PROVIDENCE

The word “providence” comes from the word “provide” which is from the Latin pro meaning “before, in front of, for, forward” and vide meaning “to see”. Chamber’s Dictionary defines it as “timely preparation: (theol.) the foresight and care of God over all His creatures: God, considered in this relation: something occurring in which God’s care is clearly shown”. Thus, providence is the foresight of God in planning and providing for the needs of His creation and creatures—He’ll see to it, He’ll take care of it, He sees that it happens.

Neglected Doctrine

The doctrine of providence is a much neglected doctrine. It is a high and hard doctrine, and some may think it too heavenly for any earthly good. What a pity!

There are those who do not like the doctrine of divine sovereignty and the doctrine of providence. This is because these doctrines put God on the throne and in absolute control. The ego of sinful man makes him want to be totally in charge of his life—“I myself must have the right to determine what happens to my life and make things happen for myself according to my will and wish.” This philosophy of self-determinism which is utterly secular is unfortunately also seen in some who profess Christ.

Not knowing God’s sovereignty and providence, many are troubled and confused by the bad or evil things that happen in this world and in our lives. Where is God in my sufferings? More often than not, a disaster or tragedy is attributed to Satan or to evil men. We do not deny that. But is God oblivious to all the evil in the world, or is He involved in every affair, whether good or bad? Is God out of the picture when bad things happen, or is He working behind the scenes? Can Satan or evil men thwart God’s good plan for His people and for His glory? Do we really believe that “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Rom 8:28)?

It goes without saying that the twin doctrines of the sovereignty of God and the providence of God are immensely practical and reassuring. Consider David’s experience and exultation in Psalm 57. It was a time when he was running for his life, for King Saul was pursuing him in order to kill him (1 Sam 24). In such dire and dangerous straits, how did David remain sane and safe (cf Isa 26:3)? He looked to God and appealed to His sovereignty and His providence. He prayed to the only One who could save Him. He threw himself at the mercies of God, and sought for His help and deliverance (Ps 57:1). David could do this because He understood the sovereignty and providence of God, “I will cry unto God most high” (ie sovereignty), and “unto God that performeth all things for me” (ie providence) (Ps 57:2). The sovereignty of God speaks of His absolute power—He is “God most high”, and His providence speaks of His loving performance—“He performeth all things for me”. The word “performeth” is the Hebrew gamar which means “to perfect” or “to cease” or “come to an end” (Strong’s Hebrew Dictionary). In other words, the almighty God is a perfect performer. When God starts to perform or do a thing, He will make sure it is completed, and that His performance will bring about a perfect conclusion (cf Ps 138:8, Phil 1:6).

Doctrine in the Catechisms

Heidelberg Catechism (1563)

“Question 27. What do you understand by the providence of God? Answer. The almighty, everywhere-present power of God, whereby, as it were by His hand, He still upholds heaven and earth with all creatures, and so governs them that herbs and grass, rain and drought, fruitful and barren years, meat and drink, health and sickness, riches and poverty, indeed, all things come not by chance, but by His fatherly hand.”

The Belgic Confession (1561)

“Article 13. The Doctrine of God’s Providence We believe that this good God, after creating all things, did not abandon them to chance or fortune but leads and governs them according to His holy will, in such a way that nothing happens in this world without God’s orderly arrangement.”

Westminster Larger Catechism (1648)

“Question 18. What are the works of providence? Answer. God’s works of providence are His most holy, wise, and powerful preserving and governing all His creatures; ordering them, and all their actions, to His own glory.”

Westminster Confession of Faith (1646)

“5.1. God the great Creator of all things doth uphold, direct, dispose, and govern all creatures, actions, and things, from the greatest even to the least, by His most wise and holy providence, according to His infallible foreknowledge, and the free and immutable counsel of His own will, to the praise of the glory of His wisdom, power, justice, goodness, and mercy.

“2. Although, in relation to the foreknowledge and decree of God, the first cause, all things come to pass immutably, and infallibly; yet, by the same providence, He ordereth them to fall out according to the nature of second causes, either necessarily, freely, or contingently.

“3. God, in His ordinary providence, maketh use of means, yet is free to work without, above, and against them, at His pleasure.

“4. The almighty power, unsearchable wisdom, and infinite goodness of God so far manifest themselves in His providence, that it extendeth itself even to the first fall, and all other sins of angels and men, and that not by a bare permission, but such as hath joined with it a most wise and powerful bounding, and otherwise ordering and governing of them, in a manifold dispensation, to His own holy ends; yet so, as the sinfulness thereof proceedeth only from the creature, and not from God; who, being most holy and righteous, neither is nor can be the author or approver of sin.

“5. The most wise, righteous, and gracious God doth oftentimes leave, for a season, His own children to manifold temptations, and the corruption of their own hearts, to chastise them for their former sins, or to discover unto them the hidden strength of corruption and deceitfulness of their hearts, that they may be humbled; and, to raise them to a more close and constant dependence for their support upon Himself, and to make them more watchful against all future occasions of sin, and for sundry other just and holy ends.

“6. As for those wicked and ungodly men whom God, as a righteous judge, for former sins, doth blind and harden, from them He not only withholdeth His grace, whereby they might have been enlightened in their understandings, and wrought upon in their hearts; but sometimes also withdraweth the gifts which they had, and exposeth them to such objects as their corruption makes occasions of sin; and, withal, gives them over to their own lusts, the temptations of the world, and the power of Satan, whereby it comes to pass that they harden themselves, even under those means which God useth for the softening of others.

“7. As the providence of God doth, in general, reach to all creatures; so after a most special manner, it taketh care of His Church, and disposeth all things to the good thereof.”

Mystery of Providence

“I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me.” (Ps 57:2). John Flavel in his book—The Mystery of Providence—rightly put it this way, “Payment is the performance of promises. Grace makes the promise, and Providence the payment.” Flavel went on to say, “Providence not only undertakes but perfects what concerns us. It goes through its designs, and accomplishes what it begins. No difficulty so clogs it, no cross accident falls in its way, but it carries its design through it. Its motions are irresistible and uncontrollable; He performs it for us….

“All its products and issues are exceedingly beneficial to the saints. It performs all things for them…. Providence neither does nor can do any thing that is really against the true interest and good of the saints. For what are the works of Providence but the execution of God’s decree and the fulfilling of His Word?... Now there is nothing but good to the saints in God’s purposes and promises; and, therefore, whatever Providence does concerning them, it must be (as the text speaks)… ‘the performance of all things for them.’”

The Bible is full of teaching on God’s providence. His prophecies and promises find fulfilment all because He is a God who is sovereign and faithful and will perform what He said He will do. God willing, a new course on the doctrine of providence will be offered when FEBC reopens for the new semester on January 3, 2022. Do sign up for it to know more about how God works in this world and in our lives. JK

Register at www.febc.edu.sg