Topical Bible: Natural Life is Compared to a Swift Post

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Topical Encyclopedia

In the Bible, the brevity and fleeting nature of human life are often emphasized through vivid imagery and metaphor. One such metaphor is the comparison of natural life to a "swift post," highlighting the rapid passage of time and the transient nature of earthly existence. This imagery is primarily drawn from the book of Job, where the trials and reflections of Job provide profound insights into the human condition.

Biblical Reference:

The metaphor of life as a swift post is found in Job 9:25-26 : "My days are swifter than a runner; they flee without seeing any good. They sweep by like boats of papyrus, like an eagle swooping down on its prey." Here, Job laments the speed at which his days pass, likening them to a runner or a swift messenger. The imagery of a swift post, or messenger, conveys the idea of urgency and the relentless forward motion of time.

Contextual Analysis:

In the ancient Near Eastern context, a "post" or messenger was often used to deliver important messages quickly across distances. The swiftness of such a messenger was crucial, as it ensured that news, whether good or bad, reached its destination promptly. By comparing life to a swift post, the text underscores the idea that human life, much like the messenger, is on a rapid journey, often without pause or reflection.

Job's reflection on the swiftness of life is set against the backdrop of his immense suffering and loss. His lamentation is not merely about the speed of life but also about the lack of perceived goodness or fulfillment within it. The metaphor serves to express a sense of futility and the elusive nature of lasting joy or satisfaction in the temporal world.

Theological Implications:

From a theological perspective, the comparison of life to a swift post invites believers to consider the transient nature of earthly existence in light of eternal truths. It serves as a reminder of the brevity of life and the importance of living with an eternal perspective. The swift passage of time calls for a sense of urgency in seeking God's purpose and aligning one's life with His will.

The metaphor also encourages believers to find solace in the sovereignty of God, who transcends time and offers eternal hope beyond the fleeting moments of this life. In the face of life's rapid passage and the challenges it brings, faith in God's eternal promises provides comfort and direction.

Practical Application:

In practical terms, the imagery of life as a swift post can inspire individuals to live intentionally and purposefully. Recognizing the brevity of life encourages a focus on what truly matters—relationships, character, and one's relationship with God. It prompts believers to prioritize their time and resources in ways that reflect eternal values and to engage in acts of love, service, and worship that have lasting significance.

Furthermore, this metaphor serves as a call to mindfulness, urging individuals to be present in each moment and to appreciate the beauty and opportunities that life offers, even amidst its challenges. By acknowledging the swift passage of time, believers are motivated to make the most of their days, seeking to glorify God in all they do.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Job 9:25
Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Jeroboam
... Natural abilities are Divine trusts. ... ignored, and these, to whom he owed his life,
who cared ... 2. Jeroboam's sin against Solomon was as nothing compared with his ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/milligan/men of the bible some lesser-known/jeroboam.htm

Deuteronomy
... In this poem, which ought to be compared with Genesis ... least several generations later,
of the settled life of the ... made in 621, and as it is natural to suppose ...
/.../mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/deuteronomy.htm

The Epistle of St. James
... and defects of the heavenly lights, as compared with their ... upon it by doing something
to his life, altering his ... Natural face is literally the face of his birth ...
/.../moffat/the general epistles james peter and judas/the epistle of st james.htm

How Much is the Bible Worth?
... which is faultless, frankly admitting that the natural meaning cannot ... and his salvation
is not to be compared with any ... of the Bible, are in this Life that it ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/gladden/who wrote the bible/chapter xiii how much is.htm

Comenius and the Hidden Seed, 1627-1672.
... sure that his system was right that he compared it to ... He had spent his life in the
service of humanity ... X. was, of course, a Protestant, it is natural to assume ...
/.../hutton/history of the moravian church/chapter xvi comenius and the.htm

Stones Crying Out
... they feared Moses, all the days of his life.15 ... Israel's history is on a small scale,
as compared with the ... in full force, that the parent is the natural and most ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/stones crying out.htm

The Alarum
... spiritual wakefulness as you would with natural wakefulness ... be of so dwarfish a stature
compared with these ... church of the incorrigible order, whose life is one ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/the alarum.htm

Isaiah
... In xvii.12-14 their hosts are compared to the noise ... to Babylon, xxxix.6, 7, is not
natural at a ... 4. Further, the minute prediction that Hezekiah's life would be ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/isaiah.htm

The Spokesman of the City's Conscience
... philosophies are never translated into the natural order of ... alleged immorality of
city folk compared with country ... as pledged to some law of life." His faithful ...
/.../herrick/frank h nelson of cincinnati/the spokesman of the citys.htm

Preface.
... Kind is fell Lucifer, compared to thee: 874. Oh! ... The natural, civil, or
religious, world; ... And nature's injuries are arts of life; ...
//christianbookshelf.org/young/youngs night thoughts/preface.htm