Job 9:25,26

Now my days are swifter than a post. .. as the swift ships.

Illustrations of life

I. The text teaches us the brevity of human life. “My days are swifter than a post.” They are as swift-footed messengers, as couriers, as the medium of communication from one province to another. They are “swifter than the swift ships”; than the “eagle hastening to his prey.” There are illustrations from earth, and sea, and sky. We often speak of the brevity of life; it is only now and then we are really impressed with the fact. Our days are brief as the preface to a new and undying life. Our days are brief as the period for the culture of our whole nature. How great a portion of the present life is necessary as the introduction to the remainder. Our physical nature requires growth and development. How slowly our mental faculties open themselves. The culture of our spiritual nature seems to demand a longer period than the present life, for it is the education of a nature that dies not; that will take with it all the training of earth. Our days are brief, when we think of the solemn realities with which they have to do. Our days are brief, because our destiny depends on them. On these days that pass so quickly, all the future hangs; these days give a colouring to a whole eternity.

II. The text teaches us the unsatisfactory nature of life. “They see no good.” “What shadows we are, and what shadows we pursue.”

1. Our days bear with them the freshness and joyousness of life. Our days rob us of the freshness and beauty of youth, and as they pass they carry with them all that we deemed most precious--friends, kindred, joys, hopes.

2. Life is unsatisfactory, because of the fragmentary and unfinished character of its work. God’s providence is in strong contrast with man’s.

3. If the present be all, life must be most unsatisfactory, for we can see no good.

III. Our text suggests to us the importance of life. Our days are as a post.

1. They carry with them the records and impressions of our minds. Thoughts for good or for evil must live--must live to be a blessing or a curse.

2. Our days carry with them the treasures of our hearts. What treasures the swift ships convey from one land to another; how they enrich one country with the wealth of others. Our days carry the wealth, the priceless affections of our nature. (H. J. Bevis.)

The fleetness of life

I. As a prophetic fact. Can it be that this short life is the end of our existence?

1. We quit this life with unwrought powers. The tree grows on until it exhausts its latent powers, and animals die not (unless they are destroyed) until they are worn out. But man has to quit this life just as some of his powers are beginning to bud, and others without measure undeveloped and unquickened.

2. We quit this life with unfulfilled plans.

II. As a terrific fact. To whom is it terrible? To all whose hearts are centred in this world.

1. That their wealth relatively becomes less valuable to them every day.

2. That eternity becomes relatively more awful to them every day.

III. As a cheering fact. To whom is it cheering? To those who, though they are in the world are not of the world, those who are born into the Divine kingdom of Christly virtues and imperishable hopes. (Homilist.)