Reference: Providence
American
Ac 24:2, a superintending and forecasting care. The providence of God upholds and governs every created thing. Its operation is coextensive with the universe, and as unceasing as the flow of time. All his attributes are engaged in it. He provideth for the raven his food, and satisfieth the desire of every living thing. The Bible shows us all nature looking up to him and depending upon him, Job 38:41; Ps 104; 145:15-16; 147:8-9; and uniformly declares that every occurrence, as well as every being, is perfectly controlled by him. There is no such thong as chance in the universe; "the lot is cast into the lap, but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord," Pr 16:23. Not a sparrow, nor a hair of the head, falls to the ground without his knowledge, Isa 14:26-27; Mt 10:29-30; Ac 17:24-29. Nothing that was not too minute for God to create, is too minute for him to preserve and control. The history of each man, the rise and fall of nations, and the progress of the church of Christ, reveal at every step the hand of Him who "worketh all things after the counsel of his own will."
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Who prepareth for the Raven his nourishment, - when his young ones - unto GOD - cry out, when they wander for lack of food?
The heart of the wise, giveth discretion to his mouth, and, upon his lips, increaseth persuasiveness.
This, is the purpose that is purposed upon all the earth, - And, this, the hand outstretched over all the nations; For, Yahweh of hosts, hath purposed, - And who shall frustrate? And, his, is the hand outstretched, And who shall turn it back?
Are not, two sparrows, for a farthing, sold? And, one from among them, shall not fall upon the ground, without your Father; But, even the hairs of, your, head, have all been numbered.
The God that made the world and all things that are therein, the same, being, Lord, of heaven and earth, not in hand-made shrines, doth dwell, nor, by human hands, is waited upon, as though in want of anything, himself, giving unto all life and breath and all things; read more. he made also, of one, every nation of men to dwell upon all the face of the earth, - marking out fitting opportunities, and the bounds of their dwelling place, that they might be seeking God - if, after all, indeed, they might feel after him and find him, - although, in truth, he is already not far from any one of us. For, in him, we live and move and are: as, even some of your own poets, have said - For, his offspring also, we are. Being, then, offspring, of God, we ought not to be supposing that, unto gold or silver or stone, graven by art and device of man, the Divine, is like.
And, when he was called, Tertullus began to make accusation, saying - Seeing that, great peace, we are obtaining through thee, and that, reforms, are being brought about for this nation through thy forethought,
Easton
literally means foresight, but is generally used to denote God's preserving and governing all things by means of second causes (Ps 18:35; 63:8; Ac 17:28; Col 1:17; Heb 1:3). God's providence extends to the natural world (Ps 104:14; 135:5-7; Ac 14:17), the brute creation (Ps 104:21-29; Mt 6:26; 10:29), and the affairs of men (1Ch 16:31; Ps 47:7; Pr 21:1; Job 12:23; Da 2:21; 4:25), and of individuals (1Sa 2:6; Ps 18:30; Lu 1:53; Jas 4:13-15). It extends also to the free actions of men (Ex 12:36; 1Sa 24:9-15; Ps 33:14-15; Pr 16:1; 19:21; 20:24; 21:1), and things sinful (2Sa 16:10; 24:1; Ro 11:32; Ac 4:27-28), as well as to their good actions (Php 2:13; 4:13; 2Co 12:9-10; Eph 2:10; Ga 5:22-25).
As regards sinful actions of men, they are represented as occurring by God's permission (Ge 45:5; 50:20. Comp. 1Sa 6:6; Ex 7:13; 14:17; Ac 2:3; 3:18; 4:27-28), and as controlled (Ps 76:10) and overruled for good (Ge 50:20; Ac 3:13). God does not cause or approve of sin, but only limits, restrains, overrules it for good.
The mode of God's providential government is altogether unexplained. We only know that it is a fact that God does govern all his creatures and all their actions; that this government is universal (Ps 103:17-19), particular (Mt 10:29-31), efficacious (Ps 33:11; Job 23:13), embraces events apparently contingent (Pr 16:9,33; 19:21; 21:1), is consistent with his own perfection (2Ti 2:13), and to his own glory (Ro 9:17; 11:36).
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But, now, do not grieve, neither let it be vexing in your eyes, that ye sold me hither, - for, to save life, did God send me before you.
Ye, indeed, planned against me, evil, - God, planned it, for good, for the sake of doing, as at this day, to save alive much people.
Ye, indeed, planned against me, evil, - God, planned it, for good, for the sake of doing, as at this day, to save alive much people.
Then waxed bold the heart of Pharaoh, and he hearkened not unto them, - as spake Yahweh.
And Yahweh, gave the people favour in the eyes of the Egyptians and they gave them gladly, - so they spoiled the Egyptians.
and, I, behold me letting the heart of the Egyptians wax bold, that they may enter after them, - that I may get me honour over Pharaoh and over his forces, over his chariots, and over his horsemen,
Yahweh, doth kill, and make alive, - Taketh down to hades, and bringeth up:
Wherefore, then, should ye make your heart dull, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh made their heart dull! When he had done his great doings upon them, did they not let them go, and they departed?
