God the Sovereign of All Kingdoms

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by Samuel Davies, at Hanover, Virginia, on March 5, 1755, on a day of fasting and prayer

"The Most High God is sovereign over the kingdoms of men—and gives them to anyone he wishes!" Daniel 4:25

That this world owes its existence to the creating power of God, and that he established its laws, and put its every wheel in motion—is a truth so evident, that it has extorted the consent of all mankind. But did he then exhaust his omnipotence? And has he been inactive ever since? Did he cast it off his hand, as an orphan-world, deprived of his paternal care, and left to shift for itself? No! as we were at first the creatures of his power—we are still the subjects of his government—he still supports and rulesthe world which he made.

In the material world, events are accomplished according to those laws which he first established in nature; but it is his agency which still continues these laws, and carries them into execution.

In the rational world, events are frequently brought to pass by the instrumentality of free agents; but still they are under the direction of the universal cause; and their liberty is not inconsistent with his sovereign dominion, nor does it exempt them from it. Though he makes use of secondary causes—yet he reserves to himself the important character of the Ruler of the universe, and is the Supreme Disposer of all events.

This is a truth of infinite consequence, and fundamental to all true religion; and unless we are met here today with a deep impression of this upon our hearts—we are wholly unfit to make a proper improvement of this solemn occasion. It is pertinently observed in that proclamation, in cheerful obedience to which we are now met, that, "In every undertaking it is expedient and necessary to implore the blessing and protection of Almighty God."

But if Almighty God does not govern the world, and order all the affairs of men according to his sovereign pleasure, then where is the expediency or necessity of imploring his blessing and protection? "A powerful and treacherous enemy is making inroads upon our territories, our religion and our liberty, our property, our lives; and everything sacred or dear to us is in danger! We are preparing to make a defence; and our most gracious king has been pleased to send a considerable number of his ships and forces to oppose the unjustifiable attempts of our enemies."

But unless the success of the expedition depend upon the providence of God—to what end do we humble ourselves before him, and implore his help? The thing itself, upon this supposition, would be an incongruity, an empty compliment, a mockery! If he exerts no agency in such cases—but leaves things entirely to their natural course—then we have nothing to fear from his displeasure on the account of sin; and we have nothing to hope from his assistance; and consequently, it is needless and absurd to humble ourselves for the one, or to be importunate with him for the other. I cannot, therefore, inculcate upon you, at present, a more seasonable truth than that contained in my text, "the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whoever he will."

King Nebuchadnezzar, of whom we read so much in the sacred writings, was the first founder of the rich and powerful Babylonianempire, which was built upon the ruins of that of the Assyrians, the metropolis of which was Nineveh, and sundry other mighty kingdoms. Divine Providence had raised him up to be the scourge of the Jews in particular, the favorite people of God. After his numerous and extensive conquests, while living at ease in grandeur and luxury in his palace, and surveying the glories of Babylon, his magnificent metropolis, his heart was elated—he becomes of great importance in his own sight—he ascribes his successes tohimself alone; and arrogates a style that befits none but the King of heaven. "Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?" Daniel 4:30.

While he is thus self-deified, He who is higher than the highest, and who pours contempt upon princes, resents his insolence; and will let him know that he is but a man, by degrading him to a level with the beasts! But he is so gracious as to warn him of it in a dream, that he might escape the doom by a timely repentance; and Daniel gives him a solemn advice, "Therefore, O king, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue." Daniel 4:27.

He continued impenitently proud, and did not regard the counsel; and therefore the threatened judgement was inflicted upon him. His case seems to have been this: after divine patience had tried him for a whole year, while he was venting his arrogance in his palace, he was judicially struck, in an instant, with a melancholy madness; and while he was in a raving fury, his servants turned him out of his palace.

There are instances, now-a-day, of people imagining themselves transformed into other creatures; and Nebuchadnezzar probably imagined himself to be an ox, and therefore tried to imitate the actions of that animal. "He was driven away from people and ate grass like cattle. His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird!" At the time appointed, he recovered his reason; made the most humble acknowledgements of the sovereignty of the divine government, and was reinstated in his kingdom.

The text informs us of the design of God in this judgement upon him, and that it should not be removed until it had answered its end. "This is the decree of the Most High God—You will be driven from human society, and you will live in the fields with the wild animals. You will eat grass like a cow, and you will be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven periods of time will pass while you live this way, until you learn that the Most High God rules over the kingdoms of the world and gives them to anyone he chooses!" Then, and not until then, he was restored to his reason and his kingdom; but he did not enjoy it long, for after a few days, he was cut off by the stroke of death!

I might very properly take occasion from this text to prove the universal agency of Providence in the natural and moral world. But, at present, I must confine myself to the proof and illustration of this important truth—that the Most High God is the sole disposer of the fates of kingdoms, and particularly of the events of war.

