Psalms 73:4

For there are no bands in their death.

No bands in the death of the wicked

I. Their minds are occupied exclusively with the things of a present world (Philippians 3:19).

1. Habits.

2. Tastes.

3. Wants.

II. The conscience and heart, then, exemplify the effect of long-continued resistance to the Gospel.

1. The natural effect.

2. The judicial effect.

3. This produced by the abuse of abundant mercy.

III. The moral character of God is grossly misapprehended.

1. It is with God they have to do.

2. Did they apprehend His character, infinitely holy and just.

3. They have an idol in His place.

IV. The nature of the law by which they are to be tried and judged is not understood.

V. There is generally an extreme ignorance as to the nature of the salvation which is offered in the gospel. (J. Stewart.)

Bands in death

I. Let us see what are some of the bands of death, the sufferings of the Christian at his departure, that we may realize more fully this seeming freedom and tranquillity of the wicked. Need we say that death, when seriously looked at, is always terrible? Consider that religion teaches men to be far more jealous of themselves, and to think far more deeply and correctly of judgment and of eternity than others do. At death the books are made up, our fate sealed irrevocably. There is also the sense of the holiness of God, before whom he must so soon appear, with the eager desire that he had served Him in his day and generation with all tenderness of conscience, and a consequently painful sense of shortcomings and offences.

II. The freedom of the wicked.

1. The quietness and peacefulness of the death-bed of a wicked man, without the agony of remorse, without bitter self-chiding and awful presentiments of judgment and eternity, may tell the same tale that the violence, the pride, the cruelty, the rashness, the unrestrained licentiousness of his life did.

2. The placid death-bed of the wicked, without a groan, or pain, or fetter, without regrets or murmurs, is sometimes welcomed by him in his stolidity and ignorance as a happy escape from some disappointment or trouble.

3. The wicked shall be freed from bands in their death, if, by the temptations of Satan, they have been led to presume on that mercy from God which they have never sought.

4. They have no bands in their death, because of its utter suddenness and unexpectedness. This busy present, these manifold wants, and cravings, and indulgences, these strong drinks that deaden the soul, and their over-mastering passions of a life of brief rule over others, of vengeance, of rivalry, of tyranny, of temporary renown and influence--oh, how they succeed in banishing the thought of death while yet the vigour of life is full in veins and body! (G. B. Blake, M. A.)