Practical Remarks on Providence

After I read a short snippet on Providence from William S. Plumer in the Free Grace Broadcaster I was delighted to find out that it was simply a chapter from a whole book he wrote called Jehovah-Jireh (The Lord will Provide). So I ordered the book and have just finished reading it.  It is excellent and so I thought I would spread out some posts of some of its content here.

Providence Defined: The providence of God is his almighty and everywhere present power, whereby as it were by hand, he upholds and governs heaven, earth, and all creatures; so that herbs and grass, rain and drought, fruitful and barren years, food and drink, health and sickness, riches and poverty, yes, and all things come, not by chance–but by his fatherly hand. (Heidelberg Catechism)

This chapter is from Jehovah-Jireh, by William S. Plumer

I. What a theme for humble, devout and joyous meditation have we in this doctrine of providence!

The pious Flavel says–” It will doubtless be a part of our entertainment in heaven to view with transporting delight how the designs and methods were laid to bring us hither–and what will be a part of our blessedness in heaven may be well allowed to have a prime ingredient into our heaven upon earth. To search for pleasure among the due observations of Providence is to search for water in the ocean.” Vol. 4, p. 340. In a like strain the amiable John Howe says–“When the records of eternity shall be exposed to view, all the counsels and results of the profound wisdom looked into–how will it transport, when it shall be discovered! Lo, thus were the designs laid; here were the apt junctures and admirable dependencies of things, which, when acted upon the stage of time, seemed so perplexed and intricate.” Let God’s “loving-kindness” be continually before your eyes.

Think on his judgments. “He, that will observe the wonderful providences of God, shall have wonderful providences of God to observe.” ” Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the loving-kindness of the Lord.” Charnock says: “It is a part of atheism not to think the acts of God in the world worth our serious thoughts. . . . God is highly angry with those that mind him not; ‘Because they regard not the operation of his hands, he shall destroy them, and not build them up.'” Ps. xxviii.5. It is a divine art to view the hand of God in everything. It is an ennobling employment to meditate on all the wonders he has wrought. ” The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.” Ps. cxi. 2. That was a good resolution of Asaph–” I will remember the works of the Lord ; surely I will remember thy wonders of old: I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.” Ps. lxxvii. 11, 12.

II. There is excellent wisdom in our Saviour’s saying, “What I do thou knowest not now; but hereafter thou shalt know it.”

In this world nothing in providence is fully finished. Judge artists or artisans by appearances when their work is but half done, and not one of them could stand so unfair a test. Peter was greatly opposed to Christ’s dying at all. The disciples were overwhelmed when he did die. But out of his death sprang the life of the world. There would have been no gospel to believe or to preach, had Jesus not died. God’s “way is in the sea, and his path in the great waters, and his footsteps are not known.” Ps. Ixxvii. 19. A carpenter’s rule is too short to measure the heavens with. The waters of the sea can never be comprehended in a bottle. Neither can we ever fully know any act of providence as God knows it. But to judge of an event before the final issue is great folly. It is also sin. It is both arrogant and presumptuous. It also brings much misery with it. Who is more wretched than the man, who sees nothing but desolating storms in every cloud, nothing but disaster in every undertaking, nothing but sorrow in the very means used for his joy, nothing but overthrow in the steps which lead to his exaltation? Oh for a stronger faith. Oh for more patience. Could we but calmly wait and let the God of all the earth do as he pleases, all would be well. We are so wrapped up in selfishness that we egregiously over-estimate the importance of our own affairs.

A splendid steamer is swiftly passing up the Mississippi. She has more than five hundred passengers, pressing home to soothe sorrow, or scatter joy, to give life to commerce, and to carry messages of government. Vast interests depend on her safety and her speed. A little boy darts into the saloon, crying for the captain. At length he finds him, and says,”O captain, stop the boat, do stop the boat.” “Why so, my son?” said the veteran officer. The boy replied, “I have dropped my orange overboard, do stop the boat.” He was told it could not be done. His solicitude settled into sadness, which left him only after sleep. Think of that boy and his orange. There was some proportion between the value of that orange and the other interests involved, yet it was exceedingly small. But there is no proportion between our comfort for a day and the glory of God to eternity, or between our afflictions here and the glory that shall be revealed in us hereafter. “Be patient, brethren, unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” We know not what is best for us. Foolish children eat green apples, but prudent people first let them mature. Let us trust God joyfully. Ps. xxvii. 5.

III. How entirely do just views of God’s word and providence change the aspects of every thing.

He, who has any right views, would rather be with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the furnace, or with Daniel in the lions’ den than with Nebuchadnezzar on the throne. Paul bound with a chain was far more to be envied than Nero wearing the imperial purple. Paul and Silas were far from being the most unhappy men in Philippi the night their feet were in the stocks. There are two sides to every providence, as there were to the pillar of cloud and of fire. The bright side is towards the children of God. It ever will be so. God has ordained it. He will make good all his promises. “Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright.” Therefore, ye heroes of the cross, gird on your armor. Fight the good fight of faith. Never yield to fear. Endure hardness. Live to please him who has called you to be soldiers. Jesus reigns. Hear him proclaiming: “All power in heaven and earth is given unto me.” He is King of kings. He rules in the kingdoms of men. He is God in Zion. He loves the church more than you do. He died for it. He loves his people as the apple of his eye. Nothing shall harm those who are the followers of that which is good. O shout and give thanks. Robert Southwell, awaiting martyrdom in prison, wrote to his friend: “We have sung the canticles of the Lord in a strange land, and in this desert we have sucked honey from the rock, and oil from the hard flint.” Learn this heavenly art.

IV. Sinners, will not you give your hearts to God, and secure the blessings of his kindness, the care of his special providence?

Do you not need a Father in heaven? Do you not wish for a shield and buckler and horn of salvation? Persisting in sin and folly, the stars will fight against you in their courses. Yielding to the claims of divine love and authority all nature will at Jehovah’s bidding fight for you. Will you bow your neck? Will you take Christ’s yoke upon you? Will you be saved?

V. The right observance of providence is a great duty.

The particulars of this duty are well stated by Thomas Boston:

1. We should watch for them till they come. Heb. 2:1-3; Ps. 130:1, 5, 6; Lam. 3:49, 50.

2. We should take heed to them, and mark them when they come. Isa. 25:9; Ezek. 1:15; Zech. 6:1 ; Luke 19:44.

3. We should seriously review them, ponder and narrowly consider them. Ps. 111:2; Ezek. 10:13; Ps. 73:16; Job 10: 2; Ps. 77:6.

4. We should lay them up, and keep them in record. Luke 1:66; 1 Sam. 17:37; Ps. 37:25.

5. We should observe them for practical purposes, that they may have a sanctifying power over our hearts and lives. Ps. 64:7, 9; Deut. 29:2, 3, 4; 2 Kings 6:33; Ecc. 7:14.