Psalm 33:10-11, "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 from generation to generation."
The 9th Article of Faith of the Mormon Church reads, "We believe all that God has revealed, all that he does now reveal, and we believe that he will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the kingdom of God." The difficulty with this statement is that God's Word is rooted in His person and neither change. Mormonism is one group (among others) that thrives on the evolution of deity, which is why there is also a history of changing theology.
- The God of the Bible does not "progress" as the LDS god does, and will be the same in the future as He was in the past (Numbers 23:19; Psalm 90:2; Habakkuk 1:12; Malachi 3:6; Romans 1:22-25);
- The God of the Bible does not "achieve holiness" as the LDS god does (Deut. 32:4; Psa. 119:142; Psa. 145:17; Hosea 11:9; John 1:5);
- The God of the Bible does not have to "learn" as the LDS god does (Psalm 147:5; Isaiah 40:13, 14, 28);
- The God of the Bible does not have to attain power as the LDS god does (Romans 1:20; Revelation 19:6);
- The LDS god can only be in one place at one time. The God of the Bible is omnipresent (Isaiah 66:1; Jeremiah 23:23-24);
- The LDS god cooperated with a counsel to arrange what was already created. The God of the Bible is independent; that is, He acted alone in creation (Nehemiah 9:6; Psalm 33:6; Isaiah 44:24);
- The LDS god has a father, mother, sisters, brothers. The God of the Bible rejects the existence of other gods (Exodus 20:3-6; Isaiah 42:8; Isaiah 43:10-11; Isaiah 44:6 & 8; Isaiah 46:5-9).
The options are these:
1) if what God says about Himself in the Bible says is true, then the Mormon god is false;
2) if the Mormon god is true, then what God says about Himself in the Bible is false. This would mean that Mormonism is still false because the implication is that God could not only protect His Word, but could not protect what His Word says about Himself.
Do you know that a watch does not tell time? You have to LOOK at it! In the same way, we can only find out what God is really like by looking at scripture! If I tell you it's noon and it's really nine, you can only check the truth by looking at a watch. Everything a person says must be checked against scripture.
How does the LORD bring the counsel of the nations to nothing through His forever-standing counsel? What is the generation-to-generation plan of His heart?
First, take a look at the situation:
- Psalm 33:1-3 Praise is one creature proclaiming to another creature the excellencies of The Most Excellent.
- Psalm 33:4-5 This is the reason for the singing, the joy, the thanksgiving: His upright words and His faithful works. God is righteous (Deut. 32:4) and His Word is righteous (Psalm 19:8). God is just (Psalm 25:8) and His commandments are just (Romans 7:12).
Second, take a look backward:
- v. 6: How did God create the heavens? He spoke and it WAS! The heavens themselves stand is irrefutable proof of the stability of God's words--the very breath that carried His words brought about the hosts. He is the star-breather!
- v. 7: How did God create the earth? He spoke and it WAS!
- vv. 8-9: Now we stand on the evidence of the power of God's words--what He speaks is done and there is no changing it! How much more powerful and unchanging is the scripture, His special revelation?
People hear and read what God has said, shake their heads and either ignore or try to change what is said. Here is what God does:
- vv. 13-17. He looks from heaven and shakes His head. He knows men! He sees the righteous and the unrighteous. He sees those who are obeying His words and those who are not. He sees those who set up their kingdoms against Him, placing false hopes in things that will miserably fail. Look at the way kings build armies to outnumber in strength. Can numbers and strength change what is greater than the power that wrought creation?
- vv. 18-22. The ones who fear God, who have unwavering hope are those who trust Him. The one who trusts Him trusts His unchanging word. He protects His word and He protects those who live by it, delivering their souls from death.
This is His plan from generation to generation: being exalted as God, the song of songs, the praise of praise, the person of thanks, the creator, sustainer and hope of all who fear Him, the life-giver, our help and shield.
The enemies of God's Word will be judged by the Word which they reject, despise and hate. The redeemed will be saved by the Word which they accept and love.
[read part 2 or go to part 4]
