Homilist 2 Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth… I. THAT GOD'S GUARDIANSHIP OF THE WORLD IS UNIVERSALLY INSPECTIVE "The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth." God sees the whole of a thing. Of those objects with which we are most acquainted, we know but a little of their outside; the essence of everything is hid beneath an impenetrable veil from us. Few, indeed, are the things we are permitted to see even the outside of. Space limits us. Our widest horizon is not a handbreadth to the heavens as compared with the universe. Duration limits us. Wonderful things were transpiring, even on planet, ages ere we woke into conscious thought. But neither space nor duration limits the knowledge of God; He is in all places; He exists through all times. Whatever is, has been, will be, or can be, are in His eye. All actualities and possibilities are there. "All things are naked and open to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do." If the eye of a child has sometimes been known to paralyse the arm and frustrate the intentions of him who has been bent on some criminal deed, how would not the lightning glance of God check thee from all evil? II. THAT GOD'S GUARDIANSHIP OF THE WORLD IS PERSONALLY EXERCISED. He does not watch and superintend the world through the instrumentality of others; His eyes, His own eyes, are employed. He does not, like human potentates, get a knowledge of His empire by hearsay and report, but by His own personal inspection. It is a glorious truth that God Himself is in our world. He is not merely here by representation. He does not look after the universe as parents after their children, merchants after their business, monarchs after their dominions — by proxy. He employs others, it is true, but He is with them and in them — the force of all causes, the motive of all motives. Nor is He here merely by influence, just as the author is in the book, or as the telegraphic officer is at the time wherever he transmits his message. Those heavenly bodies, which fill thoughtful minds, as they "gaze upon them shining," with unutterable emotions, and seem to engulf the spirit into their own immeasurable vastness, we are told, radiate and revolve by law. Man is born, sustained, enjoys, suffers, lives, and dies, by "laws." Blessed thought! the great Father of the world is here, not merely by representation, or influence, but in person. The world has not only His agents and His works, but His eyes — His all-seeing Self is here. III. THAT GOD'S GUARDIANSHIP OF THE WORLD IS MORALLY DESIGNED. Why does He thus so sedulously and constantly guard the world? "To shew Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him." God guards the universe for the interests of the good. It is not material Nature in any of its wondrous combinations of beauty and sublimity, not blooming landscapes, mighty oceans, starry spheres, revolving worlds, or refulgent systems, that interest Him most. No; it is His adopted ones, His loving children, though little and afflicted, that engage His sympathies. He says, in effect, "I keep up the machinery of the universe only for the good of My children. I have no affection for it, 'but for the saints that are in the earth, in whom is all My delight': wherever they are, ' Mine eyes and My heart shall be there perpetually.'" This subject teaches — 1. The true spirit of life. If God is the all-seeing Guardian of the world, whose eyes pierce into every avenue of existence, what should be the spirit of life? Not the spirit of empty frivolity and childish trifling, treating all things as if made for foolish jests and giddy laughter, but the spirit of solemnity clothing all objects with a Divine significance. 2. The true interests of life. What are they? Secular possessions? mental attainments? social honours? No, but a perfect heart. 3. The true Judge of life. Our life has many judges, at many tribunals are we tried, and many, and often diverse, are the verdicts returned. Some are too favourable, and some too adverse. The few instances of accuracy are random guesses, not righteous deductions. But there is one true Judge; it is He whose "eyes run to and fro throughout the whole earth." (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars. |
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