Proverbs 27:8 As a bird that wanders from her nest, so is a man that wanders from his place. Sin reverses Divine arrangements. It is consequently the most unnatural thing in God's universe. We speak of "natural depravity"; it is, properly speaking, un-natural depravity. Sin is earth's exotic; the soul's nightshade; it has "turned the world upside down," and thrust man out of his proper place. I. MAN IN HIS WRONG PLACE. Here called "a wanderer." "Where art thou?" God asked Adam; intimating that he was not where he ought to have been. Sin had turned him out of his place. Some things concerning man's original state — the place from which he had wandered. 1. It was a state of conscious Divine approval. Conscience was at rest. 2. A state of Divine illumination. The creature enjoyed the high privilege of companionship with his Creator. Sin has both stained the conscience and darkened the understanding. 3. A state of Divine sympathies. His supreme affections were centred in his Maker. Towards Him his emotions moved like bright constellations round the sun. The fatal mistake sin has introduced into the hearts of men is the vain attempt to meet the wants of the spiritual in the supplies of the material. II. MAN IN HIS RIGHT PLACE. "Man is as his heart is." The evils which have been enumerated arise from the moral derangement of the affections. The gospel comes to restore the forfeited "place" by restoring lost confidence. It does so by revealing God in such a way as to inspire confidence. The gospel is the revelation of Divine love putting away sin, and bringing the sinner near to Himself. The soul's resting-place is faith and love. (G. Hunt Jackson.) Parallel Verses KJV: As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place.WEB: As a bird that wanders from her nest, so is a man who wanders from his home. |
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