God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God.
Universal corruption of mankind
This is a description of human nature at all times (Romans 3:10-12).
I. Seeking the Lord is here supposed to be the criterion of a good understanding. It includes--
1. Our choosing the best good for our portion. God’s service is its own reward.
2. Repentance for sin.
3. The sacrifice of every earthly good for His sake, and accounting His favour to be better than life.
4. Resting all our hopes of salvation upon the promises of His Word. There is no other door of hope, no other way of acceptance, but what is provided in the promises of the Gospel.
II. All men by nature are corrupt, and utterly destitute of this understanding.
1. The loss of the Divine favour is the greatest of all evils, and yet no one lays it to heart, or is careful to seek after it. To be contented in such a state, and indifferent about the favour of God, is truly dreadful: yet such is the case with all men by nature.
2. God visits men with such afflictions, and brings them into such circumstances, as are directly adapted to make them feel their need of Him: and yet God is not in all their thoughts (Job 33:15).
3. By nature we have no love to God, and therefore do not seek Him.
4. Men are full of pride and self-sufficiency, and hence they do not seek after God (Psalms 10:4). Religion is too mean for their notice, and fit only for the attention of the vulgar. Many say in their hearts with Pharaoh, Who is the Lord that I should obey His voice?
III. The lord keeps a strict eye upon the conduct of men towards Him.
1. Though “every one of them is gone back, and they are altogether become filthy,” yet some are distinguished by grace, and there is a generation of them that seek Thy face, O God of Jacob (Psalms 24:6). His eye is upon all such, and He will be found of them in truth; they shall never seek His face in vain (Isaiah 45:9).
2. The Lord also notices those who do not seek Him, and His eye is upon all their ways. Awful thought, to be under His inspection while utterly regardless of His presence, and sinning against heaven and before Him. (Theological Sketch-book.)
God inspecting man
I. God’s profound interest in humanity. He bows Himself forward; and with zeal and concern examines man’s moral state. Why is He so interested?
1. Because of the dignity of man’s nature (Genesis 1:27).
2. Because of the peculiarity of man’s moral condition. By disobedience man entered into the dread knowledge of evil. Unfallen angels are entirely holy. Fallen angels are utterly depraved. In human nature the battle between good and evil is being waged.
3. Because of the capabilities of man’s being. Man is capable of rising to the highest, or sinking to the lowest, position in the universe of God.
II. God’s searching scrutiny of humanity. His is the scrutiny of--
1. An all-seeing Being (Psalms 139:11-16; Ezekiel 11:5; Hebrews 4:13).
2. An infinitely holy Being. His dwelling, His ways, His works, His essential nature are all holy (Isaiah 57:15; Habakkuk 1:12-13; 1 John 1:5; Revelation 4:8).
3. An infinitely merciful Being. If there be in us any sincere efforts after truth and righteousness, He sees and approves them.
III. The supreme concern of humanity. Why does God so earnestly examine man? “To see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God.” We should seek--
1. Moral intelligence. “Understand,” or act prudently--the antithesis of “the fool “ in Psalms 53:1. Not intellectual attainment, but practical wisdom.
2. Divine aspiration. Where there is any true wisdom, or any spiritual life, it will manifest itself in seeking fellowship and union with God. Only through the mediation of Jesus Christ can this union be obtained. Conclusion.
1. He who now scrutinizes will one day judge man.
2. His judgment of man is infallible. He deliberately, patiently, and thoroughly examines into every case before pronouncing judgment.
3. He is also the merciful Saviour of men.
4. Our supreme interest is to seek to know Him as our Saviour. (W. Jones.)