Yes, Father, for this way was well pleasing in Your sight.

[Carbon]

I have always found Divine Providence to be totally awesome and majestic! I also see it as the doctrine that cannot be denied as proof of a sovereign God, hence: Reformd Theology.

Is divine providence a doctrine of grace? Yes, I believe it is.

And if it is ever asked why God does this or that, chooses this one and not another, why does He not save anyone? The only legitimate answer comes from Jesus. in Matthew 11

25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent, and have revealed them to infants. 26& Yes, Father, for this way was well pleasing in Your sight. Matthew 11. NASB

25 At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. Matthew 11. ESV

25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.
26 Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight. Matthew 11 KJV

As I said, I always found divine providence to be totally awesome and majestic, so I thought I would bring it up here. I admire the believers on this site and really look forward to everyone's thoughts on this subject. I must admit, there are a few people in particular who are Reformd that I am particularly interested in hearing what they have to say. This is not so much a debate as it is a sharing, learning (for me), and fellowshiping.

From the 1828 Noah Webster's: Providence​

In theology, the care and superintendence which God exercises over his creatures. He that acknowledges a creation and denies a providence involves himself in a palpable contradiction; for the same power which caused a thing to exist is necessary to continue its existence. Some persons admit a general providence but deny a particular providence not considering that a general providence consists of particulars. A belief in divine providence is a source of great consolation to good men. By divine providence is often understood God himself.

I favor the 1828 Webster's


Thoughts? Please share.

 

[Carbon]

As Boettner writes: As regards God's providence, we are to understand that He is intimately concerned with every detail in the affairs of men, and in the course of nature. And Charles Hodge said, "to suppose that anything is too great to be comprehended in His control, or anything so minute as to escape His notice; or that the infinite, or that infinitude of particulars can distract His attention, is to forget that God is infinite. . . .

 

[Arial]

I have always found Divine Providence to be totally awesome and majestic! I also see it as the doctrine that cannot be denied as proof of a sovereign God, hence: Reformd Theology.

Is divine providence a doctrine of grace? Yes, I believe it is.

And if it is ever asked why God does this or that, chooses this one and not another, why does He not save anyone? The only legitimate answer comes from Jesus. in Matthew 11

25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent, and have revealed them to infants. 26& Yes, Father, for this way was well pleasing in Your sight. Matthew 11. NASB

25 At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. Matthew 11. ESV

25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.
26 Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight. Matthew 11 KJV

As I said, I always found divine providence to be totally awesome and majestic, so I thought I would bring it up here. I admire the believers on this site and really look forward to everyone's thoughts on this subject. I must admit, there are a few people in particular who are Reformd that I am particularly interested in hearing what they have to say. This is not so much a debate as it is a sharing, learning (for me), and fellowshiping.

From the 1828 Noah Webster's: Providence​

In theology, the care and superintendence which God exercises over his creatures. He that acknowledges a creation and denies a providence involves himself in a palpable contradiction; for the same power which caused a thing to exist is necessary to continue its existence. Some persons admit a general providence but deny a particular providence not considering that a general providence consists of particulars. A belief in divine providence is a source of great consolation to good men. By divine providence is often understood God himself.

I favor the 1828 Webster's


Thoughts? Please share.

It is interesting to me Webster' statement "By divine providence is often understood God himself." This was my experience long before I became a Christian. From the time I was four onward I have been a voracious reader, including of novels and of course when younger those beginning chapter books. My reading experience began in 1950 so the books available were from a far different era than what have been around for many decades. But I would often come across that word capitalized "Providence" instead of "God". So even after I became a Christian and really not until I had moved from A'ist to Reformed, did I realize that it was not only another name for God, but that it had its own theological meaning. I never thought about it before that.

And those who spoke of God by "Providence" were doing so with the full force of that theological meaning. It is something else much of the modern church has lost. Well---it had to give it up didn't it? Arminianism loses a great deal of its assertions if it were to become once again an essential part of the Doctrine of God.

