The Good Providence of Our God

Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. stretched...: Or, began And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. quaternions: a file of four soldiers Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. prayer...: Or, instant and earnest prayer was made And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison. And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me. And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision. When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him. And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews. And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying. And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda. to hearken...: Or, to aske who was there And when she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate. And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel. But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished. But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place. Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter. And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judaea to Caesarea, and there abode. And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus the king's chamberlain their friend, desired peace; because their country was nourished by the king's country. was highly...: Or, bare an hostile mind intending warre the king's chamberlain...: Gr. that was ouer the kings bed-chamber And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them. And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost. But the word of God grew and multiplied. And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark. ministry...: Or, charge, , 30 - Acts 12:1-25

    Nothing is more comforting and beneficial to believers than a clear understanding of, and confidence in, God's providence. B. B. Warfield expressed it like this: 'A firm faith in the universal providence of God is the solution of all earthly problems. It is almost equally true that a clear and full apprehension of the universal providence of God is the solution of most theological problems.'

    I . Divine providence is God's sovereign rule over all things

    It is God's government of his creation. In providence God graciously and wisely brings to pass all that he purposed in eternity and all that he has promised in the Scriptures. Predestination (Rom. 8:29-30; Eph. 1:5,11) is the sovereign, eternal purpose of God. Providence is the unfolding of that purpose in time. It is God's sovereign, absolute arrangement and disposal of all things for the eternal, spiritual good of his elect and the glory of his own great name (Rom. 8:28; 11:36). 'All things are of God' (2 Cor. 5:18). Learn that and you have learned the only thing that can sustain your heart in peace when your life is full of trouble. Faith in God's sovereign providence is the only antidote there is to anxiety and fear. 'Happy is the man,' wrote William Cowper, 'who sees God employed in all the good and ill that chequers life.'

    Acts 12 exemplifies and illustrates God's wise, adorable and good providence in a very instructive manner. Herod the king had killed James, the brother of John, and was about to kill Peter. But the angel of the Lord delivered Peter from Herod's sword. Our purpose in studying this chapter is to demonstrate clearly the fact that God's providence wisely and graciously ruled in all the events recorded in these twenty-five verses. The death of James, the arrest of Peter, the prayers of the church, the deliverance of Peter by the angel and the death of Herod were all the works of God's good providence. The events of this chapter demonstrate the glorious sovereignty of our God in all things (Ps. 115:3; 135:6; Isa. 14:24; 45:7; 46:9-10; Dan. 4:34-37). This passage of Scripture is an illustration of Psalm 76:10, where it is written, 'Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.'

    2. Divine providence brought a terribly painful trial upon the very people who were the objects of God's eternal love (12:1-4)

    God sent famine throughout the world in the days of Claudius Caesar, and Herod Agrippa began to persecute the church. It was his intention to destroy the body of Christ, just as his predecessor had tried to destroy Christ himself by murdering all the male babies in the land of Judea (Matt. 2:16). He had already killed James, the brother of John. That pleased the Jews so much that he had Peter arrested, planning to kill him after Easter, the Passover.

    God's saints are not sheltered from trials and heartaches in this world. They suffer all the common trials of men. When the drought and famine came, it came upon both the righteous and the wicked. The fact is, as long as we live in this sin-cursed world we shall suffer the consequences of sin, just like all other people. Believers as well as unbelievers fall sick, endure sorrow and die. Faith in Christ does not eliminate pain in life! In addition to the ordinary trials of life, believers suffer the reproach of the gospel for Christ's sake (Matt. 10:22; 24:9; Mark 13:13;Luke 21: 17). It is not possible to faithfully confess Christ and the gospel of God's free and sovereign grace in him without incurring the wrath of those who hate him (John 16:33). The cross of Christ is offensive to men (Gal. 5:11).

    The believer knows that his trials, whatever they are, are sent by God (Job 2: 10). Nothing happens in this world except that which our God has decreed for the good of his people. Our God rules all things in this world, the elements of nature, the thoughts of men and the deeds of all his creatures (Prov. 16:1,4,9,33; 21:1). Let every tried believer be assured of these five things:

    1. God sent your trial (Rom. 8:28).

    2. God will sustain you through your trial (1Cor. 10:13).

    3. God will be with you in your trial (Isa. 41:10).

    4. God will bring your trial to a good end (1 Peter 1:7).

    5. God will get glory to himself through your trial (Rom. 11:36).

    3. The trial of providence caused God's saints to seek him in prayer (12:5,12)

    Our trials are ordained by God for many reasons. Just as fire purifies gold, the believer's trials have a sanctifying effect upon him. One blessed result of earthly woes is this: they cause believers to pour out their hearts to God in prayer (Ps. 107). When Peter was cast into prison, 'Prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.'

    God in Israel sows the seeds

    Of affliction, pain and toil;

    These spring up and choke the weeds

    That would else o'erspread the soil.

    Trials make the promise sweet;

    Trials give new life to prayer;

    Trials bring me to his feet,

    Lay me low, and keep me there.

    4. Faith in God's good providence gave Peter confidence, assurance, contentment and peace in the midst of great adversity (12:6)

    Peter was scheduled to be executed by a cruel tyrant, but he was peaceful, so peaceful that he slept soundly on the eve of his scheduled execution. He slept so soundly that the angel had to hit him on the side to wake him up. How could he have been so tranquil, so peaceful, so free of care? He believed God! Peter lived by faith. He knew three things which enabled him to sleep peacefully in the midst of great adversity:

    1. He belonged to God. By election, redemption and regeneration God had made Peter his.

    2. He was in the hands of God. Peter was in the hands of God's care and his persecutors were in the hands of God's control.

    3. God had promised to-do him good. If the Lord delivered him, that would be good. He would go on serving his Master. If Herod killed him, that would be better. He would go to be with his Master (Rom. 8:31; Ps. 56:3).

    5. The same hand that delivers God's elect destroys his enemies (12:7,23)

    The angel of the Lord was sent to deliver Peter and to destroy Herod. Both men were smitten by the same angel, but one was saved by him and the other slain. So it is with God's providence. God's providence towards his elect is all mercy. Towards those who believe not, it is all wrath (Ps. 92). The angels of God are messengers of mercy to serve and protect God's chosen sons and daughters (Heb. 1:14). But to the reprobate they are messengers of wrath and executioners of justice (Matt. 13:41-42).

    6. Because our God sovereignly rules all things in providence, we are assured that his purpose of grace will be accomplished (12:24-25)

    Acts 12 begins with Herod fighting against God, trying to stop the spread of the gospel. It ends with Herod being slain by God and the gospel spreading triumphantly. This is how it will be until the end! The church of God is safe, the gospel of God is safe, the glory of God is safe, because God is on his throne! John Newton once wrote, 'If you think you see the ark of God falling, you can be sure it is due to a swimming in your head.'