The third part is devoted to “the nature and extent of providence” and covers thirty-one chapters, comprising the largest section in the book. The twelve chapters in this part all deal with biblical stories and events under the theme of providence and, due to its biblical focus, this part will be particularly helpful in understanding “special providence,” or God’s special governance of His covenant people.
This part is essentially an application of Piper’s view of providence to biblical events and stories, and he meticulously concentrated on explicating the divine purpose behind, for example, the exodus, the conquest of Canaan, the establishment of the Davidic dynasty, and the inauguration of the new covenant in Christ. 29).” The second part, on the other hand, is devoted to covering “the ultimate goal of providence,” where he elaborated on the ultimate purpose behind God’s creative and redemptive acts in biblical history. In the first chapter, Piper clearly and emphatically states that his goal in the book is to treat the purposefulness of divine sovereignty, although God’s powerfulness cannot be completely detached: “The focus of this book is on God’s sovereignty considered not simply as powerful but as purposeful (p. The first part covers two chapters, and in them he lays out his approach to this particular project. To undertake the task of dividing and explicating the theology of providence, Piper structured this work into three parts. Nothing happens but by ‘the counsel of his will’-the infinite wisdom of his plan (692–93).” … Therefore, the extent of his providence is total. Piper helpfully summarizes: “God has revealed his purposeful sovereignty over good and evil in order to humble human pride, intensify human worship, shatter human hopelessness, and put ballast in the battered boat of human faith, steel in the spine of human courage, gladness in the groans of affliction, and love in the heart that sees no way forward (13).” Moreover, “ providence is the purposeful sovereignty that carries those plans into action, guides all things towards God’s ultimate goal, and leads to the final consummation.
In John Piper’s recently published Providence, readers will find deep convictions about the pastoral values of the doctrine. As Herman Bavinck (1854–1921) rightly stated, the Christian doctrine of providence is not merely a true explanation of the world, but also “a glorious confession of faith.” Because of the vital link between the doctrine of providence and the religious life of Christians, it can even be said that, without the correct understanding of divine providence, believers will have confusing responses to the reality they experience, and struggle to gain meaningful interpretations of their sufferings, trials, and even joys.
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