ARTICLE 5: DIVINE PROVIDENCE
DIVINE PROVIDENCE IN A NUTSHELL IS: THE CONTINUOUS ACTIVITY OF GOD IN HIS CREATION BY WHICH HE PRESERVES AND GOVERNS ALL THINGS.
• WAYNE GRUDEM STATES WE MAY DEFINE GODS PROVIDENCE AS FOLLOWS: GOD IS CONTINUALLY INVOLVED WITH ALL CREATED THINGS IN SUCH A WAY THAT...
(1)HE KEEPS THEM EXISTING AND MAINTAINING THE PROPERTIES WITH WHICH HE CREATED THEM.
(2) HE COOPERATES WITH CREATED THINGS IN EVERY ACTION, DIRECTING THEIR DISTINCTIVE PROPERTIES TO CAUSE THEM TO ACT AS THEY. (3) HE DIRECTS THEM TO FULFIL HIS PURPOSES.
HE GOES ON TO EXPLAIN THAT THIS DEVELOPS THREE SUB TOPICS ACCORDING TO THE THREE ELEMENTS ABOVE:1.PRESERVATION. 2.CONCURRENCE.3. GOVERNMENT. AND IT THESE THREE SUB TOPICS WE WILL BE UNPACKING.
1. WE SEE PROVIDENCE IS ALL ABOUT PRESERVATION. HEB 1:3, COL 1:17
• TO KEEP IN A PERFECT OR UNALTERED CONDITION; MAINTAIN UNCHANGED, TO PRESERVE.
THE BIBLE STATES: HEB 1:3. THE SON IS THE RADIANCE OF GODS GLORY AND THE EXACT REPRESENTATION OF HIS BEING SUSTAINING ALL THINGS BY THE POWER OF HIS WORD. NOT ONLY DO WE SEE HE IS GOD V3 WHO CREATED ALL THINGS V2 BUT THAT HE IS THE ONE WHO SUSTAINS ALL THINGS THROUGH HIS WORD.
A BETTER RENDERING OF THE WORD SUSTAINING HERE IS UPHOLDING BECAUSE JESUS DOESN’T MERELY SUSTAIN ALL THINGS. BUT HE ACTUAL UPHOLDS ALL THINGS: THE GREEK WORD - PHERO WHICH MEANS TO “CARRY TO BEAR” THIS WORD IS USED OFTEN IN THE NT FOR CARRYING SOMETHING FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER FOR INSTANCE IN LUKE 5:18 THE MEN BROUGHT A PARALYSED MAN TO JESUS ON A MAT. THIS WORD CONVEYS THE SENSE OF ACTIVE PURPOSEFUL CONTROL OVER THE PERSON OR OBJECT BEING CARRIED FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER.
SO THE JESUS IS UPHOLDING ALL THINGS IN THE POWER OF HIS WORD WHICH IS AN ONGOING ACTIVITY AND PURPOSEFUL. HE IS INVOLVED IN UPHOLDING ALL THINGS. ITS NOT THE CASE THAT GOD HAS JUST WOUND THE WORLD UP LIKE A CLOCK AND LEFT IT TO ITS OWN MECHANISMS ( NATURAL LAWS THAT WE OBSERVE AROUND US ALL OF WHICH GOD HAS SET IN PLACE) BUT HE IS ACTIVELY AND PURPOSEFULLY UPHOLDING ALL THINGS EVEN THE NATURAL LAWS WE SEE AROUND US.
• ON APRIL 16, 2007 TIME MAGAZINE CONTAINED AN EXCERPT FROM THE NEW BIOGRAPHY ON ALBERT EINSTEIN TITLED, EINSTEIN AND FAITH. THE LAST PARAGRAPH IN THE EXCERPT READS, “FOR SOME PEOPLE, MIRACLES SERVE AS EVIDENCE OF GOD’S EXISTENCE. FOR EINSTEIN, IT WAS THE ABSENCE OF MIRACLES THAT REFLECTED DIVINE PROVIDENCE. THE FACT THAT THE WORLD WAS COMPREHENSIBLE, THAT IT FOLLOWED LAWS, WAS WORTHY OF AWE.”
