The Doctrine of God and creation : Divine Providence (3).

Notes from Louis Berkhof : Summary of Christian Doctrine.Pp 61-63

Verses to Memorize:

Preservation

Neh 9:6  You, even You, are Jehovah alone. You have made the heavens, heaven of the heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things on it, the seas, and all in them, and You preserve them all. And the host of the heavens worships You. MKJV

Concurrence.

Php 2:13  For it is God Himself whose power creates within you the desire to do His gracious will and also brings about the accomplishment of the desire. WNT

God Rules over all - Government

Psa 103:19  Jehovah has prepared His throne in the heavens; and His kingdom rules over all.

1Ti 6:15  For He in His own time will reveal who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords,

Miracles and their design.

Exo 15:11  Who is like You, O Jehovah, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?

Mar 2:10  But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority upon earth to forgive sins, He said to the paralytic,

Mar 2:11  I say to you, Arise, and take up your cot, and go to your house.

Questions for further study.

1. Name some examples of special providences ? See Deut 2:7; 1 Kings 17: 6, 16;            2 Kings 4:6; Matt 14:20
2. How should belief in Divine Providence affect our cares. Isaiah 41:10; Matt 6:32; Luke 12 :7; Phil. 4:6-7; 1 Peter 5:7
3. Name some of the blessings of providence. Cf Isaiah 25:4; Ps 121 :4; Luke 12 :7; Deut 33:27; Ps 37 ; 2 TIm 4:18

Misconceptions about Divine Providence.

Guard against these two misconceptions.

1. The Deistic Concept. This is to the effect that God’s concern for the world is only of a general nature. He created the world, established its laws, set it all in motion, and then withdrew from it. It is like He wound up the clock, and now just lets it run off. It is only when something goes wrong that he interferes. God is only a god afar off. Wrong! Why?

   

   82-year-old Tom Monk has been banned from winding the clock.
   Daily Mail.co.uk

2. The Pantheistic Concept. Pantheism does not recognize the distinction between God and the World. It identifies the two (together), and therefore leaves no room for providence in the proper sense of the word. There are , strictly speaking , no such things as secondary causes. God is the direct author of all that transpires in the world. Even acts that we ascribe to man are really acts of God. (fatalism). God is only a God who is near and not a God afar off.

   

   False

3. The Extraordinary Providences or Miracles.

We distinguish between general and special providences of God. Among the latter Miracles occupy an important place.

A miracle is a supernatural work of God, that is a work that is accomplished without the mediation of Secondary causes.

If God sometimes apparently uses secondary causes in the production of miracles He employs them in a special way so that the work is after all supernatural.

Some regard miracles as impossible, because they involve a violation of the ordinary laws of nature. But this is a mistake. The so-called laws of nature merely represent Gods usual way of working. And the fact that God generally works according to a definite order does not mean that He cannot depart from this order, and cannot without violating and disturbing it to bring about unusual results. Even a man can lift up his hand and throw a ball into the air in spite of the law of Gravity and without in any way disturbing its operation. Surely this is not impossible for an Omnipotent God. The Miracles of the Bible are a means of revelation.

Num 16:28  And Moses said, By this you shall know that Jehovah has sent me to do all these works, and that not from my own heart.

Israelites crossing the Red Sea Exodus 14:19-24

Jer 32:20  For You have set signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, until this day, and in Israel, and among men; and have made You a name, as at this day;

Jer 32:21  and have brought forth Your people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs, and with wonders, and with a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with great terror.

Jesus changed the Water into Wine

Joh 2:11  This beginning of miracles Jesus did in Cana of Galilee. And it revealed His glory. And His disciples believed on Him.

Jesus changed the Water into Wine

Joh 5:36  But I have greater witness than that of John, for the works which the Father has given Me that I should finish them, the works which I do themselves witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.

Joh 5:37  And He sending Me, the Father Himself, has borne witness of Me.