# Song-Sermon: Lord, What Is Man explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by George MacDonald.

## What happens

A meditation on human insignificance and frailty, questioning why God would be mindful of humanity despite its failures and inability to live up to its own ideals.

## Themes in this chapter

### Spiritual Struggle and Doubt

The poem wrestles with the disparity between human will and capability, questioning divine attention.

### Suffering and Purification

Humanity's failure to live up to its ideals suggests a purifying struggle.

## Character check-ins

### God

Addressed as 'Lord' in the meditation on human worth.

### Unknown

The speaker who reflects on humanity's place before God.

## Key lines

> Lord, what is man That thou art mindful of him!

Why does God care about such a flawed and limited being as humanity?

_The central question of the poem, emphasizing human smallness._

> He wills less than he can, Lets his ideal scoff him!

People fail to achieve what they are capable of, and their own standards mock them.

_Highlights the gap between aspiration and action._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_8_se/chapters/song-sermon-lord-what-is-man
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_8_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_8_se/chapters