• EVEN THE NATURAL LAWS GOD HAS PUT IN PLACE HE GIVES THEM THE PROPERTIES THEY HAVE AND HE UPHOLDS THEM THIS TO EINSTEIN LEFT HIM IN AWE OF GOD!
IN THE BOOK OF COLOSSIANS IS FURTHER CONFIRMATION OF THE FACT: COL.1:17 HE IS BEFORE ALL THINGS AND IN HIM ALL THINGS HOLD TOGETHER. AGAIN WE SEE HE IS THE ONE WHO CREATED ALL THINGS (EVERY CREATED THING IN THE UNIVERSE), THE ONE WHO HOLDS EVERYTHING TOGETHER, HE MAINTAINS IT ALL, AND HE PRESERVES IT ALL IN HIM THEY EXIST.
THIS MEANS IF GOD WAS TO CEASE SUSTAINING ALL THINGS, TO HOLD THEM TOGETHER THE ONLY THING THAT WOULD EXIST WOULD BE GOD. WE WOULD NO LONGER EXIST AS THE APOSTLE PAUL SAID IN ACTS: 17:28 IN HIM WE LIVE AND MOVE AND HAVE OUR BEING.
IN THE BOOK OF WE SEE THE THE LEVITES DECLARE,NEHEMIAH 9:6. "YOU ARE THE LORD, YOU ALONE. YOU HAVE MADE HEAVEN, THE HEAVEN OF HEAVENS, WITH ALL THEIR HOST, THE EARTH AND ALL THAT IS ON IT , THE SEAS AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM: AND YOU PRESERVE ALL OF THEM: AND THE HOST OF HEAVEN WORSHIP YOU".
• LAST WEEK IN THE LEICESTER MERCURY STORY OF A CHILD BORN PREMATURE AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME HE IS IN INTENSIVE CARE, THE ONLY WAY THAT LITTLE CHILD IS BEING SUSTAINED IS THROUGH THE ADVANCEMENT IN MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY AND THE EXPERTISE AND CARE OF THE MEDICAL PROFESSION TO PRESERVE THAT LITTLE CHILD’S LIFE ENABLING HIM/HER TO GROW INTO A MATURE ADULT. THAT PREMATURE BABY IS DEPENDENT UPON THIS OUTSIDE CARE.(BY HUMAN OBSERVATION OF COURSE GOD SUSTAINS HIM).
AS THAT CHILD IS DEPENDENT UPON THIS OUTSIDE CARE OF THOSE PROFESSIONALS, SO IS ALL OF THE CREATED ORDER DEPENDENT UPON GOD FOR ITS OWN PRESERVATION (AIR , WATER, ANIMAL , HUMANITY GOD MAINTAINS THOSE PROPERTIES). GOD UPHOLDS ALL THINGS ACTIVELY AND PURPOSEFULLY. THIS SHOULD TRULY CAUSE US TO STAND IN AWE AND THANKFULNESS TO THE ONE WHO PRESERVES ALL THINGS INCLUDING OUR LIVES ARE IN HIS HANDS.
AND LET US PRAY FOR LITTLE JACK WHOSE IN INTENSIVE CARE BECAUSE WE SEE ULTIMATLY THAT EVEN LITTLE JACK IS NOT SOLEY DEPENDANT UPON THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT BUT UPON GOD HE IS THE FIRST CAUSE OF ALL SUSTAINING LIFE! THAT LEAD’S US TO POINT 2......
2. WE SEE PROVIDENCE IS ALL ABOUT CONCURRENCE. EPH 1:11 WORKS OUR EVERYTHING
CONCURRENCE IS REALLY A BOLT ON TO PRESERVATION IN THAT IN CONCURRENCE GOD COOPERATES WITH CREATED THINGS IN EVERY ACTION, DIRECTING THEIR DISTINCTIVE PROPERTIES TO CAUSE THEM TO ACT AS THEY DO .
