The Providence of God
Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty. Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain: Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind: Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire: Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever. Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains. At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away. They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which thou hast founded for them. Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth. He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills. They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst. By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches. He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works. He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth; And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart. The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted; Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house. The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies. He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down. Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth. The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God. The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens. Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening. O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches. So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts. There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein. These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season. That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good. Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust. Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth. The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works. He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke. I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD. Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the LORD, O my soul. Praise ye the LORD. (Ps 104:1-35)
Providence And The Natural Order
Our text speaks many words about the providence of God and the natural order. One's initial question may be, “What is providence?” That is understandable, because such theologically charged words are out of style these days. Come to think of it, so is theology; but I digress. What is providence? Simply put, Divine providence is God's provision and preparation for the care of His creation. This necessarily covers the time from before the creation of the world until the consummation of all things when Jesus establishes the eternal kingdom of God. All of the ages of this world as well as the joys of the eternal world are part of God's providential plan for us. It is important to note, however, that providence does not relate to men alone. God cares for all of His creation. For this reason we must look at the big picture of how God's providence relates to the natural order of this world.
Our text speaks of God's care for this world in such terms as this: “Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever” ,and “He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills. They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst. By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches. He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works. He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth; And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart”, as well as “He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down. Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth. The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God. The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens. Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening. O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.” All of these things demonstrate to us that God is intimately involved in the day-to-day life of this world. God cares for nature, the beasts, etc. and has demonstrated that care by His careful arrangement of the natural order. The cycles of nature minister to all creation.
Having seen that our text points us to God's providence extending to the natural order, let us notice a few passages of Scripture that speak of this great doctrine. “Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.” (Neh 9:6) The God who made Heaven and earth as well as all things in them also sustains this creation. That's right, God upholds this world that He created. He hasn't left it alone to drift along aimlessly. God is at the helm of His creation. The Psalmist spoke of God's providence as it relates to the natural order in this manner: “For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth. They continue this day according to thine ordinances: for all are thy servants.” (Ps 119:89-91) The world was created by Divine fiat (See Heb 11:3), and that same command is obeyed by the creation to this day. All of creation is subservient to God and His command which established the natural order. Let us not think that this involvement is a disinterested act, however. God is presently upholding all things by the “word of His power.” (See Heb 1:1-3) This means that God's providence is an active providence.
Before concluding we need to view a few instances of God's providence as it relates to creation. First of all, let us return to our text, which is filled with instances of God's providential care for creation. We find that God created streams for the watering of the beasts (;10,11), as well as to satisfy the ground which produces fruit that mankind enjoys (:13-15), the trees and the rocks were given to the birds and various beasts for their homes (:16-18), and day and night were given to men and to beasts so that they could go forth and find provisions for their physical needs (:19-23). We also find the Psalmist saying “I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods. Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places. He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain; he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries.” (Ps 135:5-7) God is active even in the weather. As a matter of fact, Nahum spoke very plainly concerning God's activity saying, “God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies. The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet. He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth. The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein. Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him. The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him. But with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue his enemies.” (Nah 1:2-8) While the context is speaking of God's judgment upon wicked people, we can certainly see that God is active in this world, and doing what is good and right in what He does.
Finally, let us note that God's care for creation is good reason for man to trust God's providence in his own life. Jesus said, “Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matt 6:25-33) Yes, God cares for the birds and feeds them. He also told us that we are of more value than many sparrows (See Matt 10:28-31).
What a great God! He is worthy of our adoration and our faith. May this great truth draw our hearts toward this great and gracious God.
“O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.” (Ps 104:24)