But the king said, What have I in common with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? thus, he curseth, because, Yahweh, hath said unto him - Curse David. Who then can say, Why hast thou done thus?
And again was the anger of Yahweh kindled against Israel, - so that he suffered David to be moved against them, saying, Go, count Israel and Judah.
Let the heavens rejoice, and the earth exult, Let them say among the nations, Yahweh, hath become king!
Who giveth greatness to nations, or destroyeth them, Who spreadeth out nations, or leadeth them into exile:
But, he, is one, and who can turn him? What his soul desired, he hath done.
As for GOD, blameless is his way, The speech of Yahweh hath been proved, A shield, he is to all who seek refuge in him.
Thus didst thou grant me, as a shield, thy salvation, - and, thy right hand, sustained me, and, thy condescension, made me great.
The counsel of Yahweh, to times age-abiding, shall stand, The devices of his heart, from generation to generation.
Out of his settled place of abode, hath he fixed his gaze on all the inhabitants of the earth: Who fashioneth their heart all together, Who understandeth all their doings.
For God is king of all the earth, Sing praises with understanding.
My soul hath run clinging to thee, On me, hath thy right hand laid hold.
For the multitude of mankind shall give thanks unto thee, The remainder of the multitude, shall keep holy festival unto thee.
But, the lovingkindness of Yahweh, is from one age even to another, Upon them who revere him, And his righteousness, to children's children: - To such as keep his covenant, And remember his precepts, to do them. read more. Yahweh, in the heavens, hath established his throne, And, his kingdom, over all, hath dominion.
Who causeth the grass to shoot forth for the cattle, And the herb, for the service of man, That he may bring forth food out of the earth;
The young lions, roaring for prey, And seeking, from GOD, their food. The sun ariseth, they withdraw themselves, And, in their lairs, lay them down. read more. Man goeth forth to his work, And to his labour, until evening. How thy works abound, O Yahweh! All of them - in wisdom, hast thou made, The earth is full of thy possession: - This sea here, is great and broad on both hands, - Wherein are creeping things, even without number, Living things, small with great; There, ships, sail along, This sea-monster, thou hast formed to sport therein; All of them, for thee, do wait, That thou mayest give them their food in its season; Thou givest unto them, they gather, Thou openest thy hand, they are satisfied with good. Thou hidest thy face, they are dismayed, Thou withdrawest their spirit, They cease to breathe, And, unto their own dust, do they return:
For, I, know that great is Yahweh, yea, our Lord, is beyond all gods. Whatsoever Yahweh hath pleased, he hath done, - in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas, and all resounding deeps: read more. Causing vapours to ascend from the end of the earth, - Lightnings for the rain, hath he made, bringing forth wind out of his treasuries.
To man, belong the preparations of the heart, but, from Yahweh, cometh the answer of the tongue.
A man's heart, deviseth his way, but, Yahweh, directeth his steps.
Into the lap, is cast the lot, but, from Yahweh, is its every decision.
Many are the devices in a man's heart, but, the counsel of Yahweh, that, shall stand.
Many are the devices in a man's heart, but, the counsel of Yahweh, that, shall stand.
From Yahweh, are a man's steps, a son of earth, then - how can he discern his way?
Like channels of water, is the heart of a king, in the hand of Yahweh, - whithersoever he will, he turneth it.
Like channels of water, is the heart of a king, in the hand of Yahweh, - whithersoever he will, he turneth it.
Like channels of water, is the heart of a king, in the hand of Yahweh, - whithersoever he will, he turneth it.
And, he, changeth times and seasons, removeth kings, and setteth up kings, - giving wisdom to the wise, and knowledge to them who are skilled in understanding:
That, thee, are they going to drive forth from among men, and, along with the wild beasts of the field, shall be thy dwelling, and, grass - like oxen, will they suffer, thee, to eat, and, with the dew of the heavens, will they suffer, thee, to be drenched, and, seven seasons, shall pass over thee, - until that thou come to know, that the Most High, hath dominion, over the kingdom of men, and, to whomsoever he pleaesth, he giveth it.
Observe intently, the birds of the heaven, - that they neither sow, nor reap, nor gather into barns, and yet, your heavenly Father, feedeth, them: Are no, ye, much better than, they?
Are not, two sparrows, for a farthing, sold? And, one from among them, shall not fall upon the ground, without your Father;
Are not, two sparrows, for a farthing, sold? And, one from among them, shall not fall upon the ground, without your Father; But, even the hairs of, your, head, have all been numbered. read more. Then be not in fear - than many sparrows, better are, ye!