THIS IMPLIES FROM THE OUTSET. THE CREATED AND THE CREATURE DO NOT WORK INDEPENDENTLY BY THERE OWN INHERENT POWER NEITHER THE WHOLE OF CREATION OR HUMANITY FUNCTION INDEPENDENTLY OF GOD. GOD IS ACTIVE IN EVERY ACT OF THE CREATED AND THE CREATURE. EVERY
ACTION, IMPULSE PROCEEDS FROM GOD, NO EVENT OF ALL CREATION FALLS OUTSIDE HIS PROVIDENCE.
• PSALM 103:19 THE LORD HAS ESTABLISHED HIS THRONE AND HIS THRONE IN HEAVEN AND HIS KINGDOM RULES OVER ALL.
• EPH 1:11IN HIM WE WERE ALSO CHOSEN,HAVING BEEN PREDESTINED ACCORDING TO THE PLAN OF HIM WHO WORKS OUT EVERYTHING IN CONFORMITY WITH THE PURPOSE OF HIS WILL.
OF COURSE THIS FACT IS NOT SEEN BY SIMPLY OBSERVATION AROUND US BUT IT IS CLEARLY TAUGHT IN THE BIBLE LETS CONSIDER THE WORKING OUT OF EVERYTHING.
• HE WORKS OUT EVERYTHING IN CREATION.
AS WE SAW LAST WEEK THE WHOLE OF CREATION HAS DESIGN TO IT BRINGING PURPOSE AND FUNCTION AND GOD IS ACTIVE IN BRINGING THAT PROCESS ABOUT IN EVERY ACT OF CREATION DAY AFTER DAY.
JOB 37:5-1 3 READ TO CONGREGATION
PSALM 104 TELLS US THAT GOD : 2 STRETCHES OUT THE HEAVENS 5 HE SETS THE EARTH ON FOUNDATIONS 6 HE COVERED IT WITH THE DEEP 10 HE MAKES SPRINGS POUR WATER INTO RAVINES V13 HE WATERS THE MOUNTAINS FROM HIS UPPER CHAMBERS 14 HE MAKES GRASS GROW AND PLANTS FOR MAN TO CULTIVATE 20 HE BRINGS DARKNESS IT BECOME NIGHT
CONSIDER THE WORDS OF JESUS WHEN HE SAID, MATT 5:45. “HE CAUSES HIS SUN TO RISE ON THE EVIL AND THE GOOD, AND SENDS RAIN ON THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE UNRIGHTEOUS.”
• HE WORKS OUT EVERYTHING IN THE ANIMAL WORLD.
PSALM 104: 27 ALL THINGS LOOK TO YOU TO GIVE THEM THEIR FOOD AT THE PROPER TIME. JOB 38: 39 -41. READ.
CONSIDER THE WORDS OF JESUS WHEN HE WAS TEACHING ABOUT NOT WORRYING HE REFERRED TO THE BIRDS OF THE AIR MATT.6:26 LOOK AT THE BIRDS OF THE AIR: THEY DO NOT SOW, THEY DO NOT SOW OR REAP OR STORE AWAY IN BARNS, AND YET YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER FEEDS THEM. HE ALSO SAID, MATT 10:29 “ONE SPARROW WILL NOT FALL TO THE GROUND WITHOUT YOUR FATHER WILL."
• WORKS OUT ALL THE AFFAIRS OF THE NATIONS.
HE IS CONTROL OF ALL THE NATIONS AND ANY GIVEN POINT PSALM 22:28 FOR DOMINION BELONGS TO THE LORD AND HE RULES OVER THE NATIONS.
IT IS GOD WHO BRINGS NATIONS TO POWER, HE BRINGS PEACE AND STRIFE, HE CAN TEAR DOWN AND HE CAN BUILD UP - THAT’S WHAT WE HAVE SEEN THROUGHOUT THE CENTURIES, ALTHOUGH UNSEEN WITH THE HUMAN EYE GOD IS THE FIRST CAUSE BEHIND ALL OTHER CAUSES.
PAUL STATES IN ACTS 27:26 FROM ONE MAN HE MADE EVERY NATION OF MEN, THAT THEY SHOULD INHABIT THE WHOLE EARTH; AND HE DETERMINED THE TIMES SET FOR THEM AND THE EXACT PLACES WHERE THEY SHOULD LIVE.
