(87) The Pleasure of God’s Sovereignty

Having established the fact that God’s sovereign rule is purposeful and follows a definite plan, a question arises. What motivates and guides God’s purpose and plan? Many believers would ponder for a moment and then reply that God is ultimately motivated by His love for us. Ah, the warmth and encouragement of the love of God. But this is not what ultimately motivates God. Remember, God is not man-centered, God is and must be God-centered. God does not exist and God is not motivated to do what pleases us. God exists and is motivated in His sovereign rule by what pleases Him.

For I know that the LORD is great And that our Lord is above all gods. Whatever the LORD pleases, He does, In heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps. (Psalm 135:5-6 NAU)

As God exercises His sovereign authority over history, He does whatever Hie pleases and whatever He pleases, He does. God is governed by what pleases Him. God acts according to what pleases Him. It can be, and we should want it to be no other way. Why? Because what pleases God is the highest good, the greatest wisdom, the best plan. God can only act to advance what is perfect, holy, righteous, just, and good because that is His nature. And this is what pleases Him.

Of course this raises some perplexing questions for us. We wonder how the existence of sin and evil fit in with these truths. How can God be sovereignly controlling history according to what pleases Him and yet, sin exists and evil prevails?

We will deal with these confusing questions and see how scripture answers these questions for us in due time. But for now, we will stay focused on the clear teaching of scripture that God works all things according to the purpose and counsel of His will (Eph. 1:10-11), and according to what pleases Him (Psalm 135:6). God is sovereign over all creation, He is in control, and He is ruling according to what pleases Him. Let’s not question or alter scripture because it is confusing to us when we look at the world around us.

This is true when it comes to you and I specifically. God’s love for us and all His thoughts and actions toward us and on our behalf are ultimately motivated by what pleases Him, not what pleases us.

So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. (Philippians 2:12-13 NAU)

What a fascinating passage of scripture. We are commanded to work out our salvation; to put the reality of our salvation into practice in how we live our lives. Then, we are told that God is working in our lives to this end. He is working in us to give us the will or desire, and then, He is giving us the ability. And what is all this willing and working focused on? God’s good pleasure. God is constantly at work in us so that our exclusive focus and goal in life, and all our energies are poured into His good pleasure. God is not working to satisfy our desires and do what pleases us. He is working to change our desires so we will live to do what pleases Him.

Guess what? It really is true. It is, all about Him! God exercises His absolute, sovereign rule over all creation to bring about what pleases Him. And for this, we should be eternally grateful, for what pleases Him is infinitely better than what pleases us.

For from him and through him and to him are all things.

To him be glory forever. Amen.

(Romans 11:36 ESV)

For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory.

All glory to him forever! Amen.

(Romans 11:36 NLT)

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