IN THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE BIBLE LESSON March 8, 2010 Issue

ASSURANCES OF GOD'S PROVIDENCE

MICHAEL HAMILTON

THIS WEEK'S Christian Science Bible Lesson, titled "Substance," points to God's true nature, always available to restore our lives our homes, our wholeness. You might call this substance "uninvadable" reality. The Golden Text from Ecclesiastes affirms "I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it" (3:14).

The Responsive Reading leads us into the Lesson, with each of the 11 verses giving stand-alone assurances of God's providence. The first verse, "The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot," is rendered this way in the New International Version: "Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure" (Ps. 16:5).

The second section of the Lesson shows that our "portion," our God-given inheritance, is substantial and secure, and that our "cup" is not empty. Elisha the prophet comes to the rescue of a widow, not with money, but with step-by-step instructions that show her how to rely on God to meet her needs and to keep her family from being broken up. The borrowed pots and the ample oil that fills them all point to God, the restorer of supply (see II Kings 4:1-7, citation 6). In the previous section Science and Health explains, "To those leaning on the sustaining infinite, to-day is big with blessings" (p. vii, cit. 1).