The hungry, hath he filled with good things, and, the wealthy, hath he sent empty away;
And there appeared unto them - parting asunder - tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each one of them;
The God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, - the God of our fathers, hath glorified his servant Jesus: - whom, ye, indeed, delivered up and denied to Pilate's, face when he had adjudged to release him;
Howbeit, God - what things he had before declared, through the mouth of all the prophets, for his Christ to suffer, - did thus fulfill!
For they were gathered together, of a truth, in this city, against thy holy servant Jesus, whom thou hadst anointed, - both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with them of the nations, and peoples of Israel; -
For they were gathered together, of a truth, in this city, against thy holy servant Jesus, whom thou hadst anointed, - both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with them of the nations, and peoples of Israel; - To do whatsoever, thy hand and thy counsel, marked out beforehand to come to pass.
To do whatsoever, thy hand and thy counsel, marked out beforehand to come to pass.
Although, not without witness, he left himself, doing good, from heaven, upon you, giving rain and fruitful seasons, filling, with food and gladness, your hearts.
For, in him, we live and move and are: as, even some of your own poets, have said - For, his offspring also, we are.
For the Scripture saith unto Pharaoh - Unto this end, have I raised thee up, that I may thus shew in thee my power, and that I may declare my name in all the earth.
For God hath shut up all together, in a refusal to yield, in order that, upon all, he may bestow mercy.
Because, of him, and through him, and unto him, are all things: - unto him, be the glory, unto the ages. Amen!
But, the fruit of the Spirit, is - love, joy, peace, long-suffering, graciousness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self-control; - against such things as these, there is no law. read more. And, they who are of Christ Jesus, have crucified, the flesh, with its susceptibilities and covetings. If we live by Spirit, by Spirit, let us also walk.
His, in fact we are - his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus upon a footing of good works, which God prepared beforehand, that, therein, we might walk.
For it is, God, who energiseth within you, both the desiring and the energising, in behalf of his good pleasure.
I have might, for all things, in him that empowereth me.
And, he, is before all, and, they all, in him, hold together;
If we are faithless, he, faithful, abideth, - for, deny himself, he cannot!
Who, being an eradiated brightness of his glory, and an exact representation of his very being, also bearing up all things by the utterance of his power, purification of sins, having achieved, sat down on the right hand of the majesty in high places:
Come now! ye that say - Today or To-morrow, we will journey unto this city here, and will spend there a year, and will trade and get gain, - Men who are not versed in the morrow - of what sort your life will be ; for ye are, a vapour - for a little, appearing, then, just disappearing! read more. Instead of your saying - If, the Lord, be pleased, we shall both, live and do this or that;
Fausets
Foresight, Greek pronoia "forethought" (Ac 24:2). As applied to God, it expresses His never ceasing power exerted in and over all His works. It is the opposite of "chance," "fortune," and "luck." It continues creation. In relation to all things it is universal, and nothing is too minute for its regard; to moral beings special; to holy or converted beings particular. Each is an object of providence according to its capacity. God's providence is concerned in a sparrow's fall; His children are of more value than many sparrows, and therefore are assured of His providential care in all their concerns. Its acts are threefold; preservation, co-operation, and government. He controls all things for the highest good of the whole, acting upon every species conformably to its nature: inanimate things by physical influences, brutes according to instinct, and free agents according to the laws of free agency. Providence displays God's omnipresence, holiness, justice and benevolence.
If the telescope reveals the immense magnitude and countless hosts of worlds which He created and sustains, the microscope shows that His providence equally concerns itself with the minutest animalcule. Nothing is really small with God. He hangs the most momentous weights on little wires. We cannot explain fully why evil was ever permitted; but God overrules it to good. If no fallible beings had been created there could have been no virtue, for virtue implies probation, and probation implies liability to temptation and sin. Sin too has brought into view God's wisdom, mercy, and love, harmonized in redemption, and good educed from evil; yet the good so educed by guilt does not exculpate sinners, or warrant the inference, "let us do evil that good may come" (Ro 3:8).
Proofs of providence.
(I) We can no more account for the world's continued preservation than for its original creation, without God's interposition.
(II) He sustains because He originally made it (Ps 33:6,13-16; Col 1:17); as one may do what one will with his own, so God has the right to order all things as being their Maker (Isa 64:8; Ro 9:20-23). God's interest in His own creation is Job's argument for God's restoring him (Job 10:3,9-12; 14:15).
(III) God's power, wisdom, knowledge, and love all prove a providence. "He that denies providence denies God's attributes, His omniscience which is the eye of providence, His mercy and justice which are the arms of providence, His power which is its life and motion, His wisdom which is the rudder whereby providence is steered, and holiness the compass and rule of its motion" (Charnock).
(IV) The prevailing order in the world proves providence (Ge 8:22). The Greek word for world and order is one and the same, kosmos, Latin, mundus; and modern science has shown that the very seeming aberrations of the planets are parts of the universal order or law which reigns. "All discord harmony not understood, All partial evil universal good." (Isa 40:22,26.) The plagues, earthquakes, drought, flood, frost, and famine subserve ends of providence which we only in part see; and they also suggest to us the need of a providence to control them within appointed bounds, and that without such a providence all nature would fall into disorder (Jer 5:22; Job 26:7-11; 38:4-14).
