The Lord looked down from heaven upon the sons of men to see whether there is anyone wise who seeks God.
God is presented as the Lord who examines people from heaven. This is a poetic image and does not mean that He is far away or that He is only now learning about the condition of people. The phrase “The Lord looked down from heaven” emphasizes His supreme authority and His righteous judgment. He sees not only people’s outward conduct, but also the direction of their heart. In the verse, the sign of true wisdom is seeking God. The wise person is the one who acknowledges his dependence on the Lord and desires to know Him, to understand His will, and to live according to His word. Seeking God is not only turning to Him for help in a time of trouble, but determining the direction of one’s life by Him. This word also reveals the danger of human self-satisfaction. A person may consider himself good or wise by comparing himself with others, but God’s examination is carried out by the standards of His truth and holiness. Therefore the verse reminds us that true wisdom is seen in seeking God. A person cannot live with true wisdom while being separated from Him who is the source of that wisdom.