Providence

★

“God’s works of providence are, his most holy, wise, and powerful preserving and governing all his creatures, and all their actions.”^[1]

Preservation

Neh 9:6; Job 33:4; 34:14–15; Ps 104:29; Ac 17:25, 28; Col 1:17; Heb 1:3; 2Pe 3:7

Concurrence in chance, random things

1Ki 22:34 (cf. 2Ch 18:33); Ps 16:5–6; Pr 16:33; Ecc 9:11; Jnh 1:7; Ac 1:26

Concurrence in inanimate things

Gen 8:22; Job 38:12, 31–32; Ps 104:4, 14; 135:6–7; 148:8; Hag 1:11; Mt 5:45; 6:28 (cf. Lk 12:27)

Concurrence in animals

1Ki 17:4–6; Job 12:7–10; 38:39–41; Ps 104:27–29; 147:9; Mt 6:26; 10:29 (cf. Lk 12:6, 24)

Concurrence in kings, nations

1Ki 12:15, 24 (cf. 2Ch 10:15; 11:4; 25:20); Job 12:23; Ps 22:28; 33:10–12; Pr 21:1; Ezr 1:1; 6:22; Ac 14:16; 17:26; Ro 13:1–7

Concurrence in human life

Job 12:7–10; 14:5; Ps 18:34; 33:14–15; 39:4–5; 75:6–7; 127:3; 139:16; Jer 1:5; Mt 6:11; Lk 1:52; Ac 17:26; 1Co 4:7; Gal 1:15; Php 4:19

Concurrence in human will

Ge 20:6; Ps 33:14–15; 37:23; Pr 16:1, 9; 19:21; 20:24; Jer 10:23; Jnh 1:14–15 (cf. Jnh 2:3); Ro 15:18; 1Co 15:10; 2Co 8:1–5, 16–17; Php 2:12–13; Col 1:29; Heb 13:20–21; 2Pe 1:21

Concurrence in calamity, evil

Ge 50:20 (cf. Ge 37:4–5, 8, 11; 45:5, 7–8); Ex 14:17; Dt 32:39; Jos 11:20; Jdg 14:4; 1Sa 2:25; 16:14; 2Sa 12:11–12; 2Sa 24:1, 10, 12–17 (see also 1Ch 21:1); 1Ki 11:14, 23; 22:23; 2Ki 19:28; 1Ch 10:4, 14; 2Ch 21:16–17; Job 1:21–22; 2:10; Ps 105:25; Isa 10:5–19; 45:7; 63:17; Lam 3:37–38; Jer 25:9, 12; Eze 14:9; Am 3:6; 9:4; Mt 18:7; Lk 22:22 (cf. Mt 26:24; Mk 14:21); Jn 12:40; Ac 2:23; 4:26–28; 2Th 2:11–12; 1Pe 2:8

Government (sovereignty)

Job 23:13; 42:2; Ps 33:8–11; 103:19; 115:3; 135:5-7; Ecc 3:14–15; Isa 14:24, 27; 43:13; 46:9-11; Dan 4:34–35; Ac 2:23; 4:28; Ro 8:28; 11:36; Eph 1:11; Php 2:10–11; 1Ti 6:15; Heb 6:17

But God is not the author of sin

Main topic: Theodicy Ge 18:25; Dt 32:4; Job 34:10; Ps 5:4; 145:17; Eze 33:17–20; Hab 1:13; Jas 1:13, 17; 1Jn 1:5; Rev 16:5–7

See also

• Free will

1. Westminster Shorter Catechism, question 11. #