Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow. Sermons
I. THE VANITY OF MAN CREATES SURPRISE AT GOD'S CARE. "Lord, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him?" This is an exclamation of surprise, which is repeated by every devout soul when the frailty of man is brought impressively before him. It is not merely the brevity of life that is in view, nor its uncertainty; it is the smallness of all human doings and aims. Relative to the size of the globe, the highest mountain is but a slight and scarcely perceptible ridge. Relative to the mountain, a single man is scarcely as big as a pin's head. And what can man accomplish? His mightiest achievements are but as the triumphs of the ants whose work he despises; and he is seldom permitted folly to achieve anything, for he is usually cut off before the thing he intended can be completed. Man is a smaller being than some of the animals, and it is hard to conceive of his doing anything that is really worthy of Divine notice. And yet God does care for man as he cares for nothing else that he has made. We can only wonder over the fact, glory in it, and let it bring home to our hearts the mystery - "God is love." II. THE VANITY OF MAN SHOULD LEAD HIM TO PUT HIMSELF INTO GOD'S CARE. For it is not enough that God should care for us. The joy of that care is not realized until we care that God should thus care. It may be a fact, but it is no helpful, comforting fact until we respond to the fact, accept the care, and voluntarily put ourselves entirely into it. The psalmist here speaks as one who had mastered the depressing influence of his own sense of frailty, by assuring his heart of God's personal care. That brings to man a sense of dignity which more than matches the sense of frailty. Man may be "crushed before the moth;" but it is also true, he is only "a little lower than the angels," for God - yes, the great, eternal God - is mindful of him. - R.T.
His days are as a shadow. : —I. A SHADOW IS COMPOUNDED OF LIGHT AND DARKNESS; for when no object intercepts the light of the sun, or when the light of the sun is withdrawn, no shadow is produced. In like manner, the state of man in the present world is made up of joy and sorrow; while, as in the emblem, the latter greatly preponderates. II. A SHADOW SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING, WHEN IN REALITY IT IS NOTHING. If you grasp it, you prove its emptiness. The pleasures, riches, and honours of the present world seem important to the eye of the carnal mind when viewed at a little distance; they attract attention, excite desire, and are eagerly pursued. But when, the object being attained, they are closely examined, how empty and unsatisfactory do they prove! III. A SHADOW IS THE SUBJECT OF CONTINUAL CHANGES, TILL AT LENGTH IT FINALLY AND SUDDENLY CEASES. In the morning, when the sun first rises above the horizon, it is weak and extended to a great length. Towards noon it gains strength, and is contracted in its dimensions. From thence to sunset it gradually becomes less distinct, and at last suddenly and wholly disappears. Man, survey in this emblem thy life l How lively and affecting the description! (Cf. Job 14:1, 2; James 4:14). IV. A. SHADOW CANNOT EXIST LONGER THAN THE SUN'S CONTINUANCE ABOVE THE HORIZON, AND IS EVERY MOMENT LIABLE TO ANNIHILATION BY THE INTERVENTION OF A CLOUD. In like manner, human life generally lasts but threescore years and ten, or four-score years; and may, by a sudden accident or the power of disease, be much curtailed. V. A SHADOW, WHEN GONE, LEAVES NO TRACK OF ITS EXISTENCE BEHIND. This also is the case with the riches, pleasures, and honours of the world. This world is no further substantial, or of importance, than as it stands connected with the next. (The Christian Guardian.) People David, PsalmistPlaces JerusalemTopics Breath, Fleeting, Mere, Passes, Passeth, Passing, Quickly, Shade, Shadow, VanityOutline 1. David blesses God for his mercy both to him and to man5. He prays that God would powerfully deliver him from his enemies 9. He promises to praise God 11. He prays for the happy state of the kingdom Dictionary of Bible Themes Psalm 144:4Library Sermons on Selected Lessons of the Gospels. Adoption, a sonship higher than that of nature, [482]255; frequently mentioned in Holy Scripture, [483]255, [484]256; the term of ancient use among the Jews, [485]256; "raising up seed to brother," [486]256; used by St. Paul to express the mystery of our adoption in Christ, [487]256. Adversary, to be agreed with and delivered from, [488]442; not so Satan, [489]442; the Law our, so long as we our own, [490]443; must agree with, by obedience, and so made no longer adversary, [491]443. Affliction, blessing … Saint Augustine—sermons on selected lessons of the new testament Period ii. The Church from the Permanent Division of the Empire Until the Collapse of the Western Empire and the First Schism Between the East and the West, or Until About A. D. 500 Thankfulness for Mercies Received, a Necessary Duty The Resemblance Between the Old Testament and the New. The Knowledge of God Conspicuous in the Creation, and Continual Government of the World. The Godly are in Some Sense Already Blessed Scriptural Christianity Letter Xl to Thomas, Prior of Beverley Psalms Links Psalm 144:4 NIVPsalm 144:4 NLT Psalm 144:4 ESV Psalm 144:4 NASB Psalm 144:4 KJV Psalm 144:4 Bible Apps Psalm 144:4 Parallel Psalm 144:4 Biblia Paralela Psalm 144:4 Chinese Bible Psalm 144:4 French Bible Psalm 144:4 German Bible Psalm 144:4 Commentaries Bible Hub |
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