(V) The present moral government of the world. Conscience stings the wicked, or civil punishments or the consequences of violating nature's laws overtake them.
(1) The anomalies apparent now, the temporary sufferings of the righteous and prosperity of the wicked, the failure of good plans and success of bad ones, confirm the revelation of the judgment to come which shall rectify these anomalie.s (See JOB.)
(2) The godly amidst affliction enjoy more real happiness than the ungodly, whose prosperity is "shining misery"; (1Ti 4:8; Mr 10:29-30).
(3) The sorrows of godly men are sometimes the result of their running counter to laws of nature, or even of revelation; as Jacob's lying to Isaac, repaid in kind retributively in Jacob's sons lying to him, etc., David's adultery and murder punished retributively by Absalom's lying with his father's concubines and by the sword never departing from David's house (2 Samuel 12).
(4) Yet even so they are overruled to the moral discipline of the saint's faith, patience, and experience (Ro 5:3-4; 1Pe 1:6-7); David's noblest qualities were brought forth by Saul's persecutions, and even by Absalom's punitive rebellion (2Sa 15:25-26; 16:10-12).
(5) There is sin even in men sincere before God; they need at. times to be brought, as Job at last was, to abase themselves under God's visiting hand, and instead of calling God to account to acknowledge His ways are right and we are sinful, even though we do not see the reason why He contends with us (Job 40:4-5; 42:2-6; contrast Job 10:2; 33:13).
(6) The issue of wickedness is seen even in this life generally, that though flourishing for a time (Jer 12:1) the wicked are "set in slippery places, and brought into desolation as in a moment" (Psalm 73; Ps 37:35-37; Job 20:5).
(VI) History vindicates providence. The histories of Israel, Judah, and Gentile nations show that "righteousness exalteth a nation" (Pr 14:34). The preparations made for the gospel of our Saviour indicate a providence (Ga 4:4), the distinctness of prophecy waxing greater and greater as the time for the evangelization of the Gentiles approached (Lu 2:32). The translation of the Jewish Scriptures into the language of a large part of the civilized world, Greek, by the Septuagint (by it the history of providence and the prophecies of Messiah became accessible to the learned everywhere; all possibility of questioning the existence or falsifying the contents of the prophecies was taken away; the closing of the canon just before proved that the Scriptures, so translated, supplied complete all that God revealed in Old Testament times); the expectation throughout the East of a great King and Deliverer to arise in Judaea; the increasing light of philosophy; the comprehension of most of the known world by the Roman empire, breaking down the barrier between E. and W., establishing a regular police everywhere, and the universal peace which prevailed at the coming of the gospel of peace; the multiplication and settling of Jews in Egypt, Asia, Greece, Italy, and western Europe (Horace, Sat. i., 9:69-71; 4:140): all paving the way for promulgating the gospel.
The remarkable working of providence secretly (for God's name never occurs in the book) is apparent in the case of Esther, whereby the fate of the whole Jewish nation hung upon a despot's whim, acted on by a favorite. (See ESTHER.) The providential preparations for the appointed issue, Ahasuerus' feast, Vashti's womanly pride, Mordecai's informing the king of the design against his life, the choice of Esther as queen, Haman's plot, laid so cleverly yet made to recoil on himself, so that after having himself to thank for dictating the honours which he had to pay to the very man whom he wished to destroy he was hanged on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai.
So in the case of Joseph; the brothers' wicked and seemingly successful plan for defeating God's will of elevating him above them, as revealed in his dreams, was overruled to being made the very means of accomplishing it. So "Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel,were gathered together against Christ, for to do whatsoever God's hand and God's counsel determined before to be done" (Ac 4:27-28; compare Ge 42:6; Pr 19:21; 21:30). Fighters against the truth have been by providence made, in spite of themselves, instrumental in spreading it, by calling attention to it and to its power in ennobling believers' lives. "They that were scattered abroad" by persecutors "went everywhere preaching the word" (Ac 8:4), the storm that would rend the oak scatters its seed in every direction.
(VII) Belief in providence is the basis of religion, especially of revealed religion: "the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will" (Da 4:32), So minute is His providential care that "the very hairs of our head are all numbered" (Mt 10:30; Ac 27:34; Lu 21:18; Da
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During all the days of the earth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat and summer and winter, and day and night, shall not cease.
Now, Joseph - he, it was, that was in power over the land, he, it was that was selling corn to all the people of the land, - so Joseph's brethren came in, and bowed themselves down to him, with their faces to the earth.
they saw not one another neither rose any man from his couch for three days, - but all the sons of Israel, had light in their dwellings.
then shall there be a great outcry, in all the land of Egypt, - such, as never was and, such, as shall not be again. But against none of the sons of Israel, shall a dog sharpen his tongue, neither against man nor beast, - that ye may know that Yahweh maketh a difference between Egypt and Israel.
