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Two things no one will challenge.

1. That most men like to improve their acquaintance, to get familiar with such as show a higher social position, with a similar moral preference and taste to their own.

2. Any such acquaintance, to whom a man may "look up," will be no small factor in giving shape and maturity to his character. The text indicates —

I. A DISTANCE, A VARIANCE OF FEELING, BETWEEN HEAVEN AND EARTH. Here nonacquaintance is enmity. Man now is like to the disobedient child, Sin is nothing if it is not a perverted, a wronged, and a wronging relationship — a change on the one side from the natural to the unnatural. There is wrong relationship between heaven and earth. Sin is not only cruel in putting man at a hateful variance with his Divine Father, but it is murderously fatal. It has more than pain, there is peril of perdition.

II. HEAVEN DESIRES THE PRESENT AND PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT OF THE DIFFERENCE.

1. Any estrangement between two who should be friends will always bring the most pain to the one who has the finest and most susceptible nature.

2. The initiative in seeking this readjustment has been taken by heaven. At the Cross He halts for audience and restoration. This He makes the one point for all negotiations — a witness of His love, and a challenge for others' love and service.

III. THIS SETTLEMENT, WHEN EFFECTED, WILL CERTAINLY BRING TO MAN THE HIGHEST BLESSEDNESS. "Thereby good shall come unto thee." Everywhere, with a fever of greed, men are seeking "good." Sin pardoned is the true good.

IV. THE ATTAINMENT OF THIS STATE DEMANDS THE HEARTIEST EFFORTS OF ALL MEN. Surely the dignity of this state makes a claim upon men. To be "at peace with God" will be the noblest, the safest, and the happiest of states.

(Edwin D. Green.)

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KJV: Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee.

WEB: "Acquaint yourself with him, now, and be at peace. Thereby good shall come to you.