Learning of providence to me, and I will be so bold as to say a great many if not most, is indeed a great comfort. And not only comfort in times of struggle or suffering, but the very strengthening backbone for endurance in those times. A gift for growing in real and genuine trust of God, come what may, and in our prayers.

 

[Carbon]

Question: Boettner writes,

Although the price of a sparrow is small, and its flight seems giddy and at random, yet it does not fall to the ground, nor alight anywhere without your Father. "His all-wise providence hath before appointed what bough it shall perch upon; what grains it shall pick up; where it shall lodge and where it shall build; on what it shall live and where it shall die."

Jesus said in Matthew 10:29-31
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Do you think Boettner is stretching it a bit? Or, does it align with what Jesus said?

 

[Carbon]

Question: Boettner writes,

Although the price of a sparrow is small, and its flight seems giddy and at random, yet it does not fall to the ground, nor alight anywhere without your Father. "His all-wise providence hath before appointed what bough it shall perch upon; what grains it shall pick up; where it shall lodge and where it shall build; on what it shall live and where it shall die."

Jesus said in Matthew 10:29-31
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Do you think Boettner is stretching it a bit? Or, does it align with what Jesus said?

To me, this is supernaturally profound. It's beyond me why He is interested in every seemingly insignificant happening.

 

[Carbon]

It is interesting to me Webster' statement "By divine providence is often understood God himself." This was my experience long before I became a Christian. From the time I was four onward I have been a voracious reader, including of novels and of course when younger those beginning chapter books. My reading experience began in 1950 so the books available were from a far different era than what have been around for many decades. But I would often come across that word capitalized "Providence" instead of "God". So even after I became a Christian and really not until I had moved from A'ist to Reformed, did I realize that it was not only another name for God, but that it had its own theological meaning. I never thought about it before that.

And those who spoke of God by "Providence" were doing so with the full force of that theological meaning. It is something else much of the modern church has lost. Well---it had to give it up didn't it? Arminianism loses a great deal of its assertions if it were to become once again an essential part of the Doctrine of God.

Learning of providence to me, and I will be so bold as to say a great many if not most, is indeed a great comfort. And not only comfort in times of struggle or suffering, but the very strengthening backbone for endurance in those times. A gift for growing in real and genuine trust of God, come what may, and in our prayers.

Amen!

 

[Carbon]

Some other things I have always had an issue with, not because I dont believe it, but because it isn't something my pea brain can't make sense out of. For example.

Every raindrop, every snowflake, that falls, every insect, and we know there are trillions and trillions and trillions, every plant that grows, every grain of dust that floats in the air, has certain definite causes and will have certain definite effects. These all seem insignificant to me.

Wow!

 

[Arial]

Some other things I have always had an issue with, not because I dont believe it, but because it isn't something my pea brain can't make sense out of. For example.

Every raindrop, every snowflake, that falls, every insect, and we know there are trillions and trillions and trillions, every plant that grows, every grain of dust that floats in the air, has certain definite causes and will have certain definite effects. These all seem insignificant to me.

Wow!

It truly is beyond us to fathom and yet it could be nothing less as God does nothing without significance and effect. It would defy his very self to do so and that is not possible. I was reading the wisdom proverb yesterday where wisdom is personified as being present with God at creation--meaning all creation is founded on infinite wisdom and understanding that he possesses and is. He possesses wisdom not as a part of him or as we possess attributes or things, but as his own perfection.

Did you need to sit down for a second if you were standing? We cannot grasp what that is like off course, but knowing it is so, that he is so beyond us in essence, ---- is enough to make anyone who glances towards it and off of it lest the glory and power "blow our minds", at least for a moment fear God in every sense of the word.

 

[Arial]

Question: Boettner writes,

Although the price of a sparrow is small, and its flight seems giddy and at random, yet it does not fall to the ground, nor alight anywhere without your Father. "His all-wise providence hath before appointed what bough it shall perch upon; what grains it shall pick up; where it shall lodge and where it shall build; on what it shall live and where it shall die."

