Psalm
65:9 “You visit the earth
and water it, you greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water; you
provide their grain, for so You have prepared it.”
With all the rainfall in Southern California,
after five years of drought, this Bible verse has a special meaning about God’s
provision. The 65th Psalm speaks especially of God’s great work of “providence”
as supplementing His ancient work of creation. The latter was completed in the
six days of the creation week (Genesis 2:1-3). The work of providence, however, still goes
on, perpetually reminding us of God’s care for His creatures. The 1828 Webster’s
dictionary defines the word “providence” as 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.
Acts
14:17 “ Nevertheless
He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain
from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.”
One article explains that God’s
providential concern, however, extends not only to men and women. “He causes
the grass to grow for the cattle” (Psalm 104:14).
“So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both
small and great beasts … these wait all upon you; that you may give them their
meat in due season” (vv. 25, 27). “Behold the fowls of the air: . . . your
heavenly Father feeds them” (Matthew 6:26).
He feeds them! He is merely their maker and provider; yet a single
sparrow “shall not fall on the ground without your Father” (Matthew 10:29).
He even provides for the inert creation,
“upholding all things by the word of his power” (Hebrews 1:3).
The omnipotent God of creation is thus the ever-sustaining and ever-caring God
of providence. Still,
some choose not to believe, even though “that which may be known of God is
manifest in them; for God has shown it unto them. For the invisible things of
him from the creation of the world are clearly seen … so that they are without
excuse” (Romans
1:19-20). When you truly take a good, hard look around, we
cannot deny God’s work of Providence. Jehovah Jireh - God, my Provider.
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