WEARY of his life, and in the bitterness of his soul, Job complains to God, “What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him? and that thou shouldest visit him every morning, and try him every moment? How long wilt thou not depart from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle?” (Chapter 7)
We turn to the 144th Psalm, where, in a very different spirit, David inquires, “Lord, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! or the son of man, that thou makest account of him! Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away.” There are circumstances―such as a dying bed―which hide pride from man, bring him low, make him to feel his nothingness.
The solemn day will come, dear reader, when you will learn that you are a rebellious, guilty creature in the presence of God. You must feel one day that you are a sinner, even should it be no sooner than before the awful throne of judgment; and it may be you will soon be called to lie upon the sick bed, to bid farewell to your amusements, your riches, your honors, your companions. Sinking down lower and lower, growing weaker and weaker, you will close your eyes to all the world, and die.
In such an hour, what would you give to be able, in happy confidence, in quietness and assurance, to address the everlasting One thus― “Lord, what am I, a poor hell-deserving sinner, a poor frail creature, that thou shouldest take account of me, that thou shouldest love me, give thy beloved holy Son to die for me! What am I that thou shouldest comfort my heart, hold me up in thine arms, and lead me gently through these cold waters, as thou bringest me to thine everlasting heme in glory?”
Again, for a third time, the same inquiry is made in Scripture, and now we learn fully the meaning of the question. May we bow before God, and worship and adore, for the love wherewith He loves us, for the grace He has brought to us, and for the glory He will give us who believe. “One in a certain place testified, saving, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the Son of man, that thou visitest Him? Thou madest Him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst Him with glory and honor, and didst set Him over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things in subjection under His feet.” The eternal Son of God laid aside His heavenly dignities, humbled Himself, and became a man. For a little season He was lower than the angels, but His path of service led Him deeper down still. He became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. He, the Maker of all, was nailed, in company with ignoble malefactors, to the accursed tree. Thus hath God visited man in the person of His Son. Thus hath He been mindful of man’s sinful estate and dust. Let us thankfully exclaim, “Lord, what is man, that thou art mindful of him?”
Now the eye of faith sees the man Christ Jesus in the heavens the center of its praise, the object of its delights. A man, glorified and honored, sits upon the very throne of God. This wondrous mystery is God’s own thought of blessing for poor, wretched, sinful man; and those who have Christ for their Saviour shall be glorified with Him. “Lord, what is man, that thou art mindful of him?”
Will you not take courage, trembling sinner? In mercy God watches you from more till night; in mercy He will not so much as allow you to draw one breath without His knowledge; nor does He pursue your steps to find fault, but to pardon and to heal. Bow down before Him, and cry, “What am I, that God should make account of me?” and if, with broken heart for sin, you believe on His Son, then in due season you, with Jesus, shall be crowned with glory and honor. He will bring you, a vile sinner, a guilty creature, in His own beauty, in His own righteousness, to the highest heavens. Should you gather up your feet upon your bed, and die, and your frail body be laid in the grave, the Lord will awake you from your sleep, and give you a resurrection body, all glorious and shining like His own. Or should you live until He comes in the clouds for His blood-washed people, He will change your vile body, and make it like unto His glorious body. God has purposed that man, who dieth and wasteth away,―man, his rebellious offspring,―shall be the most glorious of His creatures; that in man, blessed in Christ, His own great Self shall be read and understood. Once more let us join in grateful praise, saving, “Lord, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him?”