You alone are the Lord; You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and everything on it, the seas and all that is in them, and You preserve them all. The host of heaven worships You. (Neh. 9:6 NKJV)
John Arrowsmith, a very astute Westminster Divine said rightly, “Divine providence extends itself to all created beings.”
In 1 Timothy 6:13 God is described as the “One who quickens,” or “gives life.” In this context, however, the older students of Scripture believe the term “quicken” implies one who keeps alive, or preserves, all things – God the Preserver rather than the Creator.
God is the First Cause of all things, of course. But, indeed, that was just the “genesis” of it all! For every millisecond since He has been actively governing, upholding and preserving everything He made. Scripture declares that God through Christ, “sustains all things by the word of His power,” (Heb. 1:3). And His governing providence extends to every single aspect of His creation from eternity past to eternity future.
For example, Scripture tells us that God spoke the constellations of our universe into existence, measured out the heavens with the span of His hand, and continually holds them in place (Job 38:31-33, Isa. 40:12). This universe, by the way, is estimated to be around 28 billion light years in diameter… the equivalent of 5.88 trillion miles wide!
In the same way He measured out the oceans in the hollow of His hand, marked the boundaries for the seas, and set the foundations of the earth in place (Isa. 40:12, Prov. 8:29). And thus He has preserved it every moment of every day for thousands of years.
Granted, it’s a challenge for our finite minds to even begin to understand a God that powerful and that big! And yet, this same God concerns Himself with you and me personally. He knows the number of hairs on our head at every given moment. He takes note when one insignificant sparrow falls to the ground from their perch.
The psalmist, when meditating on such truths, breaks out in praise in Psalm 113:2-7 saying:
Blessed be the name of the Lord
From this time forth and forevermore!
From the rising of the sun to its going down
The Lord’s name is to be praised.
Who is like the Lord our God,
Who dwells on high,
Who humbles Himself to behold
The things that are in the heavens and in the earth?
God is not aloof. He is not far off. He is not a spectator of the universe which He made. He is everywhere present in His essence, knowledge, and power. It is by His sustaining hand that the continuance of all things is preserved. If God were to withdraw His preserving hand, all things would cease to be.
Have you considered what it means to be upheld by the word of His power day by day? God gives life to you moment by moment. Every breath you take is a gift from the Lord, because “by Him all things consist,” (Col. 1:17).
- Lord, Your general providence over the whole of creation is established and confirmed throughout Scripture (Eph. 1:11; Acts 17:25; Num. 23:19; Isa. 45:7). How insignificant am I in the scope of all creation? And yet, Christ came to die for me!
- Your divine providence extends itself to all created beings. It was said of You, “You, even You are Lord alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens with all their hosts, the earth, and all things that are in it, the seas and all that is in it; and You preserve them all,” (Neh. 9:6). David brings it down a little lower, “Your judgments are a great deep, O Lord, You preserve man and beast,” (Psa. 36:6). Job lower still, “What shall I do to You, O You preserver of men,” (Job 7:20). You made all things by the word of Your command (Psa. 148:5). You uphold them all in being by the word of Your power (Heb. 1:3). Heaven and earth, creatures of the sea and sky, beasts of the field, and man – especially man – are all under Your divine providence.
- It is sometimes easy, Lord, to forget that You are providentially sovereign over the little things as well as the big ones. What could be more insignificant than “the hairs of my head”? And yet “all” are said to be “numbered by You” (Luke 12:7). What is more unimportant than a sparrow? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without Your will (Matt. 10:29). You feed the fowls of the air by Your providence (Matt. 6:26) and give food to the young ravens (Ps. 147:9). What is of less importance than the grass and the flowers of the field? And yet You clothe them and make them grow (Matt. 6:28, 30). What is it to consider lice, frogs, locusts, worms and other insects? Yet You are said to raise up these for the execution of Your judgments (Exod. 8:16-17; 10:12). From the smallest to the greatest, You are Lord of all!
Further References for Neh. 9:6
Deut. 10:14; 2 Kings 19:15; Ps. 146:6, 148:2; Heb. 1:6; Isa. 45:12
