The Care of God

Introduction:

· The Bridge of San Luis Rey

I) God Is a Creator

A. Expressing our Praise to God, the Creator

i. From Ancient Egypt to Bob Dylan:

1. The Psalmist borrows from the hymn to Aten (which Dylan borrowed…)

2. Difference: These hymns praised creation, Psalm 104 praises the creator

ii. Creation reveals the glory of God

1. Through 5 days of creation the Psalm praises God for his Creative Work

2. This is not a scientific account, but poetic praise of a personal creator

a. Day 1 (vv. 1-5, Gen. 1:1, 3)

b. Day 2 (vv. 6-13, Gen. 1:6-8)

c. Day 3 (vv. 14-17, Gen. 1:11-13)

d. Day 4 (vv. 19-23, Gen. 1:14-19)

e. Day 5 (vv. 24-30, Gen. 1:20-25)

B. The Beautiful Comfort of a Creator (see vv. 2-3)

i. The entire universe has been carefully designed

1. The universe: fallout from war, or artistic design, intricate engineering?

2. APPLICATION: NOT just organic matter…but created with purpose!

ii. The entire universe reflects the glory of God

1. Furthermore, the world is God’s dwelling in which he reveals himself

2. EXAMPLE: math to Jazz…the world reflects beauty and order of God!

WHAT IS GOD’S RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS CREATION LIKE?

II) God is a Sustainer

A. God Upholds the World He Made

i. God provides lovingly provides abundance for his creation

1. God provides food for all creatures (vv. 10-11, 17-18, 20-21)

2. God provides not only sustenance, but delightful food, wine (vs. 15)

ii. God provides for his world through secondary means

1. Aren’t we enlightened? Science explains what the ancients couldn’t?

2. No: the science of our world does not preclude God’s involvement

iii. God uses our work to govern his world (vs. 14)

1. By the way: One of the ways God rules creation is through work

2. From farm to table:

3. From safety and security

B. Taking Comfort in the Theme of God’s Providence

i. We may be thankful for God’s care

1. How many things had to go right for you to eat dinner last night?

2. Calvin says: “contemplate this, and be grateful!”

ii. We may trust God even in adversity

1. But what about when it’s not? Famine? Drought? Disease?

2. QUOTE:

I FIND THIS IS MUCH EASIER SAID, THAN DONE, AND IT’S NOT EASY TO SAY.

III) God is a Redeemer

A. Dealing with Tough Truths of God’s Providence

i. Trusting in God’s Providence in a Chaotic World proves eminently difficult

1. The world is a chaotic place…out of control?

2. EXAMPLES: Indian Ocean Tsunami; incredible poverty in Liberia;

ii. Some options for dealing with God’s providence n a chaotic world

1. God out of the picture (as in Oregon – yet we become more anxious)

2. God is limited in power (understandable – but frightening)

B. Resting in a Joyful Assurance of God’s Redemptive Providence

i. Sin in the world accounts for some evil: Sierra Leone & Lyft (vv. 33-35)

ii. BUT: Jesus is revealed as the creator-sustainer of this world

1. God creates AND sustains the world through Jesus (Heb. 1:2-3)

Hebrews 1:2–3 ESV

but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

2. Jesus is so invested in his creation that he dies for it in order to free it

3. The scope of sin is enormous; so is the scope of redemption (Rom. 8:20-21)

Romans 8:20–21 ESV

For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

Romans 8:18 ESV

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

Transition:

Conclusion

A new Heavens & A New Earth