This is demonstrable:
from the perfections of God;
from the repeated declarations of Scripture;
from the common sense of mankind;
and from the remarkable coincidence of circumstances in critical times.

First, That the Most High God is the sole disposer of the fates of kingdoms, and the events of war, is demonstrable from his PERFECTIONS, or attributes.

We may infer from his WISDOM—that he formed the world, and particularly man, for some important design, which he determined to accomplish. But could he expect that this design would be accomplished by free moral agents, left entirely to themselves, without any direction or control from him? Or would it be consistent with wisdom to form creatures incapable of self-government, and fit subjects for him to rule—and yet exercise no government over them—but leave them entirely to themselves?

JUSTICE is an solemn and amiable attribute. And on whom shall he display it—but on rational creatures, who are capable of moral good and evil? Indeed, the display of justice on particular people may be deferred, as it generally is—to another state. But onsocieties, as such, it cannot be displayed but in this life; for it is only in this life that they exist in that capacity. And thereforeguilty nations must feel divine judgements in the present state, which supposes that God disposes of them as he pleases.

His GOODNESS, that favourite perfection, is diffusive and unbounded; but how shall this be displayed in this world, unless he holds the reins of government in his own hands, and distributes his blessings to whatever kingdom or nation he pleases! If he does notmanage their concerns, his mercy cannot be shown in delivering them from calamities; nor his patience, in bearing with their provocations.

His POWER is infinite, and therefore the management of all the worlds he has made, is as easy to him as the concerns of one individual.

He KNOWS all things, and is everywhere present—and can he be an unconcerned spectator of the affairs of his own creatures, and see them run on at random, without interposing? We may as well say in our hearts, with the fool, "There is no God!" Psalm 53:1, as entertain such low unworthy ideas of him—as an idle being, whose happiness consists in inactivity.

He will display his perfections in the most God-like manner, and this was his design in the creation of the universe; and since he cannot do this without exercising a perpetual providence over it—we may be assured he will do "according to his will in the armies of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth." Daniel 4:35.

Indeed, there is something unnatural in the idea of a Creator—who takes no care of his own creatures. Do you who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children? Are you shocked at the thought of a parent—who takes no care of his own children—but leaves them as soon as born, to shift for themselves? And will not the great Father of Creation, who has implanted these parental passions in your hearts—will not he look after his own offspring, and manage their affairs. Undoubtedly he will!

Secondly, That God is the supreme Disposer of the fates of kingdoms, and of the events of war, is demonstrable from the repeated declarations of SCRIPTURE. And this alone is sufficient proof to those who believe their divine authority.

This great truth, in one form or other, runs through the whole Bible. Sometimes the divine government is asserted to be universal, supreme, and sovereign.

"Our God is in the heavens—he has done whatever he pleases!" Psalm 115:3.

"I know that the LORD is great, that our Lord is greater than all gods. The LORD does whatever pleases him, in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths!" Psalm 135:5-6

"The Lord has prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom rules over all!" Psalm 103:19.

"All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: What have you done?" Daniel 4:35.

Now his universal government, which is so strongly asserted in these passages, implies his particular government of the affairs of kingdoms and nations. And the Scriptures declare that the care of Providence extends to the most minute and inconsiderable parts of the creation; and therefore much more does it extend to the affairs of men, and the fates of kingdoms.

"He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills. He provides food for the cattleand for the young ravens when they call." Psalm 147:8-9.

"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them." Matthew 6:26. Hence Christ draws the inference now in view, "Are you not much more valuable than they?" And therefore must not you be more particularly the objects of your Father's care? "God," says he, "clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire—will he not much more clothe you." Matthew 6:26-30.

The value of two sparrows is but one farthing; and yet, says Christ, not one of them can so much as fall to the ground without your Father; that is, without the permission of his providence. Nay, the very hairs of your head, the most trifling things that belong to you—are all numbered—God takes as particular care of them, as if he kept an account of each of them, and not one of them can be lost without his notice! Here again our blessed Saviour makes the same improvement as before, which is directly to my purpose: "Fear not, therefore, you are of more value than many sparrows," Matthew 10:29-31.

Does divine Providence take notice of ravens and sparrows, and the grass of the field? and will God not concern himself with thekingdoms of the earth? Does he take care even of the hairs of men's heads? And will he not take care of men themselves? Undoubtedly he will!

The Scriptures farther expressly assert, that the promotion and degradation of princes, and the prosperity and destruction of kingdoms—are from God. "Promotion," says the Psalmist, "comes neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south; but God is the judge; he puts down one, and sets up another!" Psalm 75:6.

