The Divine repentances.
The explanation is often made that the changes of Divine plans are responsive to changes in the circumstances of God's people. It is seeing deeper into the heart of truth to see that the Divine repentances even answer to the changing moods of God's people. His "repenting himself concerning his servants" is really his "having compassion on them;" and that is responding to their moods. The separate meanings of the word "repentance" have often been presented, and the very limited senses in which the term can be applied to God have been variously shown. It represents the Divine responsiveness, which is as perfect as any other Divine attribute. It greatly helps us to see clearly that the Divine repentance is a perfect thing, because repentance, though it may be a right thing in man, is closely associated with frailty and evil. Repentance involves change of plan; and this must be based on change of mind. But we have constantly to change our minds and change our plans, in order to meet new conditions; and we never dream of such changing being wrong. They are not made wrong by calling them "repentances." It is the association of sin with the change which brings in the element of regret which characterizes human repentance; but as there is no sin in God, there can be no regret; and we must eliminate these features from repentance when we apply the term to God.
I. THE DIVINE REPENTANCE IS RELATIVE TO MAN. There is no such thing as change in God, as repentance in God relative to the world of things. This theological truth science does but express by the "invariability of natural law." There is no created thing that has independent action, so nothing can ever make new conditions for God to adjust himself to. Man alone can do this, because he can act independently.
II. THE DIVINE REPENTANCE IS RELATIVE TO MAN'S CIRCUMSTANCES, There is a sense in which man is ever putting himself into fresh circumstances. What should we have to say of the helplessness of God, if he could not adjust himself to new conditions?
III. THE DIVINE REPENTANCE IS RELATIVE TO MAN'S MOODS. For the Divine relations are spiritual; they mainly concern the man himself. And changing spiritual moods require wise and gracious adjustments on the part of God.—R.T.