5/11- Providence and Knowing God

Devotional using scripture, quote from John Calvin and thoughts for the day each day- on the 500th anniversary of Calvin's birth.

3 Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. 4 One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts. 5 They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty— and I will meditate on your wonderful works. 6 They tell of the power of your awesome works— and I will proclaim your great deeds. 7 They celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness. 8 The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. 9 The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made. 10 All your works praise you, LORD; your faithful people extol you. 11 They tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might, 12 so that all people may know of your mighty acts
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. (Psalm 145:3-12)
Calvin: We are called to a knowledge of God: not that knowledge which, content with empty speculation, merely flits in the brain, but that which will be sound and fruitful if we duly perceive it, and if it takes root in the heart. f237 For the Lord manifests himself by his powers, the force of which we feel within ourselves and the benefits of which we enjoy. We must therefore be much more profoundly affected by this knowledge than if we were to imagine a God of whom no perception came through to us. Consequently, we know the most perfect way of seeking God, and the most suitable order, is not for us to attempt with bold curiosity to penetrate to the investigation of his essence, which we ought more to adore than meticulously to search out, but for us to contemplate him in his works whereby he renders himself near and familiar to us, and in some manner communicates himself. The apostle was referring to this when he said that we need not seek him far away, seeing that he dwells by his very present power in each of us [Acts 17:27-28]. (I.v.9)

Calvin’s first chapter of the Insitutes was about the Knowledge of God. The first part of theology is “How do we know about God?” Medieval theology was full of speculation about the essence of God. Such theology for Calvin is guesswork, and not very profitable. Calvin prefers that we look at God’s fingerprint- what God does through providence and learn about God. Calvinism believed God has a purpose for each person, and God guides each person in life- through the bad and the valleys but also through the good and the mountaintops. Calvin wrote a very tough treatise on providence in which he strongly affirmed that God works despite and through evil to accomplish good (Romans 8:28- “For we know that all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to his purpose”).
There is much speculation again today about the essence of God (partly because of today’s pluralism- think panentheism, new age theology). That speculation has arisen because postmodern humans do not trust two primary sources for knowledge about God today- 1) the scriptures and 2) providence. God is not silent. God speaks to us through providence and through the scriptures. Many are saying in seminary we cannot know God because they have given up on knowing Him through scriptures and providence. But by giving up on these things, they are in effect making up God as they wish Him to be instead of how reality reveals Him. God’s revealing Himself in providence, however, is necessarily vague. It is like an artist’s painting- we cannot necessarily and absolutely discern the artist’s intent by looking at their painting. So providential knowing is always subservient to the scriptures (as natural/general revelation was subservient to the special revelation in scriptures for Calvin). C.S. Lewis once called pain “God’s megaphone.” God gets our attention through pain, through joy, through the opening and closing of doors. Calvin believed God is very active in the world today- caring for the world (and for us). This is how we can pray to God. This is one way we can know God. If we believe, we can also trust the providence of God- as Calving did.

Prayer: Open our eyes, Lord, to see your hand leading and guiding us in life.

5/5- Calvin on Providence

Devotional using scripture, quote from John Calvin and thoughts for the day each day- on the 500th anniversary of Calvin's birth.

29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father's care. 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. (Matthew 10:29,30)

Calvin: Moreover, to make God a momentary Creator, who once for all finished his work, would be cold and barren…But faith ought to penetrate more deeply, namely, having found him Creator of all, forthwith to conclude he is also everlasting Governor and Preserver — not only in that he drives the celestial frame as well as its several parts by a universal motion, but also in that he sustains, nourishes, and cares for, everything he has made, even to the least sparrow [cf. Matthew 10:29]…It would not be believable that human affairs are cared for by God unless he were the Maker of the universe, and nobody seriously believes the universe was made by God without being persuaded that he takes care of his works. (1:16:1)

