Throughout the scriptures we read of the phrase most high God. This term is only used of God our father.
However, even before the Garden of Eden, and Adam and Eve the most high God had a host of spirit beings who filled different positions in his kingdom. Every one of us know these things, but few seldom take the time to think about these spirit beings. They made up the council of the most high God. God's hierarchy is as old as time itself. Because of his great love and tenderness the most high God has chosen to invite those spirit beings who support, love and obey Him to function in different positions of authority and power in his kingdom. This is also reflected in God's original government he set up in the garden here on earth.
Genesis 1:27-28 27So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
Here we see very clearly God original intent. Right from the start God formed made and created man to be his under ruler. He gave man a position of rulership and authority. And along with and in accordance to God's will man was to rule and have dominion over every living thing that moved on the earth. God gave Adam and Eve great freedom and entrusted them with the entire earth.
Genesis 2:19-20 19And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. 20And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field…
This is the nature of God. Although he did not need any help with his creation because of his great love and wonderful tenderness he invited man into his heart and shared his creation with him. Adam was God's vice regent here on earth. Adam named the animals and whatever Adam said that was the name. God enlisted the help and input of Adam concerning his creation. God would come and fellowship at evening time in the cool of the day with Adam and Eve. He pretty much let Adam and Eve run the show until they disobeyed his word. Then and only then did God decide to exercise his supreme authority as the most high and step in and shut things down.
The point is that this is the way God chooses to interact with his creation. He invites them into his kingdom and then delegates out positions of authority and ruler ship to help him over see his creation. He does not rule as a despot, He chooses to invite others to rule with him because of his great love and tenderness. None of us deserve a position but that's the fathers will. It's his very nature.
Now that we have seen from the word the position God takes when it comes to overseeing his creation let's look at some of these heavenly beings that are presently serving in God's throne room.
Revelation 4:1 1After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. 2And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. 3And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. 4And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.
These elders, 24 in number, hold a high position of authority and influence in the throne room of heaven. God has chosen them to help him over see his heavenly throne room perhaps in worship.
Revelation 4:10-11 10The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. Psalm 82:1 God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods.
Here the Psalmist shows God standing before the congregation of the mighty. The mighty ones spoken of here are spirit being; some who serve alongside of the most high God. He judges among the gods. The gods here are again spirit beings but not all spirit beings are on God's side.
1 Corinthians 8:5 (BBE) For though there are those who have the name of gods, in heaven or on earth, as there are a number of gods and a number of lords,
There are many gods but there is only one most high God. These gods, spirit beings, rulers, elders, etc. make up the hierarchy of the most high God., Daniel chapter 4 contains an interesting record of how the congress of God is involved in godly decisions and the enforcement there of. Daniel 4 handles Nebuchadnezzar second dream which he begins to describe in verse 10.
Daniel 4:10-14 10Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great. 11The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth: 12The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it. 13I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven; 14He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches:
The watcher, also called a holy one, came down from heaven to announce the punishment Nebuchadnezzar would receive for his arrogance and pride he displayed against the most high God.
Daniel 4:17 This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.
This verse gives the picture of a heavenly court room where Nebuchadnezzar is on trial before the most high God and his rulers for his sin, pride, and arrogance.
A solemn council of the heavenly ones is convened over which God presides supreme. His "decree" and "word" are therefore said to be theirs (compare Dan 4:24, "decree of the Most High"); "the decree of the watchers," "the word of the holy ones". Dan 4:17. The sentence that was decided and handed down was by the decree of the watchers, and by the demand of the holy ones, the most high God had the last word.
Daniel 4:22-25 22It is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth. 23And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him; 24This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king: 25That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. Job 1:6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. Job 2:1 Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD.
God has placed particular kingdoms under the administration of angelic beings, subject to Him.
Daniel 7:10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.
These are just some of the many records regarding God's government. We will continue to look at some of them in part two of this teaching.
To be continued…ÿ