Beloved,
Below you will find a family worship devotion for question 7 of the Shorter Catechism. What a blessing it is to know and serve the Sovereign of the universe!
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Nick
Q. 7. What are the decrees of God?
A. The decrees of God are his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his will, whereby, for his own glory, he hath foreordained whatsoever comes to pass.
Read
Isaiah 46:9–10; Proverbs 16:33; Acts 2:23; Ephesians 1:4, 11
Reflect
When a king makes an official decision, it is sometimes called a decree. He might decree that every citizen pay a tax, or that greater fortifications be built to protect the nation. But when the king raises his voice or pen to give such an order, it is as good as done. Those who fail to carry out the decree of their sovereign will be punished—some might even forfeit their lives.
Our God is the King above all kings. He is the Sovereign over all things. Just as earthly rulers issue decrees, so too does God. But God’s decrees are very different from man’s. How so?
First, God’s decrees are eternal. He has never been without His plan for the creation He would make. Before time began, He had already determined everything that would happen in time—including us. He knew our names and numbered our days before the beginning. While earthly kings issue different decrees at different times, God decreed everything in the timelessness of eternity.
Second, God’s decrees are made without counselors. Earthly rulers rely on wise advisors when making major decisions that will shape their nations. But not God. Before He created, there was nothing but Him. And being perfectly good, all-knowing, and infinitely wise, God needs no advice. He decreed all things according to the counsel of His will alone.
Third, God’s decrees are perfectly fulfilled. An earthly king may decide something, but his orders can be rejected, resisted, or fail in execution. A decreed tax might not be paid. But whatever God has decided comes to pass without fail. Even the sinful actions and desires of people do not thwart His purpose. This is seen most clearly in the sin of the Jews and the Romans in crucifying Jesus—an act of great evil that fulfilled God’s eternal plan of redemption.
Finally, God’s decrees encompass every detail of history. He does not only determine the major events but also the smallest details. An earthly ruler has limited control, even over his own nation. But everything—even the rolling of dice—does God’s bidding, bringing to pass His perfect plan.
This truth should bring us great comfort. Even when our lives—or the world—feel out of control, our God is mysteriously, yet truly and faithfully, working out His good and perfect will for His glory and our good in Jesus Christ.
- What is a decree?
- How are God’s decrees similar to that of an earthly king? How are they different?
- Why should the truth of God’s decrees be a great comfort to us?