Topical Bible: The Gifts of God: Temporal: All Creatures Partake of

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Topical Encyclopedia

The concept of God's temporal gifts to all creatures is a recurring theme in the Bible, emphasizing God's providence and care for His creation. These gifts are the blessings and provisions that sustain life and demonstrate God's benevolence and sovereignty over the earth.

Scriptural Basis

1. Provision for All Creatures: The Bible affirms that God provides for all His creatures, ensuring their sustenance and well-being. In Psalm 145:15-16 , it is written, "The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food in season. You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing." This passage highlights God's role as the provider, meeting the needs of every creature.

2. God's Care for Animals: God's care extends beyond humanity to include animals and all living beings. In Matthew 6:26 , Jesus teaches, "Look at the birds of the air: They do not sow or reap or gather into barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" This verse underscores the idea that God's provision is comprehensive, covering all aspects of creation.

3. The Earth as a Source of Sustenance: The earth itself is a gift from God, designed to sustain life. Genesis 1:29-30 states, "Then God said, 'Behold, I have given you every seed-bearing plant on the face of all the earth and every tree whose fruit contains seed. They will be yours for food. And to every beast of the earth and every bird of the air and every creature that crawls upon the earth—everything that has the breath of life in it—I have given every green plant for food.' And it was so." This passage illustrates the abundance of God's provision through the natural world.

4. Seasonal Blessings: God's temporal gifts are also evident in the changing seasons, which bring forth food and resources. Acts 14:17 declares, "Yet He has not left Himself without testimony to His goodness: He gives you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness." The cyclical nature of seasons is a testament to God's ongoing care and provision.

5. God's Sovereignty and Generosity: The temporal gifts of God reflect His sovereignty and generosity. In Psalm 104:27-28 , it is written, "All creatures look to You to give them their food in due season. When You give it to them, they gather it up; when You open Your hand, they are satisfied with good things." This passage emphasizes that all creatures are dependent on God's open hand for their sustenance.

Theological Implications

The temporal gifts of God to all creatures reveal His character as a loving and generous Creator. These gifts serve as a reminder of God's intimate involvement in the world and His desire for the flourishing of all life. They also call humanity to recognize and respond to God's provision with gratitude and stewardship, acknowledging that all good things come from His hand. The universal nature of these gifts underscores the interconnectedness of creation and the responsibility of humans to care for the environment and all living beings within it.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 136:25
Who gives food to all flesh: for his mercy endures for ever.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 145:15,16
The eyes of all wait on you; and you give them their meat in due season.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Of the Loving of God in Ourselves and Other Creatures...
... And as for temporal good things (as they are called), we are to desire (and procure ...
I answer that such corporal perfections, being gifts of God, may lawfully ...
/.../chapter v of the loving.htm

Concerning "Existence" and Also Concerning "Exemplars. "
... Name from the most primary of His gifts when, as ... Exemplars" to those laces which,
preexistent in God [385] as ... attribute of eternal things nor of temporal things ...
/.../rolt/dionysius the areopagite/chapter v concerning existence and.htm

In which Also Concerning Exemplars.
... as Being, from the prior of His other gifts; for pre ... must call to mind the Word of
God, which says ... above time and eternity, and all things eternal and temporal. ...
/.../dionysius/dionysis on divine names/caput v concerning beingin which.htm

That one God Formed all Things in the World, by Means of the Word ...
... human race prophetic visions, and diversities of gifts, and His ... was like to the Son
of God." [4098] At ... hands," [4099] and as smiting all temporal kingdoms, and ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter xx that one god formed.htm

Religious Joy.
... Were they especially known for piety and gifts? ... We may enjoy His temporal bounty,
and partake the pleasant ... "God has not appointed us unto wrath, but to obtain ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol viii/sermon xvii religious joy.htm

How we Ought Lovingly to Receive God.
... The Servant."O Lord, they bestow precious gifts. ... if any person, while living in this
temporal state, was able ... more is required of him, for God completes what ...
/.../suso/a little book of eternal wisdom/chapter xxiii how we ought.htm

How those that are at Variance and those that are at Peace are to ...
... case that some, by being proud of some gifts that they ... in his wrath appeased the
wrath of God (Numbers 25 ... But, when temporal peace is disturbed in the hearts of ...
/.../leo/writings of leo the great/chapter xxii how those that.htm

Man's Chief End
... not give to another.' God will give temporal blessings to ... that they might outshine
him in gifts, and get ... To behold God's glory, there is glory revealed to us ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a body of divinity/1 mans chief end.htm

On the Excellency of Religion and Divine Love.
... it is the privilege of gifts to receive ... in all the dispensations of Providence: temporal
enjoyments would ... such a considerable person, that God Almighty should ...
/.../scougal/the life of god in the soul of man/part ii on the excellency.htm

Homilies on Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians.
... high example, [1404]219; in achieving temporal, much more ... Son delivered up,
[1513]ib.; His gifts cannot be ... desire of, and fulfillment comes from God, [1582]220 ...
/.../homilies on philippians colossians and.htm