God’s “I Will”
Zechariah 12:2-9
July 23, 2023
In “If I Were in Charge of the World,” Judith Viorst’s popular child character Alexander opines,
If I were in charge of the world
There’d be brighter night lights,
Healthier hamsters, and
Basketball baskets forty-eight inches lower.
If I were in charge of the world
You wouldn’t have lonely.
You wouldn’t have clean.
You wouldn’t have bedtimes.
Or “Don’t punch your sister.”
You wouldn’t even have sisters.
If I were in charge of the world
A chocolate sundae with whipped cream and nuts would be a vegetable…
And a person who sometimes forgot to brush,
And sometimes forgot to flush,
Would still be allowed to be
In charge of the world.
It’s probably good that Alexander isn’t in charge of the world — or anything else. But he does identify a typical longing: there is a relentless desire for control in the world. I want to control the temperature, the traffic, my schedule, my children, my spouse, my parents, my expenditures (nothing unanticipated)… And actually, I control nothing. We are aware that God is sovereign and we know that is good, but it is a struggle to be humble and content under His sovereignty when we are inclined to orchestrate life differently.
Or is God absolutely sovereign? Are all things under His control? From unexpected illness to broken HVAC units to car accidents to consumer good prices rising greater than income to judicial decisions to broken relationships — it seems like many things are out of control (even God’s control). Is that so?
To even ask the question, “How sovereign (extensive) is God’s sovereignty?” is to misunderstand the meaning of sovereignty. To say that God is sovereign is to say that He has absolute control, direction, power, authority over everything. Nothing escapes His control — there is not a single renegade atom in the universe that is beyond His awareness or authoritative control. He sees all and He is authoritative over all.
Yet, our puny brains and fleshly hearts are inclined to diminish sovereignty to something less than what it is — so Zechariah is a helpful remind about the absolute extent and authority of God’s sovereignty.
Last week we noted that as sovereign creator, God has the authoritative right to speak (declare His will). Today we will see that in the declaration of His will, He will defend Israel physically from her enemies. (Next week we will see how God will defend and save Israel spiritually.) Zechariah 12:1-9 teaches us…
In His sovereignty, God will protect His people physically in the last battle.
How will God protect Israel in the last battle? In a series of five “I will” statements (vv. 2, 3, 4, 6, 9; implied vv. 5, 7), God directs us to an increasing understanding of His sovereign authority in the last day.
- God is Sovereign to Gather the Nations to Battle (vv. 1-3)
- God is Sovereign to Vanquish the Participants in the Battle (v. 4)
- God is Sovereign to Change the Hearts of His People in the Battle (v. 5)
- God is Sovereign to Strengthen His People for the Battle (vv. 6-9)
Download the rest of this sermon on Zechariah 12:2-9.
The audio will be posted on the GBC website by tomorrow.
Clouds and Sun rays by dotcompals is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
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