verses 22 to 31, specifically the unity of the Father and the Son. Remember that John says, in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Well, as we move our way through this section in Proverbs 8, 22 to 31, in the first place, you see the eternal generation of the Son. the eternal generation of the sun, in verses 22 to 26. Notice, the Lord possessed me at the beginning of His ways, before His works of old. I have been established from everlasting, from the beginning, before there was ever an earth. When there were no depths, I was brought forth. When there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills, I was brought forth. While as yet, He had not made the earth, or the fields, or the primal dust of the world. You see, Christ precedes the created order. Arius, that arch-heretic, that enemy of the Church of Jesus Christ, invoked 822 as sort of his proof text for the reality, or the heresy rather, that Christ was a creature. That's not what is emphasized in this particular section. Rather, it is on the eternal generation of the Son, from everlasting. Notice the emphasis before his works of old verse 22 from everlasting verse 23 before there ever was an earth verse 23 before or when there were no depths I was brought forth verse 24 when there were no fountains abounding with water verse 25 before the mountains were settled before the hills I was brought forth while the earth or while as yet he had not made the earth or the fields or the primal dust of the world this doctrine of the eternal generation of the son distinguishes the son from the father When we look at the Trinity, the Father is unbegotten, the Son is begotten, and the Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son. That's the way we do not fall into what has been historically called modalism or Sabellianism. We believe in one God in three persons. And the idea of the eternal generation of the Son secures for us the distinctiveness of the Son. So, in the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Each of the three persons has the entirety of the divine essence, and yet each of the three persons are distinct. We have eternal generation of the Son indicated here in verses 22 to 26. And then notice specifically, we have this reference to Christ's agency in creation in verses 27 and following. When he prepared the heavens, I was there. When he drew a circle on the face of the deep, when he established the clouds above, when he strengthened the fountains of the deep, when he assigned to the sea its limit so that the waters would not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth, then I was beside him as a master craftsman, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him. You see, Christ, the second person of the Trinity, it is ascribed to him in John 1, in Hebrews chapter 1, in Colossians chapter 1, that he was in fact the agent of creation. By the word of the Lord, the heavens and the earth were made. By his wisdom, he founded the earth. So Christ is instrumental in the creation of man. So in terms of the sovereignty of God and redemption, now notice verse 31. We have the eternal generation of the Son. We have the unity of the Father and the Son in the works of creation. Now, notice specifically the mission of the Son in terms of the sons of men. Verse 31, rejoicing in his inhabited world, notice at the end, and my delight was with the sons of men. My delight was with the sons of men is reference to salvation. It is a reference to redemption. It is a reference to that work that he would undertake, who for the joy that was set before him, the apostle says in Hebrews chapter 12. Christ says, my delight was with the sons of men. John Gill says, or of Adam or fallen Adam, not with angels, but with men, not with all men, only some. And those as considered as the objects of his own and his father's love, as beheld in the glass of his father's decrees, as chosen in him and given him by his father, as his children and as his spouse and bride. We see the sovereignty of God in redemption specifically here in terms of the mission of the Son. The Son rejoices, the Son's delight is with the sons of men as He goes to the cross on their behalf, as He secures salvation for us men and for our redemption. Now notice as well, outside of Proverbs 8, in terms of God's sovereignty in redemption, we already referred to 16.4, the doctrine of reprobation. 16, 4, the Lord has made all for himself, yes, even the wicked for the day of doom. By implication, even the righteous for the day of bliss. The Lord has made all for himself, yes, even the wicked for the day of doom, but the righteous for the day of bliss. And then that blessed statement in Proverbs 28.13, one of the first passages we looked at when we embarked on this study in the book of Proverbs. Proverbs 28.13, he who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy. You have examples of those who covered their sin. You have examples of those who tried to hide their sin. Adam and Eve run from God. David, or rather, Achan, covers up the loot that he takes and puts it underneath his tent. There's this attempt by man to try and cover. And Solomon says, whoever, or he who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy from God Almighty. So the Lord Most High is sovereign when it comes to creation, the Lord Most High is sovereign when it comes to providence, and the Lord Most High is sovereign when it comes to redemption. And in that, I hope that we will find great encouragement, great blessing, and great stability. That we do not live in a world governed by chance. We do not live in a world governed by the whims of men. We do not live in a world that is governed by impersonal fate. But this God who is good, this God who is merciful, this God who is glorious, this God who is gracious, this God who has purposed all things to redound to His own glory and the good and the blessing of His people, that God is in charge of all things. In terms of the doctrine of creation, we ought to always remember there's a creator-creature distinction. God is not like us. God is not a better version of us. God is separate from us. He is the Creator. We are the creature. As a result, the Creator is due admiration. The Creator is due gratitude. The Creator is due worship and praise and glory and honor. Brethren, when you see the beauty of the sunset, you see the beauty of the mountains, we ought to be led to worship and appreciate the living and true God. It's always concerned me when Christians tamper with or tinker with the doctrine of creation as it's set forth in the book of Genesis. How are we brighter than God? How are we brighter than Moses under the inspiration of the Spirit who penned Genesis chapters 1 to 3? They mean what they say. God made all things out of nothing by the word of his power in the