The Providence of God's Good Plan in Scripture
The Providence of God's Good Plan in Scripture
The concept of God's providence is deeply rooted in Scripture, referring to God's sovereign care and governance over all creation. According to Easton's Bible Dictionary, providence "denotes God's preserving and governing all things by means of second causes" [1]. This understanding is supported by various biblical passages, such as Psalm 104:14 and Acts 17:28, which illustrate God's providential care over the natural world and human affairs.
The biblical basis for the doctrine of providence is multifaceted. Torrey's Topical Textbook highlights several aspects, including God's preservation of creatures, provision for their needs, and protection of the saints [2]. Scripture affirms that God's providence extends to the free actions of men (Ex. 12:36; 1 Sam. 24:9-15; Ps. 33:14, 15) and that He orders the ways of men (Prov. 16:9; 19:21) [1, 2].
The goodness of God's providence is a recurring theme in Scripture. Psalm 145:9 declares that "the Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made". The Psalmist also notes that God "prepares a table before me" (Ps. 23:5), illustrating God's providential care in providing for the needs of His people [7].
Theological traditions have grappled with understanding the intricacies of God's providence. John Gill's commentary on Psalms 111:2 emphasizes that God's works of providence are great and display His glory [5]. Matthew Henry's commentary on Proverbs 16:33 underscores that divine Providence directs events that may seem casual or fortuitous to humans, highlighting God's sovereignty in all things [6].
The biblical account also illustrates that God's providence is not limited to grand or spectacular events but is evident in the everyday lives of individuals. Psalm 37:23 affirms that "the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord" [3]. This understanding is echoed in the writings of Flavius Josephus, who reflects on the distinction made by Divine providence between the righteous and the wicked [4].
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Providence — Literally means foresight, but is generally used to denote God's preserving and governing all things by means of second causes (Ps. 18:35; 63:8; Acts 17:28; Col. 1:17; Heb. 1:3). God's providence extends to the natural world (Ps. 104:14; 135:5-7; Acts 14:17), the brute creation (Ps. 104:21-29; Matt. 6:26; 10:29), and the affairs of men (1 Chr. 16:31; Ps. 47:7; Prov. 21:1; Job 12:23; Dan. 2:21; 4:25), and of individuals (1 Sam. 2:6; Ps. 18:30; Luke 1:53; James 4:13-15). It extends also to the free actions of men (Ex. 12:36; 1 Sam. 24:9-15; Ps. 33:14, 15; ”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Providence of God, The — Is his care over his works -- Ps 145:9. Is exercised in Preserving his creatures. -- Ne 9:6; Ps 36:6; Mt 10:29. Providing for his creatures. -- Ps 104:27,28; 136:25; 147:9; Mt 6:26. The special preservation of saints. -- Ps 37:28; 91:11; Mt 10:30. Prospering saints. -- Ge 24:48,56. Protecting saints. -- Ps 91:4; 140:7. Delivering saints. -- Ps 91:3; Isa 31:5. Leading saints. -- De 8:2,15; Isa 31:5. Leading saints. -- De 8:2,15; Isa 63:12. Bringing His words to pass. -- Nu 26:65; Jos 21:45; Lu 21:32,33. Ordering the ways of men. -- Pr 16:9; 19”
- Psalms “Psalms 37:23 (BBE) — The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and he takes delight in his way.”
- Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 15, section 19: that although Ahab hoped Jehoshaphat would be mistaken for him, and run the only risk of being slain in the battle, yet he was entirely disappointed, while still the escape of the good man Jehoshaphat, and the slaughter of the bad man Ahab, demonstrated the great distinction that Divine providence made betwixt them.] 44 (return) [ We have here a very wise reflection of Josephus about Divine Providence, and what is derived from it, prophecy, and the inevitable certainty of its accomplishment; and that when wicked men think they ”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 111:2: The works of the Lord are great,.... His works of creation are great, being made out of nothing, are the effects of great power, and the produce of great wisdom, and which greatly display the glory of their Maker; the works of providence are great, which are daily wrought, especially such as concern the church and people of God, for whom he does great things, whereof they have reason to be glad and praise his name; the miracles of Christ he wrought here on earth were surprisingly great, some of them such as had not keen known from the creation of the world; and yet g”
- Proverbs (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Proverbs 16:33: Note, 1. The divine Providence orders and directs those things which to us are perfectly casual and fortuitous. Nothing comes to pass by chance, nor is an event determined by a blind fortune, but every thing by the will and counsel of God. What man has neither eye nor hand in God is intimately concerned in. 2. When solemn appeals are made to Providence by the casting of lots, for the deciding of that matter of moment which could not otherwise be at all, or not so well, decided, God must be eyed in it, by prayer, that it may be disposed aright (Give a perfect lo”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 23:5: Thou preparest a table before me,.... In a providential way granting a sufficiency, and even an affluence of temporal good things; the providence of God lays and spreads a table for his people in the wilderness, and sets them down at it, and bids them welcome to it; see Psa 78:19; and in a way of grace, the Lord making large provisions in his house for them, called the goodness and fatness of his house, and a feast of fat things; and under the Gospel dispensation, the table of the Lord, on which are set his flesh and blood for faith to feed upon; see Pro 9:2; and also”