Seeing the God of Providence
Notes
Transcript
Intro: One of the honest struggles I have as a preacher is knowing if I ever need to change a message based on what is happening in the world, or in our own church body.
In football terms, call an audible.
I think it’s a desire to be open to how the Lord want’s to speak to his people.
This was one of those weeks I wrestled early on
—We saw how Afghanistan—a place and people our church loves deeply has fallen to Taliban and the chaos of the moment
—We are dealing with a 4th wave of COVID. You all are fatigued; some are physically sick…but it’s created more anxiety, anger, angst, even grumblings
....Yet I still land that Ps 121 is what we need to hear.
That the Lord had this planned in advance....
Psalm of Accents
The final two Psalms we cover are Psalms of accents (Ps 120-134)
They were sung at festivals; they were sung habitually (Like that hymn or worship song you know by heart....)
They have also been referred to as:
—Gradual Psalms
—Songs of Steps
—Pilgrim Songs
**The idea is that these Psalms Of Accent really shape discipleship
Apply:
**Have you asked that recently?
—What is God teachers you when chaos hits?
—What is God teaching you in a 4th wave of a pandemic
The main trait of a disciple is teachability
There are two discipleship themes in the final two psalms
+Providence (Ps 121)
+Patience (Ps 131)
Apply: These are things that I need to be taught over and over again.
One Pastors book on these Psalms of Accents A Long Obedience in the Same Direction
To live that out we need to hold tightly to Providence and Patience
Seeing the God of Providence
Seeing the God of Providence
A look at the doctrine of Providence
—Piper’s book
John Piper came out with a massive, in-depth study on Providence. Over 700 pages soaked in Scripture.
*The fact that someone can write that much on a subject shows that it can be an overwhelming topic—
Piper points to the episode in Gen 22 as giving us a picture of what Providence looks like
Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together.
So Abraham called the name of that place, “The Lord will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”
The footnote in your Bibles read “will see”
(Gen 14:22) The Lord will see
We use phrases in English that are similar:
--”I’ll see to it”
—”I’ll keep my eye on that situations or person”
*What we mean is that we are taking responsibility and even taking actions.
“Wherever God is looking, he is acting” —John Piper
The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
keeping watch on the evil and the good.
Does not he see my ways
and number all my steps?
—Historical confessions
The doctrine of Providence is not a novel one.
Many confessing Christians have grown and been discipled
Belgic Confession—Article 13 (1561)
“We believe that this good God, after he created 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 without his orderly arrangement....This doctrine gives us unspeakable comfort since it teaches us that nothing can happen to us by chance, but only by the holy arrangement of our gracious heavenly Father”
Heidelberg Catechism—Lords Day 10 (1563)
“Providence is that almighty and ever-present power of God by which God upholds..heaven and earth and all creatures, and so rules—all things, in fact come to us by chance, but by his fatherly hand.”
Note that both of these statements rule out chance (luck, coincidence)
“All things come by his fatherly hand…including particular protection
(Ps 121)
Initially, this Psalm teaches a lesson that The Lord protects Israel (The verb keep, 6X);
This idea of Yahweh God keeping his people was so woven into Israel’s identity:
The Lord bless you and keep you;
Protection is the major concern
The more we dig, we see that the protection is a result of God’s providence
Furthermore, the protections results in preservation
*The doctrine of Providence is the “why” of Ps 121
Since providence is tied to God’s perfect control and ordering of all things,
The Psalm is built around one action, a word of affirmation, followed by pictures of assurance
Action (v1)
Action (v1)
The life of a disciple is an active life
Disciples are traveling
One suggestion is that this is written from the weary travelers perspective—a person, a leader traveling to Jerusalem. They are not yet arrived…the journey is still not complete....but they see the mountains of the Holy City in the distant
The first action is a call to look (v1)
The lingering question is: what is the metaphor of the mountains?
—Are they and intimidating obstacle physically to overcome
—Are they a snare? Pagan rituals took place on mountains
—Or maybe a threat: an attacking force hiding, or bands of robbers
The “looking to the hills” says at least one thing—he is traveling;
Apply: The life of discipleship is life of active traveling.
One pastor described it aptly “A Long Obedience in the Same Direction”
And what’s most needed: a firm view of God’s care and providence
Affirmation (v2)
Affirmation (v2)
The doctrine of providence is very closely related to the doctrine of creation; they go hand in hand, they link arms together
The Creator is able to control the chaos
For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
Apply: People are not easily worried if they know were they can turn to and find help.
But when people don’t know where to turn and find help, everything unravels.
V2 is really a declaration of faith. It’s a statement saying: I know where to turn when help is needed.
I know the God who helps me....The Maker of Heaven and Earth
Do we truly believe “my help comes from the Lord” —when’s the last time we’ve affirmed that? Does it bring comfort to our troubled souls?
Assurance (3-8)
Assurance (3-8)
The rest of the Psalm celebrates the assurance that comes from God’s providence
A few pictures
Sleep
Comfort
Comprehensive
1) (v3-4) bring in the metaphor of sleep; actually it’s non-sleep thats the picture
Sleep reminds us of our limitations;
We all know we are not “in control” but sleep really reminds us that
Sleep tells us that we are not
—All powerful
—All knowing
—All present
Remember how Elijah the prophet mocked the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:27)
And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, “Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.”
“He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep”
2) The next picture is shade (5-6)
I took one of my kids to a Fireflies game last week.
We had free tickets from a Summer reading program that we just needed to call and reserve
The operator who took my call asked where we wanted to sit.
Normally I say: wherever I can see good and maybe catch a foul ball
But I said: in the shade.
It’s the Midlands, and the middle of August!
Shade protects and comforts.
E.G. Jonah praying for shade
God’s Providential are ought to be a deep comfort to us. Back to those Reformed confession.
—If we lived in a world of chance, and luck....there is no comfort in that!
3) Comprehensive (7-8); God’s protection is is comprehensive…not partial
We usually link that word to our insurance policy. If you have a comprehensive policy, your car or truck is covered beyond jus the collision—like vandalism, or hitting and animal, or broken windshield.
A few years ago, we had a friend who was a financial advisor, and offered to helps us with some budgeting.
The first thing he said: to be honest, you guys drive some old clunker cars that are just not valuable
Comprehensive coverage is place on things of value…even great value
Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
Apply (v7)
Alec Motyer’s translation: “Yahweh will himself keep you from all evil”
There is a particular..... focused.....personalized care that God has for those he values in Jesus Christ.
Providence and Preservation go together…listen to the awesome promise of Jesus
I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
Apply: So much comfort flows from this! IF we have faith in the Lord Jesus---he watches over us, and actively keeps us from things harmful and evil.
Spurgeon emphasizes what this looks like
“Our soul is kept from the dominion of sin, the infection of error, the crush of despondency, the puffing up of pride; kept from the word, the flesh, and the devil; kept for holier and greater things; kept in the love of God”
**Can you imagine, what it would look like if God were not keeping us?
It’s actually Jesus’ prayer for us—trusting us in the strong, Providential care of God
And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.
Conclusion:
So friends,, What has God been teaching you?
Pastors of an earlier generation would talk of sucking the honey from a doctrine
What is sweet from this Psalm?
On final thing that struck me: this Psalmist is in the valley.
Likely also a weary traveler—still has days and nights ahead
When we are in the valley, what do we need:
See the God of Providence.
Suck the honey out of the truth—that God is watching, working.