• WORKS OUT EVERYTHING IN OUR LIVES
• FROM BEFORE WE WERE BORN TO DEATH.
GOD ACTUALLY PLANS OUR DAYS BEFORE WE ARE EVEN BORN. KING DAVID SAID PSALM 139:16 YOUR EYES SO MY UNFORMED BODY. ALL THE DAYS ORDAINED FOR ME WERE WRITTEN IN YOUR BOOK BEFORE THEY CAME TO BE.
PAUL SPEAKS IN A SIMILAR VAIN OF A GOD WHO SET HIM APART AT BIRTH GAL 1:15 THE PROPHET JEREMIAH CONVEYED THE SAME TRUTH JER. 1:5 BEFORE I FORMED YOU IN THE WOMB I KNEW YOU, BEFORE YOU WERE BORN I SET YOU APART; I APPOINTED YOU AS A PROPHET TO THE NATIONS.
AND THIS ISN’T JUST FOR GOD’S ELECT BUT EVERY PERSON ON THE FACE OF THE PLANET.
THE BOOK OF JOB STATES 14:5 MANS DAYS ARE DETERMINED; YOU HAVE DECREED THE NUMBER OF HIS MONTHS AND HAVE SET LIMITS HE CANNOT EXCEED.
• OUR DEPENDENCE ON DAILY FOOD
THE LORDS PRAYER (MATT 6:11) CONFIRMS OUR DAILY NEED FOR FOOD FROM GOD “GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD.” EVEN THOUGH MERE HUMAN OBSERVATION DISCERNS FOOD IS SIMPLY PROVIDED BY US AND OUR OWN INITIATIVE. BUT AS CHRISTIANS WE SEE BEHIND THESE 2ND CAUSES TO SEE THE FIRST CAUSE A PROVIDENTIAL GOD. AS WE LOOK TO GOD TO PROVIDE FOR ALL OUR NEEDS IN CHRIST JESUS PHIL 4:19 AND MY GOD WILL MEET ALL ACCORDING TO HIS GLORIOUS RICHES IN CHRIST JESUS.
OF COURSE OUR DAILY BREAD DOESN’T JUST DROP OUT OF HEAVEN LIKE IN THE WILDERNESS BUT HE WILL USE ORDINARY MEANS SUCH AS OTHER PEOPLE AND OUR COMMON SENSE TO PROVIDE OUR DAILY NEEDS LIKE FOOD.
• EVERY DETAIL OF OUR LIVES IS UNDER THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD.
ALL THAT WE DO IN OUR LIVES IS UNDER THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD AS PAUL SAYS IN ACTS ACTS.17:28 IN HIM WE MOVE AND HAVE OUR BEING EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS GOD KNOWS WE DON’T TAKE HIM BY SURPRISE BY ANY OF OUR DECISIONS OR ACTIONS, THERE IS NO CHANCE SITUATIONS OR RANDOM EVENTS. TO US THEY MAY WELL APPEAR TO BE SO BUT TO GOD IT IS KNOWN AND PLANNED. PRV: 20:24 A MANS STEPS ARE DIRECTED BY THE LORD.
TRUE STORY: THE AMAZING PROVIDENCE OF GOD.
IN THE LATE 1800’S A MEMBER OF BRITAIN’S PARLIAMENT WENT TO SCOTLAND TO MAKE A SPEECH. HE GOT OFF THE TRAIN IN EDINBURGH, AND THEN TOOK A CARRIAGE SOUTH TOWARD HIS DESTINATION. UNFORTUNATELY, THE CARRIAGE BECAME STUCK IN DEEP MUD. A LOCAL FARM BOY CAME TO THE RESCUE WITH HIS TEAM OF WORK HORSES. IN HIS GRATITUDE, THE POLITICIAN OFFERED A REWARD, BUT THE BOY REFUSED, SAYING HE WANTED NOTHING. "WELL,” PERSISTED THE LEGISLATOR, "IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO FOR YOU? WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO WITH YOURSELF WHEN YOU GROW UP?" "I’D LIKE TO BECOME A DOCTOR" THE YOUNG MAN REPLIED. THE MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT PROMISED TO DO WHAT HE COULD, AND IN FACT HE SECURED ADMISSION TO THE UNIVERSITY FOR THE YOUNG MAN.
