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"If God is for us then Who?

Esther Pinkston · Sunday, January 3rd 2010 at 11:05PM · 705 views
In Scripture the "hand of God" often refers to judgment. But for the Christian it is also an image of providential care. We can see this throughout the book of Ezra, where Ezra attributed his success to the fact that the gracious hand of God was ypon him.
Phillip Doddridge felt the same way. The youngest of twenty children, Doddridge was considered too sickly to live, but the gracious hand of God was upon him. His parents parents died when he was only a teenager, but he was taken in by a minister who nurtured him in spiritual matters.

Doddridge became a pastor, an educator, a hymn writer, and an author. One theme remained uppermost in his mind-the providence of God.

He wrote his hymns to illustrate his sermons and taught them to his congregation after he finished preaching. "Great God, We Sing That Mighty Hand." apparently illustrated a New Year's Sermon, where once again the theme of God's providential care emerged.

God is still our good guide and guardian.

Phillip Doddridge (1702-1751)
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About the Author

Esther Pinkston Rochester, NY

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Comments (7)

Harry Watley Monday, January 4th 2010 at 6:35AM

Hello Ms. Esther,

Am I right to believe that the Bible and all its books are the testimony of the Jewish people to the world of how God has specifically helped them in their times of trouble with other races and personally helped them as well?

Tell me what you think.

Craig Amos Monday, January 4th 2010 at 8:29AM

The Hole-y Bible is a collection of thoughts written by archaic men who never in their wildest dreams thought knowledgeable humans would be living theirr lives through its pages thousands of years later.

robert powell Monday, January 4th 2010 at 9:21AM

Ester always shows great thought.

I like old books, but if the books are written in a language that I do not know, or by a people that I know little about, or presented to me in a hypocritical form; I must get off my lazy behind and learn the language, the people and time; if I intend to use the old books in my life or the lives of my family.



Harry Watley Monday, January 4th 2010 at 1:19PM

Hello Robert,

Because you are willing to learn the language and customs of a people to use in your life and your family’s life as divine guidance, what does that say psychologically speaking about you and your race?

Are you not inherently saying that you and your race are inferior people?

In other words, where have your race been hiding that the people of the Quran and the Jewish people of the Bible have met with God that you wants to follow these people’s customs because your race have not have not met with God? Why do you feel so let down and abandoned by God when that is not the case?

I just personally think that you have serious self-esteem issues as all Black Americans have. The Hebrew people had serious self-esteem issues as well that they rejected Moses for 20 years. They were so drowned in the ways of the Egyptians that they could not see God is visiting them through their Prophet Moses. Every people have a responsibility to identify their own genuine prophet regardless of the phony ones saying they are messengers and prophets, am I right. Many Black Americans had accepted Mr. Elijah Muhammad to be some sort of divine person and he was never.

Now, the Hebrew people had ignorantly adopted every gods the Egyptian gave them as you are willingly adapting everything customs of the Arabian and Jewish people that you cannot see that God is visiting us through me, Prophet Harry. Am I making any sense with you Mr. Robert?

Mr. Robert you must believe in God and your race as well as your prophet. Allah only rose up prophets from among the people of their own kinds, am I right. Consequentially, your prophet must be of your race, a Black American to follow. When you reject that prophet, you are rejecting Allah as well. Does that make sense to you? So, you must find your own prophet to follow and Allah has left you with no doubt your prophet must be a person of your own race. Again, does that make any sense to you?

Consequentially, it is fine to read the books of other people to appreciate God’s workings from other people’s experience with God. However, their experience cannot run through your veins. You must have your own, am to run through your veins, am I right.

Tell me what you think.

Harry Watley Monday, January 4th 2010 at 1:27PM

Hello Amos,

Despite the archaic writings of the Bible, it does not negate today that a prudent man holds God responsible for creation and that God will help those that has not the wherewithal to help themselves as the story of Moses shows us, am I right.

Tell me what you think.

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Esther Pinkston Monday, January 4th 2010 at 1:41PM

Many thanks to you for all of your comments on your beliefs. As a Christian who worships God our Heavely Father and Jesus Christ my Lord an Savior. As a new Widow, I can say we will all see for ourselves one day. Right now, I'm settled in my faith. Again thanks so much. Conversation is good.

Dee Gray Thursday, January 7th 2010 at 7:30PM

Esther, LOVE your response. That's it in a nutshell. Amen. Praise God.

Blessings...

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