Introduction⤒🔗

In our day Christians tend to react to prov­idence in one of two ways. First, some try and find special providence in the everyday dealings of life. Are you sick? There must be unresolved sin in your life. Are you poor? You must be under the judgment of God. Little thought is give to the fact that the wages of sin is death, and that we will work by the sweat of the brow. Indeed, the Lord has numbered our days, and not one hair falls from our head without his permission. He is the sovereign Lord of all, and there is not one maverick molecule in all of creation. Yet, trying to find special providence in the minutia of life can lead to paranoia and unbiblical mysticism, something the Scriptures warn us against (2 Tim. 4:4). Every event has a purpose, but not always a revealed purpose at the time. We need to discern the difference.

There are others, however, that go too far in the other direction. In an overreaction to the mysticism so prevalent in the neo-evangelical church, many ignore God's providence and the lessons in it. We have a tendency to think that because the Lord has closed the book on special divine revelation (the canon) that the events, which occur around us, are simply the result of man interacting with the created realm. We do not wish to be seen as fanatical, and unfortunately miss the obvious dealings of God upon us in providence. This effect marginalizes the biblical doctrine of special providences and makes us unwitting participants in a kind of Christianized Deism; the belief that God has set things in motion and then stands back — only to intervene in the important aspects of history. Both of these views are incorrect.

In Jeremiah 8:7, the Lord laments that His people do not recognize the times of God's judgment. In other words, the people of God were inoculated to the dealings with God, both his mercies and judgments. They could not recognize the difference. A syn­cretistic mindset creeps into the Church and sears the spiritual sensitively people once possessed. And now, because of religious fusion, apathy, and a failure to repent, they no longer discern the signs of the times, or the dealings of the Lord in blessing or cursing. George Swinnock wrote: "It is thy pru­dence to take notice of the storms of judgments, and sunshine of mercy" (Works, Vol. 2, pp. 465-466). This duty is ours as much as it was Israel's.

What is Special Providence?←⤒🔗

The Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF) teaches that the doctrine of predestination "is to be handled with special prudence and care" (WCF 3:8). Likewise, it says that the works of God's providence are not to be curiously pried into or misapplied (WLC 113). Providence is not a wax nose to be bent and shaped into the way of our liking. Having said that however, providence is a way by which the LORD reveals Himself to the Church (Ps. 58:11; Belgic Confession of Faith, Article 13). We are therefore to take notice of, and distinguish between, general and special providences (WCF V.7), and to mark well the messages they send (Lam. 3:38-40; Ps. 107:43; Rom. 11:34; Ps. 101:1; Ps. 28:5). James Fisher explains it nicely:

Q. 42. Are not all the dispensations of providence, prosperous or adverse, to be care­fully observed?

A. Yes; for "whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the loving-kindness of the Lord," Psalm 107:43.

Q. 44. Is it not dangerous to overlook the operations of divine providence?

A. Yes; for it is said, Psalm 28:5 — "Because they regard not the works of the Lord, nor the operation of his hands, he shall destroy them, and not build them up" (Fisher's Catechism p. 78).

John Gill defines these two providences like this: "Common providence is that which belongs to the whole world, and all the creatures in it, and to all mankind, and is exercised in the common and ordinary way; for God is 'good to all, and his tender mercies are over all his works' (Ps. 145:9). Special providence is what concerns the church of God in all ages" (John Gill, Body of Divinity. Book 3. Chapter 4).

It is also within the scope of God's special providence for temporal judgments to come upon us (2 Tim. 3:12; Heb. 12) for the purifying work of a sleeping Church. It is not always possible to discern a one-to-one correlation between sin and temporal judgment, for the wages of sin is death, and we all merit punishment through sin (except through the pardoning of our sins through Christ). Yet the chastening of the Lord in special providence is a recognizable way in which he calls us back to Himself, if we can discern the times. It could be through famine, epidemic, invasion, or a stock market crash. Yet there is more to consider. Our Church Order calls for a recognition of special providence in "times of war, epidemics, persecution of the Churches and other general calamities" (p.23). The last few years have seen terrible earthquakes, tsunamis, and hurricanes. We are involved in an amorphous war against terror. But calamities are not restricted to nature. The breakdown of the moral fabric of a nation is a calamity. Abortion is a scourge. Is there not a war against marriage and the family? And are not many in the church asleep in apathy and comfort in epidemic proportions (Rev. 3:3)?

Special Providence Within the Church

The mediatorial kingship is still with His people, active in all its splendour. He reigns even now, and will continue to do so: "For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death" (1 Cor. 15:25, 26). This means that Christ is active, not passive in His Church. He holds an abiding interest in her affairs, and desires to see her purity when luke warmness enters her pulpits, pews, and homes (Rev. 1-3). Therefore, Christ sends warnings to His Church, by special providences (Rev. 2:4).

What must we do? First, we must submit ourselves to these special providences (be they national, ecclesiastical, congregational or familial). In light of these special providences we must recognize that we are far from where we once were, and ever further from our Savior. We must admit that we have become more like the world than Christ. We have failed to keep pure garments unspotted. We have not so much cast off the duties enjoined to us in our Christian walk, as much as let the heart go out of them. Peace in Jerusalem over a generation or two has left us formalistic instead of ardent, patterned instead of passionate. Have we, like ancient Israel, attempted to marry the Church and the world, Jehovah with Belial, in what we hear with our ears, watch with our eyes, and speak with our mouths? We must recognize that this has affected our marriages, families, and churches.

After recognizing our deadness of heart and coldness of spirit, we need, secondly, to recognize the special providences of the Lord in submitting to our portion. We must walk the way of wisdom and acknowledge that God's ways are far above our ways (Isa. 55:8-9). The secret things do belong unto the Lord, and at the same time be ready to hear the voice of the Lord in the lethargic times of affluence and repent, lest He come quickly and remove His candlestick from our midst.

It is our duty to be sensible to the Spirit's dealings, not argue against them. God makes Himself known by his Word, but when we will no longer listen to the Spirit in the usual way, He often comes by chastisements to the church. And if these chastisements are not heeded and improved, they turn into judgments. Therefore, as a body we should examine our ways (Lam. 3:38-41; Ps. 139:23-24). Let us say with Jeremiah in Lam. 3:40: "Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD."

Thirdly, we should go on our knees, personally and corporately. We must confess our sins honestly and openly. We must divorce ourselves from our idols and cleave wholeheartedly to God (Hos. 14:8). We need to pray Him to turn us, and we shall be turned (Lam. 5:21).

If the Lord's hand is heavy upon us because of spiritual drowsiness, and worldliness, then it is our duty to be wise and understand the times, and go on our knees. The Preface to the Westminster Directory of Publick Worship so helpfully writes: "...but that each one, by meditation, by taking heed to himself, and the flock of God committed to him, and by wise observing the ways of Divine Providence, may be careful to furnish his heart and tongue with further or other materials of prayer and exhortation, as shall be needful upon all occasions."

 

Jerrold Lewis

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