How do we know that God is orchestrating the events of history for the display of His glory? Because He has said so. To what extent has He claimed responsibility for orchestrating the events of history? In amazing detail.
It would take volumes to explore the many details of history that God specifically claims responsibility for planning and implementing, but we can look at some of the broad brush strokes. In the Old Testament, especially the Prophets, there is a special, very specific and precise phrase which occurs over 65 times. This phrase also appears in nearly the exact same form another 75 times and in looser variations that express the same concept another 112 times for a total of 252 times. That phrase is, "Then they/you will know that I am the Lord".
This phrase is a statement of purpose. It is seen in very high concentration in the book of Ezekiel where it is applied to much of Old Testament history. When we carefully evaluate the passages using this phrase we can see the exhaustive nature of the works of God that He says He planned and orchestrated for the purpose of showing Himself as Lord. Consider the following list.
1. The Exodus of Israel from Egypt. Ex. 6:7, 7:5, 8:22, 10:2, 14:4,18
Then I will take you for My people, and I will be your God; and you shall know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians (Ex. 6:7)
2. Provision for Israel in the Wilderness. Ex. 16:12
"I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, 'At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God.'" (Ex. 16:12)
3. Israel's victory in battle. 1 Kings 20:13, 28; Is. 49:26,60:16
The man of God came up and told the king of Israel, "This is what the LORD says: 'Because the Arameans think the LORD is a god of the hills and not a god of the valleys, I will deliver this vast army into your hands, and you will know that I am the LORD.'" (1 Kings 20:28)
4. Judgment of Israel's sin. Ez. 6:10, 7:4, 27, 11:10-12, 12:15
The king will mourn, the prince will be clothed with despair, and the hands of the people of the land will tremble. I will deal with them according to their conduct, and by their own standards I will judge them. Then they will know that I am the LORD." (Eze. 7:27)
5. Judgement of Israel's oppressors. Is. 49:26; Ez. 13:21, 29:6-9
I will tear off your veils and save my people from your hands, and they will no longer fall prey to your power. Then you will know that I am the LORD. (Eze. 13:21)
6. Judgment of false prophets. Ez. 13:9
My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and utter lying divinations. They will not belong to the council of my people or be listed in the records of the house of Israel, nor will they enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Sovereign LORD. (Eze. 13:9)
7. Restoration of Israel from captivity. Ez. 20:42, 28:23-26, 34:27
In these passages and many others, we clearly see that God is orchestrating His-story to reveal Himself. We also see that God is orchestrating His-story to reveal Himself to all creation. In these passages that declare God’s orchestration of history, there is a universality in the scope of who is to come to recognize God as Lord through His orchestration of history:
1. Israel (central in God’s plan) Ex. 6:7;
2. Egypt (South) Ex. 7:5; Ez. 29:6
3. Sidon (West) Ez. 28:22
4. Edom & Mt. Seir (East) Ez. 35:15
5. Magog (North) Ez. 39:6
6. Coastlands (West & beyond?) Ez.39:6
7. Future Generations. Lev. 23:43
8. All Nations/Flesh Josh. 4:24; Is. 49:6; Ez. 37:26
God orchestrates His-story to reveal Himself to all creation . . . every human being in all history. God is trying to get our attention, He has been through all history, to send us a message: "I’m God!" "See Me!" "It really is all about ME!" "Worship Me!"
"Then they will know that I am the LORD" The question that needs to be answered in relation to this statement and these texts is, "Exactly what was and is God trying to communicate through these events?"
These texts overwhelmingly declare that God is orchestrating history so man will recognize Him as "LORD." "Lord" is God's name Yahweh. This name was very special to the Israelites. It is the personal name for God and was not spoken out of reverence and respect for God. It speaks of God's uniqueness. It establishes and distinguishes Him as the self-existent, one and only, true God among the many false gods of the nations. "Then they will know that I am the LORD" tells us that God's purpose for which He created the universe and is orchestrating every event in His-story is that He would be recognized as the ONE-AND-ONLY, true, unique God. God's eternal purpose is the revelation of Himself to all men, leading them to give Him glory as the one true, unique God.
What is God most Desiring? Focused on? Eager for? Passionate about? Protective of? Jealous for? Committed to? His glory . . . His Praise . . . His Worship!
God has planned and is sovereignly guiding His-story to show Himself as the one-and-only, true, unique God and lead all men to come to recognize and worship His glorious, infinite greatness. There is one purpose alone for which all creation exists: the demonstration, recognition, and worship of the glory of God!
All interpretation of history that contradicts or conflicts with the truth that God is sovereignly orchestrating His-story for His glory must be discarded. All else is an insult to the creator of all existence. All else is evil. All else incurs the wrath of God
All else is futility. All else is temporal & meaningless. All else is idolatry. All else must be stripped away. All pride must be annihilated. All selfishness must be mortified. All self advancement must be surrendered. All Self-righteousness must be repented of. All man-centered theology . . . All humanism . . . All science . . . All education . . . All ministry . . . All Religion that competes with or hinders the revelation of the glory of God.
The demonstration of the glory of God above all else and the worship of the glory of God at the exclusion of all else is the purpose of all existence from eternity past to eternity future!
It is not a purpose, it is the purpose!
It is not this and something else. It is this at the exclusion of all else!
So, I must ask the question, "What is there in my life, day, values, goals, finances, relationships or choices that competes with or hinders the demonstration of the glory of God?"
Soli Deo Gloria
Next: The Radiance of God's Glory
This is why total surrender, is sheer joy....
ReplyDelete