Bible Text: Deuteronomy 31:8 | Preacher: Inaka Awomi

Deuteronomy 31:8 “And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.”

Discussion Questions on PROVIDENCE –        

“The most strict and proper notion of providence is nothing else but the performance of God’s gracious purposes and promises to His people. Payment is the performance of promises. Grace makes the promises, and providence the payment.”  – John Flavel

“I know not the way God leads me, but will do I know my Guide.” – Martin Luther                                                                                                                           

What do you understand the word PROVIDENCE to mean? –

Scripture verses on PROVIDENCE:

Psalm 145:9 – The LORD is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.
Psalm 104:27-28 – These all look to you, to give them their food in due season. When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are filled with good things.
Matthew 10:29 – Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.
Luke 22:35 – And he said to them, “When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “Nothing.”

Do you think unexpected emergencies can overtake God? –

Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. – Acts 15:18
Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me. – Isa 45:21
And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. – Isa 65:24

In what sense is it frightening to realize that God knows all of your thoughts, motives, words and actions?

For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings. There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves. – Job 34:21-22
He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works. – Psa 33:15
Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart. – Psalm 44:21

In what moments in your life would a proper understanding of God’s providence have been helpful to you?

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. – Mat 6:33-34
Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established. – Pro 16:3

Providence
Literally means foresight, but is generally used to denote God’s preserving and governing all things by means of second causes (Psa 18:35; Psa 63:8; Acts 17:28; Col 1:17; Heb 1:3). God’s providence extends to the natural world (Psa 104:14; Psa 135:5-7; Acts 14:17), the brute creation (Psa 104:21-29; Mat 6:26; Mat 10:29), and the affairs of men (1Ch 16:31; Psa 47:7; Pro 21:1; Job 12:23; Dan 2:21; Dan 4:25), and of individuals (1Sa 2:6; Psa 18:30; Luke 1:53; Jam 4:13-15). It extends also to the free actions of men (Exo 12:36; 1Sa 24:9-15; Psa 33:14, Psa 33:15; Pro 16:1; Pro 19:21; Pro 20:24; Pro 21:1), and things sinful (2Sa 16:10; 2Sa 24:1; Rom 11:32; Acts 4:27, Acts 4:28), as well as to their good actions (Phi 2:13; Phi 4:13; 2Co 12:9, 2Co 12:10; Eph 2:10; Gal 5:22-25).
As regards sinful actions of men, they are represented as occurring by God’s permission (Gen 45:5; Gen 50:20. Compare 1Sa 6:6; Exo 7:13; Exo 14:17; Act 2:3; Act 3:18; Act 4:27, Act 4:28), and as controlled (Psa 76:10) and overruled for good (Gen 50:20; Acts 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 (Psa 103:17-19), particular (Mat 10:29-31), efficacious (Psa 33:11; Job 23:13), embraces events apparently contingent (Pro 16:9, Pro 16:33; Pro 19:21; Pro 21:1), is consistent with his own perfection (2Ti 2:13), and to his own glory (Rom 9:17; Rom 11:36).