- Deuteronomy 28:33: A nation whom thou knowest not shall eat up the fruit of thy land, and all thy labours; and thou shalt be only oppressed and crushed alway.
- Psalm 33:19: To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.
- Psalm 37:19: They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
- Psalm 37:24: Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.
- Luke 12:16-19: And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I contain all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
- Psalm 127:2: It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.
- Hebrews 10:32: But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions.
- Proverbs 16:14: The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it.
- Psalm 73:7: Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.
The Sovereignty of God in Prosperity and Adversity From a Reformed perspective, these passages highlight the absolute sovereignty of God over the material and physical conditions of man. In Deuteronomy 28:33, we see the "curse of the law" manifested through the loss of labor and fruit to foreign nations—a reminder that temporal blessings are gifts from God that He may justly withdraw. Conversely, Psalm 33:19 and 37:19 demonstrate God’s providential care for His elect during times of scarcity. Famine is not an accidental hitch in the cosmos but a tool in the hand of the Almighty, yet He remains the sustainer who "keeps them alive," ensuring that those in Christ are "satisfied" even when the world lacks.
The Total Depravity and Folly of Self-Reliance The parable in Luke 12:16-19 serves as a stark indictment of the unregenerate heart. The rich man’s internal monologue reveals a soul functionally atheistic, attributing his harvest to "his" ground and "his" goods. He ignores the doctrine of stewardship, assuming his soul’s peace can be bought with grain. This mirrors the description in Psalm 73:7 of the wicked, whose "eyes stand out with fatness." Their outward abundance is not a sign of favor but often a precursor to judgment, as they have "more than heart could wish" yet lack the one thing needful.
The Perseverance of the Saints and Divine Support A key Calvinist distinctive is the preservation and perseverance of the believers. Psalm 37:24 provides a beautiful comfort: the believer may "fall" into trial or sin, but they are never "utterly cast down." This is not due to the believer's strength, but because the Lord "upholdeth him with his hand." This theme of endurance is echoed in Hebrews 10:32, where the "illuminated" (those regenerated by the Spirit) are called to remember their endurance through "a great fight of afflictions." Their ability to endure is a fruit of the grace given during their effectual calling.
The Vanity of Human Effort Apart from Grace Psalm 127:2 strikes at the heart of the "work-righteousness" mentality. The "bread of sorrows" is the portion of those who labor as if the outcome depends solely on their anxiety and effort. In the Reformed view, while we are called to be diligent, we recognize that it is God who provides. The "sleep" granted to His beloved is a symbol of the Sabbath rest found in Christ—a rest from the legalistic and anxious toil of trying to secure one's own life. Finally, Proverbs 16:14 reminds us of the wisdom required in a fallen world; while God is the ultimate King, He uses human agency and wisdom to "pacify" earthly wrath, navigating the common grace structures He has ordained.