Then said the king unto Zadok, Take back the ark of God into the city, - if I find favour in the eyes of Yahweh, then will he bring me back, and let me see both him and his habitation, but, if thus, he say, I have no delight in thee, here I am, let him do unto me as may be good in his eyes.
But the king said, What have I in common with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? thus, he curseth, because, Yahweh, hath said unto him - Curse David. Who then can say, Why hast thou done thus? Then said David unto Abishai, and unto all his servants, Lo! my own son who sprang from my body, is seeking my life, - then how much more, now, a Benjamite? Let him alone, and let him curse, for, Yahweh, hath permitted him. read more. It may be, that Yahweh will behold with his eye, - and that Yahweh will return me good, for his cursing this day.
I say unto GOD, Do not hold me guilty, Let me know, on what account thou contendest with me! Is it seemly in thee, that thou shouldst oppress? that thou shouldst despise the labour of thine own hand, when, upon the counsel of the lawless, thou hast shone?
Remember, I pray thee, that, as clay, thou didst make me, and, unto dust, thou wilt cause me to return. Didst thou not, like milk, pour me forth? and, as cheese, curdle me? read more. With skin and flesh, clothe me? and, with bones and sinews, interweave me? Life and lovingkindness, thou didst bestow upon me, - and, thy watchful care, preserved my breath.
Thou shouldst call, and, I, would answer thee, - For the work of thine own hand, thou shouldst long.
That, the joy-shout of the lawless, is short, and, the rejoicing of the impious, for a moment?
Who stretcheth out the north over emptiness, hangeth the earth upon nothingness; Who bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds, and the cloud is not rent beneath them; read more. Who shutteth-in the face of the throne, he spreadeth over it his cloud; A, boundary, hath he encircled on the face of the waters, as far as where light ends in darkness; The pillars of the heavens, are shaken, and are terrified at his rebuke:
Wherefore, against him, hast thou contended? For, with none of his reasons, will he respond.
Where wast thou, when I founded the earth? Tell, if thou knowest understanding! Who set the measurements thereof, if thou knowest? Or who stretched out over it a line? read more. Whereon were the pedestals thereof sunk? Or who laid the corner stone thereof; - When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? Or who shut in, with double doors, the sea, when, bursting out of the womb, it came forth; When I put a cloud as the garment thereof, and a thick cloud as the swaddling-band thereof; And brake off for it my boundary, and fixed a bar and double doors; And said - Hitherto, shalt thou come, and no further, - and, here, shalt thou set a limit to the majesty of thy waves? Since thy days began hast thou commanded the morning? or caused the dawn to know its place; That it might lay hold of the wings of the earth, and the lawless be shaken out of it? It transformeth itself like the clay of a seal, so that things stand forth like one arrayed;
Lo! I am of no account, what shall I reply to thee? My hand, have I laid on my mouth: Once, have I spoken, but I will not proceed, yea twice, but I will not add.
I know that, all things, thou canst do, and that no purpose can be withholden from thee. Who is it that hideth counsel without knowledge? Therefore, have I declared, but not understood, things too wonderful for me, which I could not know. read more. Hear thou, I pray thee, and, I, will speak, I will ask thee, and inform thou me. By the hearing of the ear, had I heard thee, but, now, mine own eye, hath seen thee. For this cause, I tremble and repent, on dust and ashes.
By the word of Yahweh, the heavens were made, and, by the spirit of his mouth, all their host:
Out of the heavens, hath Yahweh looked, He hath seen all the sons of men: Out of his settled place of abode, hath he fixed his gaze on all the inhabitants of the earth: read more. Who fashioneth their heart all together, Who understandeth all their doings. Not a king, can be saved by greatness of force, nor, hero, deliver himself by greatness of strength:
I have seen a lawless man, a tyrant, and spreading himself out, like a cedar in Lebanon; Then I passed by, and lo! he had vanished! Yea I sought him, but he could not be found. read more. Mark the blameless man, and behold the upright, for there is a hereafter for the man of peace;
Righteousness, exalteth a nation, but, a reproach to any people, is sin.
Into the lap, is cast the lot, but, from Yahweh, is its every decision.
Many are the devices in a man's heart, but, the counsel of Yahweh, that, shall stand.
There is no wisdom, nor understanding, nor counsel, to confront Yahweh.
It is he who sitteth upon the circle of the earth, While the inhabitants thereof are, as grass-hoppers, - Who stretcheth forth, as a curtain, the heavens, And spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in;
Lift on high your eyes - and see who hath created these, That bringeth forth, by number, their host, - To all of them by name, doth call, Because of the abundance of vigour and alertness of strength, not one, is missing!
