Some missionaries had gone to a previously unreached tribe. Their message was listened to with interest for a while, but then the tribesmen spoke: "You say that the God of the Christians knows everything, that nothing is hidden from Him, that He is everywhere and sees all that is done. Now, we do not desire a God so sharp-sighted! We choose to live with freedom in our forests without having a perpetual observer of our actions over our heads."
In their simplicity they told what was in their hearts. But what they uttered candidly is what many secretly wish might be the case.
Man's desire is to hide himself from God. He wishes that there were no God who observes his ways and to whom he must give account. In all his thoughts it is, No God for me. No one to control my action. No one to record my sins against me. No one to call me to account.
But God IS. And whether people of savage tribes or "civilized" people like it or not, He observes men's ways.
The wicked... will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.... He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: He hideth His face; He will never see it.... Thou hast seen it; for Thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with Thy hand. (Psa. 10:3, 4, 11, 143For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the Lord abhorreth. 4The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts. (Psalm 10:3‑4)
11He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it. (Psalm 10:11)
14Thou hast seen it; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with thy hand: the poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless. (Psalm 10:14))
God has seen.
Who is this God who "has seen" and who "will requite"? Is He a God delighting in judgment? Is it His pleasure to condemn the sinner? Far from it. He delights in mercy. He has made Himself known through the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. There He has revealed Himself in His true character: God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Rom. 5:88But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8).)
Sin deserved judgment. For believers, judgment has fallen. But it has fallen on the One whom the love of God provided. The way of blessing is open now. God is known as Love, and those who once feared Him, now rejoice in His presence.