The LORDis in his holy temple, the LORD’s throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.
David sang this with voice and harp to encourage his own soul while a hunted fugitive with few bright prospects in his path. This came just after Jonathan had found his refuge, told him of God's dealings with him, assured him that Saul would not find him and that he would be king, and made a covenant with him. It was sung in answer to fearful counsel to flee as a bird to the mountain because the wicked bend the bow to shoot the upright in secret and the foundations are destroyed. Its answer declares that the Lord is still in His holy temple with His throne in heaven, beholding and trying the children of men.
The Lord rules enthroned from His holy temple, with His throne in heaven. Though enthroned in heaven He is not distant from the earth. By His Spirit He is present everywhere. He is still dealing with earthly kingdoms and present in the great cities. He knows all His works intimately and takes a personal interest in them.
His eyes behold and His eyelids try the children of men. He watches, observes, sees and examines all people, extending to every inhabitant of earth. His scrutiny reaches inward thoughts, motives, and imaginations. It reaches even the motives behind work that people themselves cannot fathom, so every line of work must withstand His scrutiny. It also takes in outward behavior, actions, and the influence that follows from them.
His scrutiny is exact. He is a God of knowledge by whom actions are weighed, who searches the heart and tries the reins. He weighs human conduct by His standard of character. He formed human hearts and considers their deeds. He deals with and gives to each person according to ways, deeds, and fruit.
Every moment passes into eternity with approval for the good and faithful or woe for the wicked and slothful. For He will bring every work into judgment with every secret thing, having appointed a day to judge the world in righteousness when all must appear before the judgment seat of Christ to receive according to what was done, whether good or bad. Cities and nations are measured by the plummet in His hand. He sees the fall of a sparrow, the fall of a leaf from a tree, and the dethroning of a king under the control of the Infinite One, never making a mistake but reading every case correctly.
His testing distinguishes the righteous from the wicked. He tries the righteous, loves righteousness and looks with favor on the upright. He hates the wicked and those who love violence and brings judgment on them. He who watches declares He will never leave nor forsake His own. He reveals Himself as merciful and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy and forgiving iniquity, transgression and sin, yet by no means clearing the guilty.
This calls all people to fear and stand in awe of Him. His holy presence and power are beyond human searching, and people can know only what He chooses to reveal, so they must approach Him with awe and humility. It warns those who flatter themselves that He is not exact to punish wrongdoers living in daily transgression of His law, for His word is sure and steadfast. Amid all that is earthly, unsettled and changing, truth abides forever.
David sang this with voice and harp to encourage his own soul while a hunted fugitive with few bright prospects in his path. This came just after Jonathan had found his refuge, told him of God's dealings with him, assured him that Saul would not find him and that he would be king, and made a covenant with him. It was sung in answer to fearful counsel to flee as a bird to the mountain because the wicked bend the bow to shoot the upright in secret and the foundations are destroyed. Its answer declares that the Lord is still in His holy temple with His throne in heaven, beholding and trying the children of men.
The Lord rules enthroned from His holy temple, with His throne in heaven. Though enthroned in heaven He is not distant from the earth. By His Spirit He is present everywhere. He is still dealing with earthly kingdoms and present in the great cities. He knows all His works intimately and takes a personal interest in them.
His eyes behold and His eyelids try the children of men. He watches, observes, sees and examines all people, extending to every inhabitant of earth. His scrutiny reaches inward thoughts, motives, and imaginations. It reaches even the motives behind work that people themselves cannot fathom, so every line of work must withstand His scrutiny. It also takes in outward behavior, actions, and the influence that follows from them.
His scrutiny is exact. He is a God of knowledge by whom actions are weighed, who searches the heart and tries the reins. He weighs human conduct by His standard of character. He formed human hearts and considers their deeds. He deals with and gives to each person according to ways, deeds, and fruit.
Every moment passes into eternity with approval for the good and faithful or woe for the wicked and slothful. For He will bring every work into judgment with every secret thing, having appointed a day to judge the world in righteousness when all must appear before the judgment seat of Christ to receive according to what was done, whether good or bad. Cities and nations are measured by the plummet in His hand. He sees the fall of a sparrow, the fall of a leaf from a tree, and the dethroning of a king under the control of the Infinite One, never making a mistake but reading every case correctly.
His testing distinguishes the righteous from the wicked. He tries the righteous, loves righteousness and looks with favor on the upright. He hates the wicked and those who love violence and brings judgment on them. He who watches declares He will never leave nor forsake His own. He reveals Himself as merciful and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy and forgiving iniquity, transgression and sin, yet by no means clearing the guilty.
This calls all people to fear and stand in awe of Him. His holy presence and power are beyond human searching, and people can know only what He chooses to reveal, so they must approach Him with awe and humility. It warns those who flatter themselves that He is not exact to punish wrongdoers living in daily transgression of His law, for His word is sure and steadfast. Amid all that is earthly, unsettled and changing, truth abides forever.