Isaiah 38:10 I said in the cutting off of my days, I shall go to the gates of the grave: I am deprived of the residue of my years. The words of the text naturally suggest this general observation: that God deprives many of the human race of the residue of their years. I. CONSIDER WHEN GOD DOES THIS. 1. God deprives all those of the residue of their years whom He calls out of the world before they have reached the limits of life which are to be found in Scripture. 2. Whom He calls out of the world before they have reached the bounds of life fixed by Providence. Though the Scriptures limit life to seventy or eighty years, yet Providence oftens extends it to a longer period. 3. Who die before they have reached the bounds of life which are imposed by the laws of nature. Nature sets bounds to every kind of life in this world. All, therefore, who die by sickness, or accident, or violence, or any other cause than the course of nature, are really deprived of the residue of their days. II. Inquire WHY GOD THUS SHORTENS THE LIVES OF MEN. 1. To teach the living that He is not dependent upon them in the least degree. 2. To teach mankind their constant and absolute dependence upon Himself. 3. To teach the living the necessity of being continually prepared for another life. 4. To teach the living the importance of faithfully improving life as long as they enjoy it. 5. God may sometimes cut short the days of the wicked to prevent their doing evil in time to come. 6. God may sometimes shorten the lives of His faithful servants to prevent their seeing and suffering public calamities. III. IMPROVEMENT. 1. If God does not always deprive men of the residue of their years, but allows some to reach the bounds of nature, then there is propriety in praying for the lives of the aged as well as of the young. 2. If God so often deprives men of the residue of their years, then it is extremely unreasonable and dangerous to flatter ourselves with the hopes of living a great while in the world. 3. We ought to beware of placing too much dependence upon the lives of others, as well as upon our own. 4. Long life is a great as well as distinguishing favour. 5. If God always has wise and good reasons for depriving men of the residue of their years, then it is as reasonable to submit to His providence in one instance of mortality as another. (N. Emmons, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: I said in the cutting off of my days, I shall go to the gates of the grave: I am deprived of the residue of my years. |
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