Job 7:17 What is man, that you should magnify him? and that you should set your heart on him? Here is a question that is both answered and unanswerable. I. A SCRIPTURAL SOLUTION OF THE QUESTION. 1. What is man as a creature? A piece of modified dust, enlivened by the breath of God (Genesis 2:7). An earthen vessel (2 Corinthians 4:7). He is grass (Isaiah 40:6, 8). A drop of a bucket, or dust that will not turn the scale (Isaiah 40:15). Vanity (Job 7:16; Isaiah 40:17). 2. What is man as a fallen creature? An ignorant creature (Isaiah 1:3). A guilty (Romans 3:23). A condemned (John 3:18, 19). A polluted (Job 15:16; Isaiah 1:16). A diseased (Isaiah 1:6). Impotent (Ezekiel 16:4, 6). Rebellious (Numbers 20:10; Isaiah 1:2). II. IN WHAT RESPECTS IT MAY BE SAID THAT THE LORD MAGNIFIED MAN. He magnified man at the creation. By the care He showeth towards him in the course of His providence. By assuming human nature. By giving us such great and precious promises. By making man a sharer of His throne. Observe — 1. How amazing that the Lord should thus notice sinful man! He who is the High and Lofty One. 2. The base ingratitude of sinners who rebel against so kind a Benefactor. 3. If God thus magnify man, ought not man to endeavour to magnify God, i.e., praise and extol Him? (T. Hannam.) Parallel Verses KJV: What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him?WEB: What is man, that you should magnify him, that you should set your mind on him, |
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