God! God is seen yearning over his poor wanderer with the
LET us beware of putting a human and finite construction upon things divine and infinite. We need to keep these words in mind, "My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways." God's character stands out as the contrast of man's, even as light is the contrast of darkness, as paradise is the contrast of the waste howling wilderness.
1. What a contrast are God's thoughts of man to man's thoughts of God! God is seen yearning over his poor wanderer with the profoundest compassion, cherishing thoughts of peace and friendship towards him; man is seen suspecting God, looking on him as a hard master, an austere man, reaping where he has not sown, and gathering where he has not strawed.
2. How opposite are God's feelings towards man to man's feelings respecting God! The one love, the other hatred; the one kindness and goodwill, the other enmity!
3. How different God's estimate of man from man's estimate of God! God's estimate of the value of man is the price he paid for him,—his own Son; man's estimate of God is the price he offered for the Son of God,—thirty pieces of silver.
4. How unlike God's purposes to man's! God says to man, "Live;" man says to God, Let him die the death; crucify him; this is the heir; come, let us kill him.
5. How far asunder are God's ways from man's! God's are all towards man, in the direction of reconciliation; man's are all away from God, repelling his fellowship, and heedless of his favour.
Such is the contrast presented in these two verses. In the former (10th), we have the state of man's heart in reference to God; in the latter, the state of God's heart in reference to man. Let us take up in succession these two points.