Habakkuk 2:4a (NIV) God says “See, the enemy is puffed up; his desires are not upright.” What is the Sovereignty of God? When we say God is sovereign, we mean he is powerful and authoritative to the extent of being able to override all other powers and authorities. . . Nothing can successfully stop any act or any event or design or purpose that God intends to certainly bring about. That’s my definition. ~ John Piper ~ “The rule and reign and power over all things. Divine sovereignty is related to divine omnipotence. Only a God possessing absolute power can exercise absolute control over all things. God works all things after the counsel of his own will.” (see Ephesians 1:11) ~ Kevin DeYoung ~ Psalm 33:10–11 (ESV) The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations. 2 Chronicles 20:6-7 (ESV) “O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you. Did you not, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? Habakkuk 1:2 (ESV) O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear? Or cry “Violence!” And you will not save? Habakkuk 1:3-4 (ESV) Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise. So the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; so justice goes forth perverted. God is sovereign over human history. Daniel 2:48 (NIV) He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed him in charge of all its wise men. Daniel 4:1-3 (NIV) King Nebuchadnezzar, To the nations and peoples of every language, who live in all the earth: May you prosper greatly! It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me. How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; his dominion endures from generation to generation. Exodus 34:6-7a (NIVUK) The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished. God’s sovereignty is consistent with His purpose & character Isaiah 42:6-7 (NIV) “I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.” Isaiah 61:1-2 (NIV) The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. God's sovereign purposes accomplish His redemptive plan. Habakkuk 2:4 (NIV) “See, the enemy is puffed up; his desires are not upright— but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness.” Romans 1:17 (NIV) For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” Romans 3:22-24 (NIV) This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Habakkuk 2:14 (NIV) For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.