But, now, O Yahweh, our father, thou art, - We are the clay, and, thou, art our potter, Yea the work of thy hand, are we all:
Even for me, will ye have no reverence? Enquireth Yahweh, And because of me, will ye not he pained? In that though I placed the sand as a bound to the sea, A decree age-abiding, and it should not pass beyond it, - When they would toss themselves Then should they not prevail, When the waves thereof would roar Then should they not pass beyond it,
Righteous, art thou O Yahweh, when I present my pleading unto thee, - Yet, concerning the things that are right, let me speak with thee, - Wherefore hath, the way of the lawless, prospered? Wherefore have all, utter traitors, been at ease?
And - being gathered together - the satraps, the nobles, and the pashas and near friends of the king, saw these men, over whose bodies the fire had, no power, nor was, a hair of their head, singed, neither were, their trousers, disfigured, - nor had, the smell of fire, come upon them.
And, from among men, are they going to drive, thee, forth, and, with the wild beast of the field, shall be thy dwelling, grass - like oxen, will they suffer, thee, to eat, and, seven seasons, shall pass over thee, - until that thou come to know that the Most High, hath dominion, over the kingdom of men, and, to whomsoever he pleaseth, he giveth it.
For lo! I am giving command, and will sift, throughout all the nations, the house of Israel, - as grain is sifted in a sieve, yet shall there not fall a kernel, to the earth.
And they said - every one unto his fellow, Come, and let us cast lots, that we may get to know for whose sake this calamity is upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah.
But, even the hairs of, your, head, have all been numbered.
Jesus said - Verily, I say unto you - There is, no one, who hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or mother, or father, or children, or lands, for the sake of me, and for the sake ofthe glad-message, who shall not receive a hundredfold, now, in this season, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, - with persecutions, and, in the age that is coming, life age-abiding.
A light for the unveiling of nations, and the glory of thy people Israel.
And, a hair of your head, in nowise shall perish, -
For they were gathered together, of a truth, in this city, against thy holy servant Jesus, whom thou hadst anointed, - both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with them of the nations, and peoples of Israel; - To do whatsoever, thy hand and thy counsel, marked out beforehand to come to pass.
They, indeed, therefore, who were scattered abroad, passed through, telling the good-news of the word;
For, in him, we live and move and are: as, even some of your own poets, have said - For, his offspring also, we are.
And, when he was called, Tertullus began to make accusation, saying - Seeing that, great peace, we are obtaining through thee, and that, reforms, are being brought about for this nation through thy forethought,
Wherefore, I beseech you to take some food, - for, this, lays a foundation for your safety; for, of no one of you, shall a hair of the head perish.
And why not, according as we are injuriously charged, and according as some affirm that we say, Let us do the bad things, that the good ones may come? whose sentence is, just.
And, not only so, but let us boast also in our tribulations; knowing that, our tribulation, worketh out endurance. And, our endurance, a testing, and, our testing, hope,
O man! Who, nevertheless, art, thou, that art answering again unto God? Shall the thing formed say unto him that formed it - Why didst thou make me thus? Or hath not the potter a right over the clay - out of the same lump, to make some, indeed, into a vessel for honour, and some for dishonour? read more. And, if God - wishing to shew his anger and to make known his power - bare, in much patience, with vessels of anger already fitted for destruction, In order that he might make known the riches of his glory upon vessels of mercy which he prepared beforehand for glory, -
But, when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth his Son, who came to be of a woman, who came to be under law, -
And, he, is before all, and, they all, in him, hold together;
And, he, is before all, and, they all, in him, hold together;
For, the bodily training, for little, is profitable, whereas, godliness, for all things is profitable, - having, promise, of life - the present and the coming.
Who, being an eradiated brightness of his glory, and an exact representation of his very being, also bearing up all things by the utterance of his power, purification of sins, having achieved, sat down on the right hand of the majesty in high places:
Hastings
1. The word is not found in the OT. In the NT it is used only once; in the exordium of his address to Felix, the orator Tertullus says: 'By thy providence evils are corrected for this nation' (Ac 24:2). Here 'providence' simply means 'foresight,' as in 2Ma 4:6 'the king's providence.'
2. The first appearance of the word 'providence' (Gr. pronoia) in Jewish literature is in Wis 14:3, where God is represented as making for a ship 'a way in the sea'; the Jewish author, borrowing the expression from the Stoic philosophers, says: 'Thy providence, O Father, guideth it along.' In a later passage, recognizing the sterner aspect of the truth to which the OT also bears witness, he contrasts the destinies of the Israelites and Egyptians and describes the latter, when they were 'prisoners of darkness,' as 'exiled from the eternal providence' (Wis 17:2).