DURING WORLD WAR 2 MORE THAN 50 YEARS LATER, WINSTON CHURCHILL LAY DANGEROUSLY ILL IN MOROCCO, SUFFERING FROM PNEUMONIA. A NEW WONDER DRUG WAS ADMINISTERED TO HIM, PENICILLIN, WHICH HAD BEEN DISCOVERED BY SIR ALEXANDER FLEMING, WHO WAS THE SCOTTISH FARM BOY OF SO LONG BEFORE.
AND THE POLITICIAN WHO HAD SPONSORED HIM TO THE UNIVERSITY? HE WAS RANDOLPH CHURCHILL, THE FATHER OF WINSTON.
THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD IS OFTEN DUMBFOUNDING TO US. WE SHAKE OUR HEADS IN AMAZEMENT AT THE FANTASTIC "COINCIDENCES" THAT WE SEE IN THIS WORLD AND IN OUR LIVES. BUT ALL THESE THINGS ARE ACTUALLY GOD WORKING OUT HIS DIVINE WILL RIGHT BEFORE OUR EYES. WE CAN NEVER TELL HOW GOD MAY CHOOSE TO EXECUTE HIS PLANS, BUT HE DOES AND HE DIRECTS OUR STEPS.
1. WHAT ABOUT EVIL IS GOD THE AUTHOR?
CONSIDER THE PATRIARCH JOSEPH WAS DUMPED IN A PIT, LATER SOLD INTO SLAVERY BY HIS OWN BROTHERS, WAS FALSELY ACCUSED OS SEXUAL IMMORALITY, UNJUSTLY CAST INTO PRISON BY HIS EGYPTIAN SLAVE-OWNER, THEN ABANDONED BY A HIGH OFFICIAL IN PRISON AFTER HIS HELP TO BE RELEASED.
HERE WE SEE THAT GOD PERMITTED THESE EVIL ACTS OF HIS BROTHERS TO TAKE PLACE, BUT HE DOES CAUSE MAN TO SIN, THE BLAME FOR EVIL AND SIN CAN NEVER BE LAID UPON HIM, HE WILL PERMIT IT, BUT IN THE GREATER SCHEME OF THINGS WILL OFTEN OVERRULE EVIL FOR GOOD AS IN THE CASE OF JOSEPH AND HIS BROTHERS. (GEN 50:22). . "YOU INTENDED TO HARM ME, BUT GOD INTENDED IT FOR GOOD TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT IS NOW BEING DONE, THE SAVING OF MANY LIVES" GENESIS 50:20.
HERE WE HAVE A MAN RESTING AND IN FULL ASSURANCE OF THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD, BUT ATTHE TIME FOR JOSEPH IT WILL HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND.
CONSIDER JESUS..... WHAT PETER SAID ON THE DAY OF PENTECOST TO THE CROWDS (ACTS 2:23) THAT JESUS WAS HANDED OVER TO THEM BY GODS SET PURPOSES AND FOREKNOWLEDGE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE WICKED EXPLOITS OF MEN.
AGAIN PETER SAYS TO THE SANHEDRIAN ACTS 4:27 HOW THE PEOPLE CONSPIRED AGAINST JESUS - WHICH THEY WERE ONLY DOING WHAT GODS POWER AND WILL HAVE DECIDED BEFOREHAND, SHOULD HAPPEN.
LIFE APPLICATION.
1. MOST OF US CAN LOOK BACK AT TIMES IN OUR LIVES WHEN HE WAS BRINGING ABOUT SOME GREAT THING FOR US. MAYBE IT WAS A TIME WHEN WE WERE DEEP IN SIN THROUGH OUR OWN CHOICES AND YET GOD HAS BROUGHT US THROUGH IT, AND WAS BETTER FOR IT BUT AT THE TIME IT WAS OUR DARKEST POINT.
