Theme · theological
Providence
Providence is sovereignty applied to the everyday: God provides a ram for Abraham, manna in the wilderness, ravens for Elijah. The book of Esther never mentions God's name yet narrates providence so intricate that a king's insomnia saves a nation. Ruth's 'chance' gleaning in Boaz's field is anything but chance. Jesus points to sparrows and lilies to assure his followers that the Father who feeds birds and clothes flowers will certainly care for them. Paul's confidence that 'all things work together for good' is the New Testament summary of this theme.
Passages expressing this theme
- Dan 3:17 — If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
- Deut 8:3 — And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but
- Esth 4:14 — For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who kn
- Gen 50:20 — But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
- Isa 41:10 — Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
- Jas 1:17 — Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
- Jer 29:11 — For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
- Job 1:21 — And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
- Lam 3:22 — It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
- Matt 6:26 — Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
- Matt 6:33 — But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
- Matt 10:29 — Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
- Matt 10:30 — But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
- Phil 4:19 — But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
- Prov 3:5 — Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
- Prov 16:33 — The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.
- Ps 23:1 — The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
- Ps 37:25 — I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
- Ps 104:27 — These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season.
- Ps 121:1 — I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
- Ps 145:15 — The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season.
- Rom 8:28 — And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
- Ruth 2:3 — And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech.