Heb. paqad, a word describing not only the act of visiting but also what the visitor accomplishes by his visit. Hence here the word indicates God’s care of the human being, His favor and attention shown toward man (see Gen. 21:1). Why should the infinite God, who has a universe of worlds to claim His attention, be “mindful” of finite man? Why should He honor man by making him viceroy of the earth? Only in the realization of the worth of a human soul created in God’s likeness can one answer these questions. This realization comes only in appreciation of the Saviour’s death on the cross. “The worth of man is known only by going to Calvary. In the mystery of the cross of Christ we can place an estimate upon man” (2T 634, 635).

Important as the revelation of God in external nature may be, the revelation of God in human life is more important. Size and extent are no criteria of value. It has been said that the eye and brain that see the physical heavens are more wonderful than the heavens that are seen through the most powerful telescope.

 Heb. ben-’adam, probably emphasizing man’s earthly nature as formed from the ground (see on Gen. 1:26; 2:7).

“Man” is from the Heb. ’enosh, which designates man in his frailty and weakness. When one stands in the presence of the vastness, the mystery, the glory of the heavens as seen at night, and begins to reflect upon the infinity of space and the countlessness of the heavenly bodies, he must feel that man is an insignificantly small dot in the universe. If this is the reaction of ordinary unschooled mortals, how much truer must it be of the one who looks upon the heavens with the aid of the modern telescope, in the light of the steadily unfolding knowledge of modern astronomy.