space of six days and all very good. That's what scripture testifies, and that fact alone is one of the reasons why God's people praise Him, one of the reasons why God's people glorify Him, one of the reasons why God's people express worship unto Him. You can see this in the book of Revelation at chapter 4, verse 11, before the throne. You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created. God the Lord is due worship for the creation, not the creation due worship, but God for it. The doctrine of providence, go back to Proverbs at 16. Proverbs 16, another passage dealing with providence I didn't read earlier. Wanted to save it for now. The doctrine of providence or the providence of God extends to all things. Notice in 1633, the lot is cast into the lap, but it's every decision is from the Lord. The lot is cast in the lap, but it's every decision is from the Lord. There's no chance. There's no lot. If you have a horseshoe and you have a three-leaf or four-leaf clover, I guess, is the unique one, or you have a rabbit's foot, there's no luck appended to those things. It's not like if you have a horseshoe, you're going to have a good day. The fortune cookie you get at the Chinese restaurant is a fake. It's not really telling you you're going to have a great life. They should have misfortune cookies. You're going to have a miserable day. That would be more appropriate, I think. The case, the lot is cast into the lap, but it's every decision is from the Lord. That extends to traffic lights, much to the chagrin of people like me. It extends to everything. Every jot and tittle is under the sovereign control of God Almighty. It's comprehensive. The decree of God is all-encompassing. There's nothing outside of that decree. Every single jot and tittle of our lives are within the decree of God. As well, the providence of God, we've covered this, affords great comfort to the believer. If you are not comforted by this doctrine, you need to reorient yourself. There's nothing wrong with the doctrine if you're not finding comfort from it. There's everything wrong with you. The reality is that God is in the heavens. He does whatever He pleases. And the providence of God does not militate against the use of means. Notice in Proverbs 21 at verse 31. It was Cromwell that famously said, pray and keep your powder dry. Pray and keep your powder dry. Notice in Proverbs 21, 31, the horse is prepared for the day of battle, but deliverance is of the Lord. God gives victory, God gives deliverance. That does not minimize the responsibility of men from preparing for the day of battle, to get the horse ready to march out into combat, to get the weaponry in order, This doctrine of divine or sovereign providence does not minimize the use of means. We are not to be hyper-Calvinists. We are not to be the sorts of people that say, well, God governs all his creatures and all their actions, so I'm just going to lay on the couch. I'm going to just lay there, and if moss grows off me, well, then so be it. No, we are to use the means. We're supposed to function as responsible agents. We're supposed to be men and women that operate according to the will and mind of God as revealed in Holy Scripture. The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but deliverance is of the Lord. Paul speaks to this as well. One sows and another waters, but who gives the increase? It's God. It's God who gives the growth. Does that mean we don't water? Does that mean we don't sow? Absolutely, positively not. Paul says, one sows, one waters, but God gives the increase. Of course we use the means. Of course we don't say, well, God's sovereign, and if he's going to save, he'll just zap them into the kingdom. No. In the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God. It pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. So sovereign providence does not result in hyper-Calvinism. Hyper-Calvinism is an aberration. Hyper-Calvinism is a departure from biblical truth. Hyper-Calvinism is a form of rationalism that cannot, in its own mind, conceptualize a sovereign God and responsible man. But the Bible sets forth a sovereign God and responsible man. And then finally, the doctrine of redemption. You go back to Proverbs 8, just by way of a practical exhortation to end on, look at what Christ's wisdom says at the end of Proverbs 8. Verse 32, now, therefore, listen to me, my children, for blessed are those who keep my ways. Hear instruction and be wise and do not disdain it. Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting for the posts of my doors. He says, for whoever finds me, finds life and obtains favor from the Lord. The blessedness of believing the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is Christ speaking as wisdom. This is the wisdom of God that is from everlasting. If Christ is creature, then there was a time when God was without wisdom. Perish the thought, the Lord most high in his infinite wisdom, glory, and honor has said, With reference to salvation, whoever finds Christ finds life and obtains favor from the Lord. And then it ends on this solemn note of warning, verse 36. But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul. All those who hate me love death. Why is there abortion? Why is there euthanasia? Why do we live in a culture riddled with murder? Because men hate Jesus Christ. Because men despise the second person of the Trinity. Men have more affinity with their father, the devil, who was a liar and a murderer from the beginning. Listen to the solemn warning, and may this not be true of you. He who sins against me wrongs his own soul. All those who hate me love death. Take the positive admonition prior to that, whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord. That is the blessedness of belief in the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Well, let us close in a word of prayer. Our Father, we thank you for your sovereignty in creation, in providence, and in redemption. We thank you that in your sovereignty, in your decree, You've included the likes of us to be participants in such a glorious plan of redemption. How we thank you for the Lord Jesus Christ, how we thank you for His life, His death, His resurrection, how we thank you that in Him we have everlasting life and we have obtained favor from God Almighty. We pray that others would know this, others would taste and see that the Lord is good, and that, Father, these things, these truths concerning the sovereignty of God would be a great balm to our hearts, would be a great stabilizer in our lives, and would provide that security and that comfort which the biblical authors bring to bear upon us. Go with us now, we pray. Help us to have a good week. Help us to bring glory and honor to you in this week. And we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.