In his article, “The Fundamental Principle of Calvinism”, Henry Meeter states: “With the sovereignty of God in the natural and the moral spheres as fundamental principle the Calvinist has built up his whole system.” Reformed doctrine, which is also known as Calvinism, has the sovereignty of God as it central Scriptural truth upon which the rest of its doctrine is built.
Psalm 2 summarizes this sovereignty of God and states:
“1 Why are the nations in an uproar
And the peoples devising a vain thing?
And the peoples devising a vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth take their stand
And the rulers take counsel together
Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying,
3 “Let us tear their fetters apart
And cast away their cords from us!”
4 He who sits in the heavens laughs,
The Lord scoffs at them.
5 Then He will speak to them in His anger
And terrify them in His fury, saying,
6 “But as for Me, I have installed My King
Upon Zion, My holy mountain.”
7 “I will surely tell of the decree of the LORD:
He said to Me, ‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
8 ‘Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance,
And the very ends of the earth as Your possession.
9 ‘You shall break them with a rod of iron,
You shall shatter them like earthenware.'”
10 Now therefore, O kings, show discernment;
Take warning, O judges of the earth.
11 Worship the LORD with reverence
And rejoice with trembling.
12 Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way,
For His wrath may soon be kindled
How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!”
And the rulers take counsel together
Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying,
3 “Let us tear their fetters apart
And cast away their cords from us!”
4 He who sits in the heavens laughs,
The Lord scoffs at them.
5 Then He will speak to them in His anger
And terrify them in His fury, saying,
6 “But as for Me, I have installed My King
Upon Zion, My holy mountain.”
7 “I will surely tell of the decree of the LORD:
He said to Me, ‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
8 ‘Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance,
And the very ends of the earth as Your possession.
9 ‘You shall break them with a rod of iron,
You shall shatter them like earthenware.'”
10 Now therefore, O kings, show discernment;
Take warning, O judges of the earth.
11 Worship the LORD with reverence
And rejoice with trembling.
12 Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way,
For His wrath may soon be kindled
How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!”
From Genesis to Revelation, from creation to final judgment, from the perfect fellowship of the Triune God to Paradise, and throughout eternity, the sovereignty of God controls everything that happens.
Man rebels against this sovereignty of God as Psalm 2:3 states: “Let us tear their fetters apart And cast away their cords from us!”.
Most notably in religion, man forms his own religion in which he is in control. “Free will” is his central proposition upon which the rest of his religion is built. And everywhere else, from television to movies to news, man focuses on man and his actions.
What is God’s response? “He who sits in the heavens laughs, The Lord scoffs at them.” Psalm 2:4. Then, God warns them.
Reformed doctrine a/k/a Calvinism best emphasizes the “TOTAL DEPRAVITY” of man (the “T” in “TULIP”) and the only way of salvation of man which again is built upon the sovereignty of God which is “UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION” by God (the “U” in “TULIP”).
Every day, God’s elect sees the sovereignty of God, worships God with reverence, rejoices in God, trembles in these thoughts of God’s sovereignty, and takes refuge in Him. God’s elect sees the sovereignty of God in snowflakes to stars. God’s elect hears the sovereignty of God in the rustling of branches of trees to the singing of choirs. God’s elect feels the sovereignty of God in the warmth of the womb to the final breath. God’s elect thinks of the sovereignty of God, not only in what happens to man such as predestination, but from the self-existence of God to the dwelling of God with His elect as described in Revelation 21:3: “And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them.”
“Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way, For His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!” Psalm 2:12.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 