3. Although the OT does not contain the word 'providence,' it is a continuous and progressive revelation of Him 'whose never-failing providence ordereth all things both in heaven and earth.' Historians narrate the gradual accomplishment of His redemptive purpose concerning the Chosen People and the world at large (Ge 50:20; Ex 8:22; De 32:8 ff.; cf. Ps 74:12 ff.); poets delight to extol Him 'whose tender mercies are over all his works' (Ps 145:9; cf. Ps 29:3 ff., Ps 104; 136); prophets point to the proofs of God's guidance in the past in order that the people may gain wisdom for the present and courage for the future (De 32:7 ff., Hag 2:9; Isa 51:2; Mal 4:4 ff.). The Book of Job has been called 'the book of Providence,' because it not only gives the author's solution of perplexing problems, but also 'furnishes reasons for believing in the righteous providence of God from the consideration of His character and His dominion over nature' (Oehler, Theology of OT, ii. 474; cf. Job 27; 34:10; 36:22; 37:21).
4. Belief in Providence stands or falls with belief in a personal God. It is incompatible with mechanical or pantheistic theories of Creation. Ancient problems which perplexed Greek philosophers and Hebrew sages press heavily upon the modern mind as it strives to reconcile its trust in Divine providence with the reign of law in the universe and with the existence of pain and evil. Jesus Christ taught that the laws of nature are the established methods of His Heavenly Father's working, and that they fulfil as well as reveal His will (Mt 6:25 ff; Mt 10:29 ff., Joh 5:17). Belief in Providence means to the Christian, trust in the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has so clearly revealed His will in His Son as to make it plain to His children that natural laws may not only subserve moral and spiritual ends in this present time, but may also further His unerring purposes which are not bounded by this mortal life (Ro 8:28; 2Co 4:11 ff., 1Pe 1:6 ff.).
J. G. Tasker.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Ye, indeed, planned against me, evil, - God, planned it, for good, for the sake of doing, as at this day, to save alive much people.
then will I make to differ on that day, the land of Goshen wherein my people do dwell, so that there shall not be there a gad-fly! in order that thou mayest know, that I, Yahweh, am in the midst of the land;
Remember the days of age-past times, Remark the years of many generations, - Ask thy father and he will tell thee, Thine elders and they will say to thee: - When the Most High gave inheritances unto the nations, When he spread abroad the sons of Adam, He set the bounds of the peoples, According to the number of the sons of Israel.
The voice of Yahweh, is upon the waters, - The GOD of glory, hath thundered, Yahweh, is upon mighty waters;
But, God, hath been my king from aforetime, Working Deliverances in the midst of the earth.
Good is Yahweh to all, and, his tender compassions, are over all his works.
Look well unto Abraham your father, And unto Sarah who gave you birth, - For he was, alone, when called I him, And, I blessed him that I might make him, many.
Greater shall be the last glory of this house than the first, saith Yahweh of hosts, - and, in this place, will I give prosperity, Declareth Yahweh of hosts.
Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, - which I commanded him in Horeb, for all Israel, statutes and regulations.
For this cause, I say unto you: Be not anxious for your life, what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink, - or for your body, what ye shall put on: Is not, the life, more than, the food? And, the body, than, the raiment?
Are not, two sparrows, for a farthing, sold? And, one from among them, shall not fall upon the ground, without your Father;
But, he, answered them - My Father, until even now, is working; and, I, am working.
And, when he was called, Tertullus began to make accusation, saying - Seeing that, great peace, we are obtaining through thee, and that, reforms, are being brought about for this nation through thy forethought,
We know, further, that, unto them who love God, God causeth all things to work together for good, - unto them who, according to purpose, are such as he hath called;
And Jesus, he that is called Justus, - they being of the circumcision; these only, are my fellow-workers unto the kingdom of God, men who have been, unto me, a comfort.
