The Good of God's Sovereign Providence in Theology
The Good of God's Sovereign Providence
The concept of God's sovereign providence is deeply rooted in biblical teachings, emphasizing God's active involvement in the world and its events. According to Easton's Bible Dictionary, providence refers to God's preserving and governing all things by means of second causes, extending to the natural world, brute creation, and human affairs [1]. This doctrine is closely tied to the goodness of God, which is described as a perfection of His character exercised towards His creatures according to their various circumstances and relations [2].
The goodness of God's providence is multifaceted, manifesting in various aspects of His character, such as benevolence, mercy, and long-suffering patience. Torrey's Topical Textbook highlights the richness and abundance of God's goodness, citing numerous biblical references that illustrate its enduring and universal nature [3]. This goodness is not limited to the spiritual realm but also encompasses the physical and material needs of His creatures, as seen in His provision for the poor and the destitute [4].
John Gill's commentary on Exodus 33:19 underscores the glory of God's goodness, particularly in the context of His pardoning grace and mercy through the blood of Christ [5]. This understanding is echoed in Matthew Henry's commentary on Psalms 103:19, which emphasizes God's throne of government and His securing of the world through common providence [6]. The perfection of God's way, including His providence, is a recurring theme in biblical interpretation, with Gill noting that God's ways, though sometimes mysterious, are without spot or unrighteousness [8].
The Baptist/Reformed tradition, as represented by Gill's commentaries, stresses the sovereignty of God's providence, highlighting His lovingkindness and merciful kindness towards His people [7, 10]. This tradition also emphasizes the importance of acknowledging God's good will and pleasure in His dispensations towards humanity, as seen in Jesus' prayer in Matthew 11:25 [9].
The good of God's sovereign providence is thus understood as an expression of His character, manifesting in His care for creation, governance of human affairs, and redemption of His people. This doctrine is foundational to understanding the Christian view of God's relationship with the world and humanity's place within it.
The historical development of this doctrine is evident in the writings of early Christian interpreters and theologians, who grappled with the complexities of God's providence and its implications for human understanding and experience. The Nonconformist/Puritan tradition, as represented by Matthew Henry's commentary, also contributes to this understanding, emphasizing the universal scope of God's providence and its significance for the faithful [6].
Sources
- 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; ”
- 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 ”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Goodness of God, The — Is part of his character -- Ps 25:8; Na 1:7; Mt 19:17. Declared to be Great. -- Ne 9:35; Zec 9:17. Rich. -- Ps 104:24; Ro 2:4. Abundant. -- Ex 34:6; Ps 33:5. Satisfying. -- Ps 65:4; Jer 31:12,14. Enduring. -- Ps 23:6; 52:1. Universal. -- Ps 145:9; Mt 5:45. Manifested To his Church. -- Ps 31:19; La 3:25. In doing good. -- Ps 119:68; 145:9. In supplying temporal wants. -- Ac 14:17. In providing for the poor. -- Ps 68:10. In forgiving sins. -- 2Ch 30:18; Ps 86:5. Leads to repentance. -- Ro 2:4. Recognise, in his dealings. -- Ezr 8:18; Ne 2:18. Pra”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Providence of God, The — Is his care over his works -- Ps 145:9. Is exercised in Preserving his creatures. -- Ne 9:6; Ps 36:6; Mt 10:29. Providing for his creatures. -- Ps 104:27,28; 136:25; 147:9; Mt 6:26. The special preservation of saints. -- Ps 37:28; 91:11; Mt 10:30. Prospering saints. -- Ge 24:48,56. Protecting saints. -- Ps 91:4; 140:7. Delivering saints. -- Ps 91:3; Isa 31:5. Leading saints. -- De 8:2,15; Isa 31:5. Leading saints. -- De 8:2,15; Isa 63:12. Bringing His words to pass. -- Nu 26:65; Jos 21:45; Lu 21:32,33. Ordering the ways of men. -- Pr 16:9; 19”
- Exodus (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Exodus 33:19: And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee,.... Which is his glory; the glory of the Lord lies in his goodness, and that appears in the works of his hands, in the methods of his providence, especially in the distribution of his sovereign grace and mercy, and particularly in his pardoning grace and mercy, through the blood of Christ; for as it is "the glory" of a man "to pass over a transgression", Pro 19:11 much more it is the glory of God, of which this goodness is afterwards interpreted; and may be understood of Christ himself, who is the goodness of”
- Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 103:19: Here is, I. The doctrine of universal providence laid down, Psa 103:19. He has secured the happiness of his peculiar people by promise and covenant, but the order of mankind, and the world in general, he secures by common providence. The Lord has a throne of his own, a throne of glory, a throne of government. He that made all rules all, and both by a word of power: He has prepared his throne, has fixed and established it that it cannot be shaken; he has afore-ordained all the measures of his government and does all according to the counsel of his own will. He ha”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 69:16: Hear me, O Lord; for thy lovingkindness is good,.... His lovingkindness to him, not only as his Son, but as Mediator; and which is a love of complacency and delight, and was from eternity, and will be to eternity: and this is "good", as appears by the effects and evidences of it; such as putting all things into his hands, showing him all that he does, concealing and keeping nothing from him, appointing him to be the Saviour of his people, the Head of the church, and the Judge of the world; and this lovingkindness shown to him is a reason why he might expect to be hea”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 18:29: As for God, his way is perfect,.... Or "without spot" (m), as the Septuagint render the word; without any just charge of inequality, or unrighteousness; such is God's way of providence, though sometimes his methods of providence are cavilled at by wicked men, and murmured at by his own people: they are at a loss, at times, to reconcile promises and providences together, and to account for the justice and equity of them; these ways of his are unsearchable, and not to be traced out by them; but when his judgments will be made manifest, the wisdom, goodness, and righteo”
- Matthew (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Matthew 11:25: Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight. Or, "so is the good will", or "pleasure before thee": thus, "let it be the good will before thee", or "in thy sight, O Lord", is a phrase often to be met with in the Jews' forms of prayer (x). Here the word designs the sovereign counsel and purpose of God, to which, and to which only, our Lord refers the different dispensations of God towards the sons of men: this is a reason which ought to satisfy everyone, and is better than ten thousand others that can be thought of, or devised by men. This difference among men”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 117:2: For his merciful kindness is great towards us,.... Not us Israelites only, of whom David was, but Gentiles also; or otherwise there would be no force in the reason why all people and nations should praise the Lord: but it respects the time when these should become one people, partaking of the same grace, blessings, promises, and privileges; in which the grace, mercy, and lovingkindness of God, greatly appeared; "it prevailed over us" (p), as it may be rendered: the word is used of the prevailing of the waters of the flood over the earth, Gen 7:18; and so may denote t”