Episode Transcript
You are listening to Daily Insights on the three ABN Radio network and here is your host Kaysie Butler. Hello and welcome. Glad you could join me today.
Have you ever experienced God's Providence in your life? I certainly have. In fact I experienced it this morning and I'm going share it with you. Fresh off the press.
I've been recording a number of daily insights programs over the past few days. And a few days ago I started a program but then stopped it and went on to other programs because I couldn't find a CD that we had and it had some good songs on there that I really wanted for that topic. So I decided to wait and hope that this CD would turn up in a few days time and then I could do it then.
Well today's my last day to finish this set of Daily Insights programs and I thought to myself that CD hasn't turned up yet, I'm just going to have to adapt and use something else. And that was as far as my thought went. And then a little while later my mum came to me and said look I woke up this morning and was impressed to go look somewhere different for that CD and TADA here it is and there she had it in front of her the CD, the CD was inside it.
I was so impressed and amazed and I thought wow that is God's providence. He knew I wanted the songs on that CD and they are very good songs for my topic and he knew that today was the very day I would need the song if I was ever going to use it. And he got to work prompting my mum to look in another place that was quite out of character of where we'd expect to find it.
And there it was. I was just so encouraged at God's care for what I was wanting to achieve and providing what I needed just at the right time. So what does the word providence actually mean? Well the Oxford Dictionary gives two definitions.
The first one is the protective care of God or of nature as a spiritual power and the second is a timely preparation for future eventualities. The word providence actually comes from a Latin root word that means to foresee and attend to. And it's interesting because when you combine all of those meanings together it makes such a fitting description of God's providence because intertwined in God's providence is his care, his foresight and his timely attendance to our needs.
And in fact it is God's foresight that maximizes his care for us since it enables him to prepare for our needs well ahead and then provide for us at just the right moment. Actually, I've been so thrilled at God's care for our needs in recent times that my latest, favourite song is on this topic and it's called My Shepherd Will Supply my need and is shared with us by Alessandra Soros. My shepherd will supply my need jehovah is his name in pasture fresh he makes me feel beside the living street he brings my wandering spirit back when I forsake his way and leave me for his mercy sake in path of truth and grace when I walk through the shades of death thy presence is my day a word of thy supporting breath drives all my fears away it thy hand inside all my foes does fill my neighbor my cup with blessings overflow thine oil know my head.
God attend me all my days. O, may thy house be mind of and all my work be. Pray, where would I find that old rest while others go and come no more a stranger, but like a child at home.
You probably recognize that the words of that song very closely echo the words of one of the most loved Bible passages psalm 23. Psalm 23 describes many ways that God demonstrates his providential care. A number of years ago, I actually read a book called A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by Philip Keller, and it's one of the best books I've read.
If you ever get a chance to read the book, I highly recommend it. He brings out so many deep insights into the meaning of the psalm, which you could only know if you've worked with sheep a lot. And I want to share some of his thoughts through the rest of our time together today.
The first verse of Psalm 23 is so succinct, and yet it expresses such sublime contentment. The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want Commenting on the meaning of this, Philip Keller writes I am completely satisfied with his management of my life.
Why? Because he is the sheepman to whom no trouble is too great, as he cares for his sheep. I am so glad that God's providence is so capably great, because this enables us to rest fully in his care. Verse two of Psalm 23 actually paints a picture of this rest in the words he maketh me to lie down in green pastures he leadeth me beside the still waters.
Our shepherd commentator on this verse shares the following insights the strange thing about sheep is that because of their very makeup, it is almost impossible for them to be made to lie down unless four requirements are met. Owing to their timidity, they refuse to lie down unless they are free of all fear. Because of the social behavior within a flock, sheep will not lie down unless they are free from friction with others of their kind.
If tormented by flies or parasites, sheep will not lie down. Only when free of these pests can they relax. And lastly, sheep will not lie down as long as they are in need of finding food.
They must be free from hunger. It is significant that to be at rest, there must be a definite sense of freedom from fear. Tension, aggravations and hunger.
The unique aspects of the picture is that only the sheepman himself can provide release from these anxieties. It all depends upon the diligence of the owner, whether or not his flock is free of disturbing influences. I'm sure you see the parallels.
It is only Christ who can stay. Our fears fill us with love for one another, fight off the enemy and satisfy us with spiritual bread. As we allow Christ to care for us in all these areas, we will be able to experience the rest of soul that he wants to give us.
