Q. 27. What dost thou mean by the providence of God? The almighty and everywhere present power of God;[1] whereby, as it were by His hand, He upholds and governs heaven, earth, and all creatures;[2] so that herbs and grass, rain and drought,[3] fruitful and barren years,[4] meat and drink, health and sickness,[5] riches and poverty,[6] yea, and all things come, not by chance, but by His fatherly hand.[7]
[1] Acts 17:25–28; [2] Hebrews 1:3; [3] Jeremiah 5:24; [4] Acts 14:17; [5] John 9:3; [6] Proverbs 22:2; Job 1:21; [7] Matthew 10:29–30; Ephesians 1:11. Q. 28. What advantage is it to us to know that God has created, and by His providence doth still uphold all things?
That we may be patient in adversity;[1] thankful in prosperity;[2] and that in all things, which may hereafter befall us, we place our firm trust in our faithful God and Father,[3] that nothing shall separate us from His love;[4] since all creatures are so in His hand, that without His will they cannot so much as move.[5]
[1] Romans 5:3; Psalm 39:10; [2] Deuteronomy 8:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:18; [3] Romans 5:3–6; [4] Romans 8:38–39; [5] Job 1:12 and 2:6; Matthew 8:31; Isaiah 10:15. |
Commentary The Westminster Shorter Catechism has an excellent succinct definition of God’s works of providence, namely: “God’s works of providence are, His most holy, wise, and powerful preserving and governing all His creatures, and all their actions” (WSC 11). This statement appears to focus on the living beings, such as men, angels and animals, although there is no doubt that the framers of the Catechism believe that “all things,… from the greatest even to the least” (WCF 5.1) are upheld, directed, disposed of, and governed by God. Notice how HC 27 says the same thing, but in very concrete terms pertaining to heaven, earth, creatures, plant growth, weather conditions, health, economic conditions, etc. Notice how all these things are said to be upheld by God’s fatherly hand rather than by chance as commonly understood.
|
Heidelberg Catechism >