Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding.
Ver. 17. Because God hath deprived her of wisdom] That is, of such forecast to provide for her young ones by a natural instinct, as other fowls and beasts have, Struthionis astorgia declaratur e causis duabus, vacuitate metus et vacuitate intellectus. God's mercy to men appeareth, 1. In giving us wisdom beyond them, Job 35:11 Job 35:2. In giving us power over them, Psalms 8:6,8; Psalms 3:1,8. In learning us so much by them in those many Scripture comparisons, Proverbs 7:23; Proverbs 26:2; Pro 27:8; Matthew 8:26. That is a sweet place, Isaiah 31:5, "As birds flying" (sc. to save their young), "so will the Lord defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it; and passing over he will preserve it." The fowls of the air are and may be unto us examples and monitors of many virtues to be embraced and vices to be eschewed. In the ostrich, for instance, we may see that strength and size of body is not always accompanied with wisdom and understanding; that it is God who either giveth or denieth wisdom to his creatures; that natural affection is of him; that he gives not all things to one man, but diversely distributeth his gifts. The ostrich hath wings, but not to fly with.
Oυτως ου παντεσσι θεοι χαριεντα διδουσιν
‘ Aνδρασι. - Non omnia possumus omnes.