Welcome to Truth for Life, where today we are beginning a short study of

the Provincial Care of God. The series is titled Intended for Good, and today

Alistair Begg is exploring the extent of God's providence, asking the question

is it different for Christians or is it the same for everyone?

We're going to read together from Proverbs and chapter 16. I would just read I think

the first nine verses Proverbs 16. The plans of the heart belong to man, but the

answer of the tongue is from the Lord. All the ways of a man are pure in his own

eyes, but the Lord ways the Spirit. Commit your work to the Lord and your plans

will be established. The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked

for the day of trouble. Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to

the Lord be assured he will not go unpunished. By steadfast love and faithfulness

iniquity is a tone for, and by the fear of the Lord one turns away from evil.

When a man's ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with

him. Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues within justice.

The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. Amen.

Father, as we often pray, what we do not know teach us, what we do not have,

please give us what we are not kindly make us for your sunset. Amen.

We're beginning because of the providences in my own life in the past week or

two weeks with the doctrine of providence itself, and we can tackle this now and

perhaps on one other occasion under the heading of providence.

Thinking largely tonight in terms of its definition. The 9th verse of

Proverbs 16, which reads in the ESV, as you will see, if you have your Bible open,

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