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I. Seeing that life imperceptibly passes, IT SHOULD BE THE CARE OF US ALL, THAT IT BE NOT MISSPENT, OR ITS OPPORTUNITIES UNIMPROVED. Life may be passed as vainly as the time occupied in hearing an idle tale.

1. Some tales are light and trifling, — merely to amuse and make the reader laugh. Such, also, is the life of some. Always light-hearted, never serious. They tread a round of vanity.

2. Other tales are of a grave caste, and turn on the interests of human life; but they are altogether worldly in their tone and tendency. So with the lives of many. They occupy their days with business; they are industrious, enterprising: but they have no concern about spiritual things.

3. Some tales are tales of truth. They give an account of godly men who served God in their generation, and died in peace. Such are the lives of Christians. They are using the means of grace, and growing in weanedness from the world; they seek the salvation of others, and prepare themselves for the coming of the Lord.

II. THE MOST IMPORTANT OF THE TALE IS ITS CLOSE, AND SO ALSO IT IS WITH LIFE, The interest thickens towards the end.

1. Some tales, whether serious or trifling, have an unhappy termination. So the life of many. They die without preparation and without hope. The tale of human life is soon told, but how momentous are its issues!

2. Other tales have a joyful ending. Hope is realized. So the life of God's people. Whatever doubts, troubles, trials, disappointments chequered it, the close of it is peace.

III. SOME TALES COME SOONER TO A CLOSE THAN OTHERS. So life; — in some cases three-score years and ten, or four-score years; in other cases not sixty, not fifty, not forty years — not thirty or twenty years, or even ten. Delay not. Make sure of salvation now.

(W. H. Hewitson, M.A.)

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KJV: For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told.

WEB: For all our days have passed away in your wrath. We bring our years to an end as a sigh.