Demonstrations of God's Providence as an Expression of Love
God's providence, understood as His preserving and governing all things through secondary causes, is frequently demonstrated as an expression of His love [3]. This divine love is not merely an abstract concept but is actively manifested in various aspects of creation and human experience.
One primary demonstration of God's love through providence is seen in His care for the natural world and all creatures. The heavens themselves are said to declare God's glory and handiwork [2]. God's providence extends to the brute creation, providing for their needs [3]. For instance, the Lord provides for the ravens and cares for the birds of the air [3]. This general benevolence is a perfection of God's character, exercised towards His creatures according to their circumstances [6].
Beyond the natural world, God's providential love is evident in His dealings with humanity, both collectively and individually [3]. The goodness of God is expressed as mercy, pity, and compassion, especially in the face of human misery [6]. When people are in distress, God's providential care is shown in His deliverance and blessing [13]. The psalmist speaks of God displaying His purposed goodness to His people [11]. This "loving-kindness" of God is described as great, excellent, good, marvelous, multitudinous, and everlasting [5]. It is considered better than life itself and is a source of comfort and preservation [5].
The New Testament further clarifies that the ultimate demonstration of God's love and kindness appeared in the person of Jesus Christ [1, 5]. As 1 John 4:9 states, "Herein was the love of God manifested in us, that God hath sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him" [4]. This act is not merely a general love for all creation but a special love towards His elect, which was made evident through Christ's mission [7]. Christ's love is specifically shown in His offering himself as a sacrifice [10]. This sacrificial love serves as both the motivation and the model for Christian love, which then expresses itself in compassion toward others through deeds of mercy [8, 10].
God's providential love also extends to the free actions of individuals, guiding and influencing them [3]. Those who love God and keep His commandments experience His mercy and kindness [12]. This obedience is seen as an evidence of love for God [9]. The consideration of God's dealings provides knowledge of His loving-kindness [5]. The concept of God's goodness and justice are seen as different aspects of His unchangeable, wise, and sovereign moral perfection [6].
Sources
- Titus “But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love toward mankind appeared, -- Titus 3:4”
- Psalms “The heavens declare the glory of God. The expanse shows his handiwork. -- Psalms 19:1”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Providence — Literally means foresight, but is generally used to denote God's preserving and governing all things by means of second causes (Ps. 18:35; 63:8; Acts 17:28; Col. 1:17; Heb. 1:3). God's providence extends to the natural world (Ps. 104:14; 135:5-7; Acts 14:17), the brute creation (Ps. 104:21-29; Matt. 6:26; 10:29), and the affairs of men (1 Chr. 16:31; Ps. 47:7; Prov. 21:1; Job 12:23; Dan. 2:21; 4:25), and of individuals (1 Sam. 2:6; Ps. 18:30; Luke 1:53; James 4:13-15). It extends also to the free actions of men (Ex. 12:36; 1 Sam. 24:9-15; Ps. 33:14, 15; ”
- I John “I John 4:9 (ASV) — Herein was the love of God manifested in us, that God hath sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Loving-Kindness of God, The — Is through Christ -- Eph 2:7; Tit 3:4-6. Described as Great. -- Ne 9:17. Excellent. -- Ps 36:7. Good. -- Ps 69:16. Marvellous. -- Ps 17:7; 31:21. Multitudinous. -- Isa 63:7. Everlasting. -- Isa 54:8. Merciful. -- Ps 117:2. Better than life. -- Ps 63:3. Consideration of the dealings of God gives a knowledge of -- Ps 107:43. Saints Betrothed in. -- Ho 2:19. Drawn by. -- Jer 31:3. Preserved by. -- Ps 40:11. Quickened after. -- Ps 119:88. Comforted by. -- Ps 119:76. Look for mercy through. -- Ps 51:1. Receive mercy through. -- Isa 54:8. Are ”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Goodness of God — A perfection of his character which he exercises towards his creatures according to their various circumstances and relations (Ps. 145:8, 9; 103:8; 1 John 4:8). Viewed generally, it is benevolence; as exercised with respect to the miseries of his creatures it is mercy, pity, compassion, and in the case of impenitent sinners, long-suffering patience; as exercised in communicating favour on the unworthy it is grace. "Goodness and justice are the several aspects of one unchangeable, infinitely wise, and sovereign moral perfection. God is not sometimes ”
- 1 John (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 John 4:9: In this was manifested the love of God towards us,.... The love of God here spoken of, and instanced in, is not his general love to all his creatures, which is shown in the make of them, and in the support of them in their beings, and in his providential care of them, and kindness to them; but his special love towards his elect, and which was before it was manifested; it was secretly in his heart from everlasting, and did not begin to be at the mission of Christ into the world, but was then in a most glaring manner manifested: there were several acts of it before, as t”
- Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 25:35: 25:35-36 The deeds described here, often called “deeds of mercy,” were acts of compassion shown to the helpless (see Isa 58:1-12; Ezek 18:7; Jas 1:26-27). These good deeds are not attempts to merit God’s favor; rather, they arise from a love for Christ that results in compassion toward others (see 6:1-4).”
- 2 John (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 2 John 1:6: And this is love - That is, our love is shown and proved by our walking according to the commandments of God; for love is the principle of obedience.”
- Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 5:2: 5:2 Christ’s love is shown especially in his offering himself as a sacrifice for us (cp. 5:25; John 15:13; Rom 5:8). Christian love is motivated by and modeled after Christ’s sacrificial love (see Phil 2:5-8). • Paul draws on Old Testament imagery, where the smell of a burning sacrifice was a pleasing aroma to God (see Lev 1:9; 2:2; cp. Rom 12:1).”
- Psalms (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Psalms 31:19: God displays openly His purposed goodness to His people.”
- Exodus (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Exodus 20:6: And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me,.... And show their love by worshipping God, and him only, by serving him acceptably with reverence and godly fear, by a cheerful obedience to all his commands, by all religious exercises, both internal and external, as follows: and keep my commandments; not only this, but all others; for keeping these from right principles, and with right views, is an instance and evidence of love to God, see Joh 14:15 and to such persons he shows mercy and kindness, performs acts of grace, and bestows on them blessings of goodn”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 107:41: 107:41 The large families of the poor are evidence of God’s blessing.”