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11. Hell and destruction are before the LORD: how much more then the hearts of the children of men?
Once more (Verse 3) behold we an Omniscient — Omnipresent God. Hell and destruction; every recess of the vast Hades; the state of the dead, and the place of the damned — are before the LORD,† before his eye; open to his cognizance. How much more, then, the hearts of the children of men (1 John 3:20), unsearchable though they be! (Jeremiah 17:9, 10.) No depth is there within, that he cannot fathom; no manner of deceit so complicated, that he cannot track them. Words are not necessary with him to lay open the heart. Aaron's rebellious feelings were as cognizant to his eye as Moses' angry words. (Numbers 20:12, 24.) The inward hypocrisy of his people was as open before him, as if it had been stamped upon their foreheads. (Deuteronomy 5:28, 29. Zephaniah 1:12.)
Yet what a mass of practical unbelief is there in this plain demonstrative truth! For would men dare to indulge their vain thoughts, their light notions, their trifles, their impurities, did they really believe that the LORD searched their hearts? Would they attempt a forced concealment from his eye (Isaiah 29:15); as if outward service, lip-worship, would avail, while the heart was cherishing its unrepented sin? Would they not be afraid to think before him what they would shrink from doing before men? Oh! is it not an awful moment in privacy to stand the test of this searching eye? Awful indeed is the thought to the idolatrous sinner, to the lover of pleasure, distinction, or low ambition. Thine heart is open before thy God. Never will he stoop to occupy the second place there. Thy covering of deceit is swept away. The refuges of lies are pierced and laid bare.
The conscious sinner shrinks from this appalling view. The believer walks undismayed in the sight of this “consuming fire.” His godly fear is the exercise of filial confidence. (Hebrews 12:28, 29.) The sins, that are opened to his Father's knowledge, are covered from his justice. (Ib. 4:13. Psalm 32:1.) When he “finds the law, that when he would do good, evil is present with him;” he can look up — “All my desire is before thee.” (Romans 7:21. Psalm 38:9.) Thus does the Gospel clothe the Divine attributes with light and love.
And see we not here a testimony to the Divine Glory of Immanuel? For are not hell and destruction before him (Revelation 1:18) as his vast empire? And did not he often prove his prerogative of searching the hearts of the children of men; charging sin in the inner world, beyond the ken of any, but the One all-seeing eye? And this indeed is the confidence of his people. Each of them appeals to this Omniscient eye, in despite of all accusing from the enemy — “Lord! thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee!” (John 21:17. Revelation 2:23.)
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