Sermon Tone Analysis

The doctrine of Providence is that all things are sustained, directed and controlled by God.

— Leonard Woods

Linguistically the English word for providence is a compound word meaning “before” and “to see.”

God pro videos; that is, God provides because … He sees before what we need and therefore supplies.

Providence involves God’s capacity to see (and, consequently, to act) beforehand.

Do humans have any capacity for to act like this? Can we anticipate certain things in life?

“See it coming” or “Seeing a need before it arises.”

Are we equipped to anticipate all events in our lives?

What would that ability require?

Omniscience and omnipotence

Is this a sufficient definition of providence?

Is providence only divine anticipation?

No, it is not merely reactive.

Is it enough to say that providence is proactive?

Providence is more than being merely proactive.

Providence is determinative!

The Word “Providence” in the Bible

πρόνοια- thoughtful planning to meet a need, forethought, foresight, providence

It is used one other time in the NT-

What does Paul mean when he says, “make no provision for the flesh”?

He means take no foresight or forethought for the flesh—planning or arranging an opportunity or manipulating circumstances so that my flesh has an opportunity to satisfy its desires.

What are some examples of doing this?

Carry the answers into an exam / purposefully stroll down the magazine isle at the store.

What are you doing when you do these things?

You are exercising providence (very negative sense).

You are looking down the road ahead of time to arrange an opportunity to sin.

Positive Illustrations of “Providence”

3x’s the NT uses the verb form of providence.

What is our word?

What is the meaning in the context?

take every precaution to be open and aboveboard in our dealings.

Paul is practicing Rom.

12:17 in his handling of the financial gift for the Jerusalem saints.

Here our words dictates the duty of caring and providing for the needs of the family.

Jehovah-Jireh: Banner of Providence

Context of Gen 22-

Provide: lit.

means “to see”

We could translate it this way, “God himself will see to a lamb for a burnt offering.”

This is exactly what God did, in an very unusual, unexpected, and “providential” way.

What name did Abram then give the place where all this happened?

Or Jehovah-jireh (יְהוָ֣ה׀ יִרְאֶ֑ה)

“jireh”- is the same word from v. 8 and means “to see.”

So Abraham called the name of that place, “The Lord will see to it” and “in the mount of the Lord it will be seen to.”

What is the easy application of this passage in regards to providence?

The general notion that God always provides

However the context helps us see some very specific applications and nuances of providence.

Context on Abraham’s statement- what was Abraham willing to do on this occasion?

Obedience to the Lord that involves sacrifice of what is dearest and most cherished- and even God-given!

Context driven application:

1.

When we seek to obey God, even at enormous cost to ourselves, He “sees to it” that we are blessed.

2. If we are on the verge of willingly sacrificing something in deference to Him, or in order to carry out His will, He will “see to” (that is, He will provide) a suitable substitute or will recompense the loss in His way and time.

3. God in His providence will provide / intervene for us when we determine to obey Him or when we willingly sacrifice for Him.

What Does the Bible Say?

Let’s look at some narrative statements that demonstrate God’s providence.

What kinds of situations does the Bible explicitly attribute God’s providential intervention in these passages?

Preemptive disease

Restraint from sinning (Abraham and Abimelech)

Barrenness and pregnancy

Conception

Suffering as the victim of the sinful acts of others in order to be used to effect a greater good.

Unusually deep sleep (to protect God’s servant)

Auditory hallucinations and a complete misapprehension of reality

Appointment of even secular governmental leaders

Weather, animal behavior, and plant development

Over what activities is the providence of God at work?

What is so significant about all of these examples?

Small to great and everything in-between

Defining Providence

Simply stated, providence is the word that describes the biblical doctrine of God’s active involvement and intervention, directly or indirectly, in human affairs.

Providence denotes the “preservation, care and government which God exercises over all things that He has created, in order that they may accomplish the ends for which they were created.”

— Wilbur Tillett

Providence is “the unceasing activity of the Creator whereby, in overflowing bounty and goodwill, He upholds His creatures in ordered existence, guides and governs all events, circumstances, and free acts of angels and men, and directs everything to its appointed goal, for His own glory.”

The Twofold Concept of Providence

Preserving providence- God continuously preserves and maintains the existence of every part of His creation, from the smallest to the greatest, according to His sovereign pleasure.

Governing providence- God graciously guides and governs all events, indulging the free acts of men and their external circumstances, and directs all things to their appointed ends for His glory.

Providence or Miracle?

What is the difference?

Miracle- a supernatural act in which God intervenes in the natural course of human experience, by exercising His authority over creation for the purpose of self-revelation.

Miracle- splitting the Red Sea

Providence- a king not being able to sleep at night

A miracle is overt providence.

Providence might be described as God’s covert activity in orchestrating the affairs of men and the events of history.

Providence of Coincidence?

Does providence leave any possibility for coincidence?

The doctrine of the providence of God leaves no ream for fate, blind or otherwise.

God is not blind; neither is He capricious.

For Him there are no accidents.

If chance exists, God cannot exist.

If one molecule flies wild by chance, then God is not sovereign.

If God is not sovereign, then God is not God.

God and chance simply cannot exist.

— R.C. Sproul

Some practical questions:

How often do you refer to luck or chance in casual conversation?

Are phrases like “Good Luck” or “If anything can go wrong, it will” as innocent as they seem?

Do you think habits of speech condition the way you or those around you view and interpret life?

If God’s providence is over every aspect of our lives, how should that effect our attitude toward whatever we may experience?