"He changes the times and seasons," says Daniel: "he removes kings—and sets up kings." Daniel 2:21. "The Most High God is sovereign over the kingdoms of men—and gives them to anyone he wishes!" Daniel 4:32. And sometimes in his wise sovereignty, "The Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men-and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of men," verse 17.

"When he gives quietness—who then can make trouble?" Job 34:29. "Shall there be evil (or affliction) in a city, and the Lord has not done it?" Amos 3:6. "Come and see the works of the LORD—the desolations he has brought on the earth. He makes warscease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire!" Psalm 46:8, 9. Hence pious warriors have confided for victory in the providence of God, and been sensible that without him—all their military forces were in vain.

"Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God!" And observe the difference: "They are brought down and fallen: but we, (who put our trust in the Lord,) are risen, and stand upright." Psalm 20:7; 33:16, 17.

Again, we find many instances in the sacred writings of God's overruling the conduct of men, even of the wicked—to accomplish his own great designs, when the people themselves had nothing in view—but their own personal interest, or the gratification of their malignant passions; and thus he brings good out of evil.

Who could have had any raised expectations from the sale of Joseph, a poor helpless youth, as a slave into Egypt? His evil brothers had no other end in it, than to remove out of the way the object of their envy, and their rival in their father's affection. But God had a very important design in it, even the deliverance of the holy family and thousands of others from famishing! And therefore Joseph tells his friends, "It was not you who sent me here—but God!" Genesis 40:8.

The crucifixion of Christ was the most wicked action that was ever committed on this guilty globe; and the Jews freely followed their own malignant passions, and were not prompted to it by any influence from God, who cannot tempt to evil. But I need not tell you that this greatest evil—is over-ruled for the greatest good of mankind.

Though I might easily multiply instances, I can take time only to mention one more, exactly pertinent to my purpose; and this is the haughty and powerful Assyrian monarch, Isaiah 10:5-7. Having pushed his conquests far and wide among other nations, he resolves to turn his victorious arms against the Jews. He was an arbitrary king in his own empire, and imagined that he was subject to no control. His design in this expedition, was not to chastise the Jews for their sins against God—but to enlarge his own territories, to increase his riches, to display his power, and spread the terror of his name. He proudly thought he acted wholly from himself, and disdained the thought of being a mere agent, commissioned by another.

But hear in what a style the King of kings speaks of him—and degrades him into a rod, or a mere servant under command, "Woe to the Assyrian, the rod of my anger, in whose hand is the club of my wrath! I send him against a godless nation, I dispatch him against a people who anger me, to seize loot and snatch plunder, and to trample them down like mud in the streets!" Isaiah 10:5-7

Thus, says God, I commission him—these are the orders I give him to perform. "But this is not what he intends, this is not what he has in mind; his purpose is to destroy, to put an end to many nations!" This is all his design. And when this haughty Assyrian arrogates to himself the honor of his successes, and vents himself in the most extravagant rant of self-applause, hear how God pours contempt upon him, and speaks of him in the most diminutive language, as a passive axe in his hand to hew rebellious nations—an ax, a rod, a staff of wood. "Does the ax raise itself above him who swings it, or the saw boast against him who uses it? As if a rod were to wield him who lifts it up, or a club brandish him who is not wood!" Isaiah 10:15.

What mortifying images are these to represent a powerful and insolent king! And how strongly may we infer from hence—the supreme and absolute dominion of the King of heaven over the kings and empires of our world, and his directing the fate of war! Surely he has the hearts of men wholly under his command, who can make even their sins subservient to his good purposes, and who can accomplish his wise designs by them, even when they have no such thought—but are entirely ignorant of him!

Thus he appears worthy of that grand character, which he assumes to himself in his Word more frequently, perhaps, than any other; I mean, "the Lord Almighty," or "the Lord of armies". Thus appears the truth of Solomon's observation, "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD—he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases!" Proverbs 21:1.

Thirdly, It is the COMMON SENSE of all mankind—that the affairs of kingdoms, and particularly success in war, depend upon God. Read over the historical parts of the Old Testament, and you will find it the common sense of the Jews, that they should never engage in war, without first consulting God, and imploring his blessing. The instances of this are so many, that it would take up too much time even to mention them.

And since Christian kingdoms have been formed, we find the same sense prevailing among them, even in the darkest times. Nay, the very heathens were taught this by their reason, as one of the plainest dictates of the light of nature. They had all of themheathen gods for the protection of their nation. They had a Mars and a Minerva—the one the god, and the other the goddess of war. They never engaged in war without anxiously consulting oracles, and offering a profusion of sacrifices and prayers. And after a victory, they were accustomed to express the grateful sense of their success as from their god, by rich offerings, and by consecrating to their deities a part of the spoils they had taken, which they hung up in their temples.

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