Jesus said in Matthew 10:29-31
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Do you think Boettner is stretching it a bit? Or, does it align with what Jesus said?

Agree. It also makes me enjoy all those sparrows that that I have been feeding at the bird feeder all the more. I tended to think I was just doing it for the birds, but I was serving God's purpose, and not only that! they are serving him.

I am sure to be able to think like that all the time would cause us to truly enjoy each day.

 

[atpollard]

I am fascinated by “downstream effects”. Events that become the ‘cause’ (secondary) for later events often temporally much later and even many secondary effects removed. How realities in my life today would be different if life had not been so shaped by past events. How things that many would view as a ‘curse’ had secretly been a ‘gift’ to shape a skill or knowledge or sensitivity or shareable experience that I would need later (or more importantly, someone else would need later FROM me). Thus I was merely given the ‘providential’ gift of carrying a scar until it was needed to provide someone else a rope to climb out of a dark pit of their own. So I was given the strength to survive so that I could tell them that they could survive, too (and have ‘street credit’ for them to believe it).

So, providence … yeah.

 

[Carbon]

I am fascinated by “downstream effects”. Events that become the ‘cause’ (secondary) for later events often temporally much later and even many secondary effects removed. How realities in my life today would be different if life had not been so shaped by past events. How things that many would view as a ‘curse’ had secretly been a ‘gift’ to shape a skill or knowledge or sensitivity or shareable experience that I would need later (or more importantly, someone else would need later FROM me). Thus I was merely given the ‘providential’ gift of carrying a scar until it was needed to provide someone else a rope to climb out of a dark pit of their own. So I was given the strength to survive so that I could tell them that they could survive, too (and have ‘street credit’ for them to believe it).

So, providence … yeah.

Awesome brother!

 

[Arial]

I am fascinated by “downstream effects”. Events that become the ‘cause’ (secondary) for later events often temporally much later and even many secondary effects removed. How realities in my life today would be different if life had not been so shaped by past events. How things that many would view as a ‘curse’ had secretly been a ‘gift’ to shape a skill or knowledge or sensitivity or shareable experience that I would need later (or more importantly, someone else would need later FROM me). Thus I was merely given the ‘providential’ gift of carrying a scar until it was needed to provide someone else a rope to climb out of a dark pit of their own. So I was given the strength to survive so that I could tell them that they could survive, too (and have ‘street credit’ for them to believe it).

So, providence … yeah.

I too am awed by the backward look at things and the ways it not only to my good but simultaneously his providence in the life of another for their good.

One of the most painful and catastrophic betrayals of my life, and forced me out of my home and the country life I loved and into the city with what was intended to be only a rest stop at my 89-year-old mother's house, is now something I am grateful to God for (and grateful does not even begin to cover it). But even more of a blessing, I discovered my mother should not be living alone or driving. She was nearly deaf and had no peripheral vision. I had siblings who lived in the same city whereas I was six hours away, and if they had realized her condition (selective denial in them) would have put her in a nursing home and that was her greatest fear. It is why she hid so much.

I was able to be with her, and she was able to stay in her home for another eight years when at 95 she went to be with the Lord. He provided for me, a home a job and finally my own business and just that one backwards look at the providence of God is an anchor, a security in knowing that he will always provide for me, he will always be with me.

But truthfully, learning the doctrines of Reformed theology and then seeing them clearly in Scripture, and the providence of God, I can look back over my entire life and see that he always had his eye and his hand on me. As you say, as you did, that even my sins were shaping me and, in that way, leading me to Christ. Even being raised as a Christian Scientist was serving towards that purpose. And I know they were serving a purpose for not only me but others, even if I don't know all the ways they were. Just as @Carbon posted---every dust mote is caused and directed and serving a purpose. I consider myself a dust mote in the grand scheme of things---but so what? I am God's dust mote. I might as well be gold.