Wherein ye exult, though, for a little, just now, if needful, put to grief in manifold temptations,
Watsons
PROVIDENCE, the conduct and direction of the several parts of the universe, by a superior intelligent Being. The notion of a providence is founded upon this truth, that the Creator has not so fixed and ascertained the laws of nature, nor so connected the chain of second causes, as to leave the world to itself, but that he still preserves the reins in his own hands, and occasionally intervenes, alters, restrains, enforces, suspends, &c, those laws by a particular providence. Some use the word providence in a more general sense, signifying by it that power or action by which the several parts of the creation are ordinarily directed. Thus Damascenus defines providence to be that divine will by which all things are ordered and directed to the proper end: which notion of providence supposes no laws at all fixed by the author of nature at the creation, but that he reserved it at large, to be governed by himself immediately. The Epicureans denied any divine providence, as thinking it inconsistent with the ease and repose of the divine nature to meddle at all with human affairs. Simplicius argues thus for a providence: If God does not look to the affairs of the world, it is either because he cannot or will not; but the first is absurd, since, to govern cannot be difficult where to create was easy; and the latter is both absurd and blasphemous. In Plato's Tenth Dialogue of Laws, he teaches excellently, that (since what is self-moving is, by its nature, before that which moves only in consequence of being moved) mind must be prior to matter, and the cause of all its modifications and changes; and that, therefore, there is a universal Mind possessed of all perfection, which produced and which actuates all things. After this he shows that the Deity exercises a particular providence over the world, taking care of small no less than great things. In proving this he observes "that a superior nature of such excellence as the divine, which hears, sees, and knows all things, cannot, in any instance, be subject to negligence or sloth; that the meanest and the greatest part of the world are all equally his work or possession; that great things cannot be rightly taken care of without taking care of small; and that, in all cases, the more able and perfect any artist is, (as a physician, an architect, or the ruler of the state,) the more his skill and care appear in little as well as great things. Let us not, then," says he, "conceive of God as worse than even mortal artists." The term providence, in its primary signification, simply denotes foresight; and if we allow the existence of a supreme Being who formed the universe at first, we must necessarily allow that he has a perfect foresight of every event which at any time takes place in the natural or moral world. Matter can have no motion, nor spirit any energy, but what is derived from him; nor can he be ignorant of the effects which they will, either separately or conjointly, produce. A common mechanic has knowledge of the work of his own hands: when he puts the machine which he has made in motion, he foresees how long it will go, and what will be the state and position of its several parts at any particular point of time; or, if he is not perfectly able to do this, it is because he is not perfectly acquainted with all the powers of the materials which he has used in its construction: they are not of his making, and they may therefore have qualities which he does not understand, and consequently cannot regulate. But in the immense machine of the universe there is nothing except that which God has made; all the powers and properties, relations and dependencies, which created things have, they have, both in kind and degree, from him. Nothing, therefore, it should seem, can come to pass at any time, or in any part of the universe, which its incomprehensible Architect did not, from the moment his almighty fiat called it into existence, clearly foresee. The providence of God is implied in his very existence as an intelligent Creator; and it imports not only an abstract foresight of all possible events, but such a predisposition of causes and effects, such an adjustment of means and ends, as seems to us to exclude that contingency of human actions with which, as expectants of positive rewards and punishments in another world, we firmly believe it to be altogether consistent.
By providence we may understand, not merely foresight, but a uniform and constant operation of God subsequent to the act of creation. Thus, in every machine formed by human ingenuity, there is a necessity for the action of some extraneous power to put the machine in motion: a proper construction and disposition of parts not being sufficient to effect the end: there must be a spring, or a weight, or an impulse of air or water, or some substance or other, on which the motion of the several parts of the machine must depend. In like manner, the machine of the universe depends upon its Creator for the commencement and the conservation of the motion of its several parts. The power by which the insensible particles of matter coalesce into sensible lumps, as well as that by which the great orbs of the universe are reluctantly, as it were, retained in their courses, admits not an explanation from mechanical causes: the effects of both of them are different from such as mere matter and motion can produce; they must ultimately be referred to God. Vegetable and animal life and increase cannot be accounted for, without recurring to him as the primary cause of both. In all these respects the providence of God is something more than foresight; it is a continual influence, a universal agency; "by him all things consist," and "in him we live, and move, and have our being." Much labour has been employed to account for all the phenomena of nature by the powers of mechanism, or the necessary laws of matter and motion. But this, as we imagine, cannot be done. The primary causes of things must certainly be some powers and principles not mechanical, otherwise we shall be reduced to the necessity of maintaining an endless progression of motions communicated from matter to matter, without any first mover; or of saying that the first impelling matter moved itself. The former is an absurdity too great to be embraced by any one; and there is reason to hope that me essential inactivity of matter is at present so well understood, and so generally allowed, notwithstanding some modern oppugners of this hypothesis, that there can be but few who will care to assert the latter. All our reasonings about bodies, and the whole of natural philosophy, are founded on the three laws of motion laid down by Sir Isaac Newton, at the beginning of the "Principia." These laws express the plainest truths; but they would have neither evidence nor meaning, were not inactivity contained in our idea of matter. Should it be said that matter, though naturally inert, may be made to be otherwise by divine power, this would be the same with saying that matter may be made not to be matter. If inactivity belong to it at all, it must belong to it as matter, or solid extension, and therefore must be inseparable from it. Matter is figured, movable, discerptable, inactive, and capable of communicating motion by impulse to other matter; these are not accidental but primary qualities of matter. Beside, matter void of inactivity, if we were to suppose it possible, could produce no effects. The communication of motion, its direction, the resistance it suffers, and its cessation, in a word, the whole doctrine of motion cannot be consistently explained or clearly understood without supposing the inertia of matter. Self-moving matter must have thought and design, because, whenever matter moves, it must move in some particular direction, and with some precise degree of velocity; and as there is an infinity of these equally possible, it cannot move itself without selecting one of these preferably to and exclusively of all others, and therefore not without design. Moreover, it may be plainly proved that matter cannot be the ultimate cause of the phenomena of nature, or the agent which, by any powers inherent in itself, produces the general
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And, about clothing, why are ye anxious? Consider well the lilies of the field, how they grow, - they toil not neither do they spin;