Romans 10:18-21 But I say, Have they not heard? Yes truly, their sound went into all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.… Nothing can be more wonderful. That man should stretch out his hands to God — the dependent and sinful creature supplicating the supremely righteous and holy Creator — this is as it ought to be. But here — the Creator stretches out His hands to the creature; God entreats man; the offended Sovereign beseeches the offending subject! But is there not something still more wonderful, that He should have to complain of want of success? Yet such was the mournful fact! God's entreaties were — I. CONDESCENDING. When a father entreats a child, a master a servant, a monarch, a subject, there is condescension. But what is all the condescension of creature to creature? — of creature the most exalted to creature the most insignificant and mean? But what is the difference between any one creature and any other, compared with the difference between the Eternal God and the highest of them all? II. FORBEARING — for there was a principle in the Divine nature, that drew powerfully in the opposite direction — God's infinite hatred of sin. His whole conduct was but a practical utterance of the pathetic pleading — "How shall I give thee up." (Hosea 11:8, 9). III. EARNEST. The posture or attitude expresses this. IV. PERSEVERINGLY IMPORTUNATE. "All day long," etc. V. DISINTERESTED. When we hear of "calling" and "stretching out the hands" to another, we naturally think of some deep-felt want, or some suffered or dreaded evil; of which the supply is earnestly desired, or the endurance deprecated. A starving man stretches out his hand for food; the oppressed for deliverance; the slave for freedom; the criminal for pardon; the victim of assassination for life. But does God need anything from His creatures? They needed Him; not He them. The danger was on their part, not on His; the damage resulting from their refusal to hear Him, all their own. The sum of His entreaties is, "Do thyself no harm," and His kind assurance, in beseeching them to obey His voice — "I will do you no hurt." Far was it from His heart to do them hurt. Judgment was His strange work. His threatenings and His solicitations were alike in mercy. (R. Wardlaw, D.D.) Parallel Verses KJV: But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world. |
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