The Voice of Nature

Calvin's Institutes I.V.1-10

Having declared that man has an internal sense of God which is part of our own nature, this section deals with how God shows himself in creation. Nature bears ample testimony to his wisdom and power and there is no one to whom these are not shown. However, man in his rebellion pushes out God from his thinking (i.e. represses the seed of religion) while continuing to contemplate creation. Sometimes, though repressing this true God, Nature itself is substituted for God and it is worshipped and revered instead. This approach, Calvin seems to be saying, retains the signs while rejecting the thing signified. The desire to worship remains, though in a distorted form.

I find it striking that Calvin draws heavily on the Psalms to illustrate the correct approach to nature. It is observed that wickedness does go unpunished in many cases, but not all. In fact there is sufficient evidence to show that the righteous are generally protected, while the wicked are punished. Yet God in his patience does not punish all wickedness as it deserves. This in turn acts as a sign to us that there is a future expectation of vindication of the righteous and punishment of the wicked. Thus there is eschatology to be found in the humble appreciation of nature when seen as a theatre for God’s works.

Like Calvin, we would do well to spend time considering how the Psalms teach us about himself as Creator, Provider and Vindicator!