2. SOMETIMES THE THINGS WE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE LOUDEST TURN OUT TO BE GREAT BLESSINGS OF ALL TO US. (SOME REALLY CHALLENGING AND DIFFICULT EXPERIENCE 9AND WE’VE SURRENDERED TO GOD)
3. SOMETIMES A "CHANCE" GOOD DEED WE DO OR IS DONE FOR US HAS FAR-REACHING EFFECTS.
4. SOME US MIGHT FEEL SO FAR AWAY FROM THE LORD RIGHT NOW, DEEP IN SIN AND DISTANT FROM GOD THROUGH OUR OWN CHOICES, BUT EVEN THIS SITUATION IS UNDER THE DIVINE PROVIDENCE OF GOD. HE IS MORE THAN ABLE TO BRING GOOD OUT OF OUR FAILURES.
3. WE SEE PROVIDENCE IS ALL ABOUT HIS GOVERNMENT.
GOD’S GOVERNMENT IS HIS CONTINUED ACTIVITY WHEREBY HE DIRECTS ALL THINGS TO THE ENDS HE HAS CHOSEN IN HIS ETERNAL PLAN.
GOD IS THE KING OF THE UNIVERSE HE RULES OVER EVERYTHING - HE IS IN CONTROL PSALM 103:19 HIS KINGDOM RULES OVER ALL.
PAUL SAYS IN ROM 11:36 FOR FROM HIM AND THROUGH HIM AND TO HIM ARE ALL THINGS. TO HIM BE THE GLORY FOR EVER AND EVER AMEN.
PAUL IS SAYING AT THE END OF THE DAY ALL OF US ARE ABSOLUTELY DEPENDANT UPON GOD. HE IS THE SOURCE OF ALL THINGS, INCLUDING OURSELVES. HE IS THE POWER THAT SUSTAINS AND RULES THE WORLD THAT WE LIVE IN. AND EVERYTHING IS WORKED OUT TO THE CONFORMITY OF HIS WILL AND GLORY EPH 1:11 -12.
PAUL STATES IN ROM8:28 THAT IN ALL THINGS GOD WORK FOR THE GOOD OF THOSE WHO LOVE HIM, WHO HAS BEEN CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE.
• SEVERAL YEARS AGO A SUBMARINE WAS BEING TESTED AND HAD TO REMAIN SUBMERGED FOR MANY HOURS. WHEN IT RETURNED TO THE HARBOUR, THE CAPTAIN WAS ASKED, "HOW DID THE TERRIBLE STORM LAST NIGHT AFFECT YOU?" THE OFFICER LOOKED AT HIM IN SURPRISE AND EXCLAIMED, "STORM? WE DIDN’T EVEN KNOW THERE WAS ONE"
• THE SUB HAD BEEN SO FAR BENEATH THE SURFACE THAT IT HAD REACHED THE AREA KNOWN TO SAILORS AS "THE CUSHION OF THE SEA." ALTHOUGH THE OCEAN MAY BE WHIPPED INTO HUGE WAVES BY HIGH WINDS, THE WATERS BELOW ARE NEVER STIRRED.
• LIKEWISE THE CHRISTIAN’S MIND WILL BE PROTECTED AGAINST THE DISTRACTING WAVES OF WORRY IF IT IS RESTING COMPLETELY IN THE GOOD PROVIDENCE OF GOD. THERE, SHELTERED BY HIS GRACE AND ENCOURAGED BY HIS HOLY SPIRIT, THE BELIEVER CAN FIND THE PERFECT TRANQUILLITY THAT ONLY CHRIST CAN PROVIDE IN ALL THINGS BECAUSE IT IS RESTING IN THE DIVINE PROVIDENCE OF GOD WHICH DIRECTS ALL THINGS TO THE END HE HAS CHOSEN IN HIS ETERNAL PLAN FOR ALL THINGS INCLUDING YOU AND ME!
AMEN.
SOURCES OF HELP.
• WAYNE GRUDEM BIBLE DOCTRINE
• LOUIS BERKHOF SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY
• HERBERT LOCKYER - DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE.