Providence and Predestination are two important doctrines if we want to understand Calvin’s life and thought. In his 1539 edition of the Institutes Calvin puts them together- both having to do with God’s sovereignty. But in his last editions he places providence under the topic of creation and predestination under salvation. Providence has to do with living and non-living things, believers and unbelievers. Predestination’s focus is mainly on the elect.
There are classically three parts to providence- 1) God’s preservation of creation; 2) God’s governing of creation, and 3) God’s guidance of all things to achieve His purpose.
God balances infinite power with infinite love. He is the heavenly Father who is able to care and does care in an able way. Calvin, as I’ve pointed out many times, had a hard life. Yet Calvin was able to still have confidence in the love of God. He was convinced that the scriptures, not nature tells us about God’s care.
Calvin was against the Deistic and Islamic notion that God was aloof from the universe. God cares for the world, and for all of His creation. He governs the world, and us- guiding us toward His purposes. There’s an old hymn that says, “God is working His purpose out.” This is a Calvinistic notion. He is molding us and shaping the universe still. Calvin does not fall into the idea that God is all things or is not separated from things. He balances God’s care with his hatred for idolatry (the chief sin for Calvin), and his emphasis on the sovereignty and transcendence of God.
God cares and is able to care. In a tough economy, in facing fears of disease, war, instability, we should cast our care on God. Prayer is possible because God loves us and God is powerful enough to answer our prayer through providence.

Prayer: Lord you preserve, govern, and guide us. Not a sparrow falls without your knowledge. Even the very hairs of our heads are known to you. You know us better than we know ourselves, and care for us better than we care for ourselves. Help us to trust in your great providential care.

January 31 God Rules

January 31

“For everything comes from God alone. Everything lives by his power, and everything is for his glory.” (Romans 11:36 LB)
“You, Lord, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm and put their trust in you.” (Isaiah 26:3).

Calvin: To make God a momentary Creator, who once for all finished his work, would be cold and barren, and we must differ from unbelievers especially in that we see the presence of divine power shining as much in the continuing state of the universe just as much now as when it was begun. Unless we pass on to his providence—however, we may seem both to comprehend with the mind and to confess with the tongue- we do not yet properly grasp what it means to say “God is Creator.” Carnal sense thinks there is an energy divinely bestowed from the beginning , sufficient to sustain all things. But faith ought to penetrate more deeply, and ought to conclude he is also everlasting Governor and Preserver. God not only drives the framework of the world in a universal motion, but He also sustains, nourishes, cares for everything he has made even to the least sparrow [Mt. 10:29]. The prophet forbids God’s children “to fear the stars and signs of heaven as disbelievers commonly do.” Jer. 10:2]. When unbelievers transfer the government of the universe from God to the stars, they believe that their luck or misery depends upon the motion of the stars and not on God’s will. So their fear is transferred from him , toward whom alone they ought to direct it, to stars and comets. God is the keeper of the keys and governs all events. (Inst. I.16.1-4)

Who is really in charge of things? Calvin asks and answers that question. It is not us- we are finite and basically selfish. It is not the stars- they were made by God, set in motion by God. Today many live as if no one is in charge, and so they are responsible to take charge.
One thing this economy teaches us is that really hard workers, really smart people, really dedicated people who do all the right things can still get laid off. Sometimes it is impossible to take charge. If we are in charge and we the current is too strong to swim against, then it is a problem. People have thought that education, hard work, and buying things are the meaning of life. Yet people who are educated are unable to get jobs. People who work hard are being laid off. People cannot buy what they used to buy.
The Christian alternative is to trust God. The meaning in life is not tied to what we can create or produce. If that was true then those who are sick or who are retired could have no meaning. The meaning is not tied to what we create, but to the Creator Himself. Meaning is not something that happens once and stops. God instills the earth and all creation with meaning, energy, and His sovereign hand. It makes sense that the God who , in his power created the universe, still has power over it. God is a good governor, a righteous governor, and defines love and goodness by His nature (in contrast to Rod Blagojevich). We can trust God’s faithfulness and care for us.
Below are two quotes about God’s providential care. One shows God as our provider. The other points out (by one of our founders) that our nation needs God to sustain it.
Back of the loaf is the snowy flour,
And back of the flour the mill,
And back of the mill is the wheat and the shower,
And the sun and the Father's will.
Maltbie D. Babcock (1858-1901)

The longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth, that God governs in the affairs of man; and if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid?
-- Benjamin Franklin

Providence enables us to trust instead of be afraid- to have peace and hope. This is important today.