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I. THE JEWISH CONCEPTION OF MAN. It involved —

1. Similarity of nature to that of God Himself. He must have understood that man finds his true and proper life, his human heritage — even as God does — in the thoughts which visit his mind, in the choices which proceed from his will, in the feelings which glow within his heart, in moral activities and spiritual enjoyment.

2. Likeness of character to the Divine. The Jew held that man had once walked with God on noble heights of wisdom and righteousness, and that, having fallen from these, it was his true aspiration to regain those spiritual levels, and live again the life which is pure, holy, heavenly, Divine.

3. A share in Divine authority. God has given to His human children a share in His wide rule.

4. Divine interest and attention. To the lowly it is much to enjoy the notice of the strong and high.

5. Privilege of approach to the Nest High. Man is one who might "walk with God," as did Enoch; be the "friend of God," as was Abraham. Having this thought of the dignity of man, the Jew had an equally clear view of —

6. His real degradation and misery. For the two truths stand or fall together. The Jew, recognising man's moral freedom and spiritual obligation, saw dearly and felt keenly the character of his low estate; he knew the touch and smarted under the sting of sin.

II. THE DISTINCTIVELY CHRISTIAN VIEW. What has Christ added to our thought about ourselves?

1. He has led us to take the highest view of our spiritual nature. Man, like God, is a spirit; his corporeal frame being only a frame.

2. He has drawn aside the veil from the future, and made that long life and that large world our own. The Jew hardly knew what to think about the future.

3. He taught us to think of ourselves as sinners who may have a fill restoration to their high estate. By His words of love and by His work of mercy He summons us to return, to believe, to rejoice; to walk in the favour, to live in the love, to dwell in the home, to be transformed into the likeness of the Father of our spirits.

(William Clarkson, B. A.)

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KJV: When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;

WEB: When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have ordained;