Listen, as the next song by the Gentle Waters, sung by the wild, supports these thoughts sam SA the gentle water you will safely leave me in faster speed me knowing what is best the one often straight wonder far away I can hear you say come to me and ram. Sam 23 three says he restoreth my soul he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. On this verse, Philip Keller shares another lesson from the life of sheep.
Sometimes sheep can have the problem of becoming cast. This means that they end up on their back with their feet in the air. If left like this for too long, they will die, unless they're helped up again onto their feet by a faithful shepherd.
Keller connects this to the times when we experience being cast down in spirit or discouraged at our failings or dismayed by our circumstances. He writes that he, Christ, has the same identical sensations of anxiety, concern and compassion for caste men and women as I had for caste sheep. This is precisely why he looked on people with such pathos and compassion.
It discloses the depth of his understanding of undone people to whom he came eagerly and quickly, ready to help, to save, to restore. Carly Fletcher sings about God's promises to bring restoration from the world with all its pain and troubles. Everywhere around me I see death and tragedy, sin and selfishness abound.
Terrible things happen to our sisters and brothers. Justice seems nowhere to be found. But God is much closer than we can imagine, and the Cynthia world won't always be this way.
Lord, I long for Your restoration when you make all things new I can't wait for the day, sweet Jesus, when we will be together. Little children starving, people live in poverty. Even nature cries and grow natural disasters.
Thousands die in agony. This is not how it was meant to be. But God is much nearer than we can imagine, and he's coming soon to take the pain away.
Lord, I long for Your restoration when you make all things new I can't wait for the day, sweet Jesus when we will be together with you, in peace with you, in harmony with you, enjoy with you. Lord, I long for your restoration. When you make all things, you I can wait for the day, sweet Jesus, when we will be together with you, when we will be forever with you, when you make all things, all things new.
The next verse, Psalm 23, verse four, says, yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. Philip Keller notes that in the Christian life we often speak of wanting to move on to higher ground with God.
As with ordinary sheep management, so with God's people one only gains higher ground by climbing up through the valleys again and again. Philip reflects I remind myself, oh God, this seems terribly tough, but I know for a fact that in the end it will prove to be the easiest and gentlest way to get me onto higher ground. Listen now, as Robbie Falkenberg sings through when I saw what lay before me, Lord, I cried, what will you do? I thought he would just remove it, but he gently let me through.
Without Father, no refining, without peace, no relief. Without flood there's no rescue without Palestine, no believe. Through the fire, through the flood, through the water, through the blood, through the dry and there is through life dance and mag through the pace name and through the glory through will always tell the story of my God whose power and mercy will not fail to take us through you.
Psalm 23, verse five says thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies. Thou anointest my head with oil, my cup runeth over again. Our insightful shepherd sheds some light on this verse.
He describes how important it is for a shepherd to go ahead of sheep and prepare their summer grazing pasture by removing poisonous weeds, clearing out the waterholes, and distributing salt and mineral licks for the sheep. He also describes how the sheep must be anointed on their noses with a special oil mixture to prevent the sheep becoming infected with nose flies, a highly irritating pest of the sheep. The parallel here is that Christ has already gone before us into every situation and every extremity that we might encounter.
We know he was tempted in all points like we are, and he has made every possible provision for us to cope with the pitfalls of life, satan, sin and self. He understands us and has a care and compassion for us beyond our ability to grasp. Listen as the Fountain View Academy sing god will take care of you god will take care of you nothing you ask will be denied.
God will take care of you god will take care of you to every day or all the way. He will take care of you. God will take care of you.
Close lost verse of Psalm 23 says surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. On the subject of a successful christian Walk Keller considers that it can be summed up in one sentence live ever aware of God's presence. Recognize and relish his pursuing goodness and mercy in your life and experience his providential care so that you will simply want to dwell with Him forever.
Christian Badall shares in our final song today that God wants to be your home. That is, you find a home by living in awareness of his presence. And ultimately, God wants to bring you home.
That is, bring you home to heaven. Though you are homeless, though you're alone. I will be your home.
Whatever the matter, whatever's been done I will be your home. I will be your home in this fearful fallen place. I will be your home.
When I reach a fullness, when I move my hand. I will bring you home. Home to your own place in a beautiful land.
I will bring you home. I will bring you home. I will bring you home from this fearful fallen lane.
I will bring you home. I will bring you home. Thank you for joining me on Daily Insights.
I hope you've enjoyed this time that we've shared together. I'm your host, Kaysie Butler, and may God's goodness, mercy and providential care follow you all the days of your life. Bye for now.
You've been listening to a production of three ABN Australia radio.
