Calvinism Everywhere, Part 4

Another glorious text highlighting God's glorious governance of all things:

1 Sam. 2:6-8: "The LORD kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up. The LORD makes poor and makes rich; he brings low and he exalts. He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the LORD's, and on them he has set the world."

Be sure to take to heart what is really being declared here by Hannah. When life is given, who does it? When life is taken, who's responsible? Whether a person goes down to Sheol or is lifted up (we might now say, goes to heaven or hell) is determined by whom? And so on. Again and again note the Actor. God is supreme over all.  And blessed is Hannah for knowing and exulting in it. Additionally, in many respects this prayer of Hannah is programmatic for Samuel. As you read through Samuel, consider how the themes found in her confession recur throughout.

Repeatedly in the Bible it is declared that all things are "from him and through him and unto him" (Rom. 11:36). This is God's glory. I'd even say that Rom. 11:36 is the single most comprehensive statement in the Bible and should be the framework of any biblical or systematic theology. It is all-embracing, the matrix of all theologizing and living blessedly forevermore.