Topical Bible: Natural Life is Compared to a Swift Ship

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Topical Encyclopedia

In the Bible, the brevity and transience of human life are often illustrated through vivid metaphors. One such metaphor is the comparison of natural life to a swift ship, emphasizing the fleeting and ephemeral nature of human existence. This imagery is primarily drawn from the Book of Job, where Job laments the rapid passage of his days.

Biblical Reference:

The primary scriptural reference for this metaphor 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 expresses his anguish over the swift passage of time, likening his days to swift ships that quickly sail by, leaving no trace behind.

Contextual Analysis:

In the context of Job's discourse, the metaphor of a swift ship serves to underscore the brevity and often unfulfilled nature of human life. Job, a man of great suffering and loss, reflects on how quickly life passes, often without the fulfillment of desires or the realization of good. The imagery of a swift ship, particularly one made of papyrus, suggests not only speed but also fragility, as papyrus boats were known for their lightness and impermanence.

Theological Implications:

From a theological perspective, this metaphor invites reflection on the nature of human life in relation to eternity. The swift ship symbolizes the transient nature of earthly existence, prompting believers to consider the eternal significance of their lives. It serves as a reminder of the importance of living with an eternal perspective, focusing on spiritual growth and the pursuit of righteousness.

Practical Application:

In practical terms, the comparison of life to a swift ship encourages individuals to make the most of their time on earth. It calls for a sense of urgency in pursuing one's God-given purpose and in cultivating a relationship with the Creator. The metaphor challenges believers to prioritize what is truly important, recognizing that life is but a fleeting moment in the grand scope of God's eternal plan.

Related Scriptural Themes:

This metaphor aligns with other biblical themes that highlight the transient nature of life. For instance, James 4:14 states, "You do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." Similarly, Psalm 90:10 reflects on the brevity of life: "The length of our days is seventy years—or eighty if we are strong—yet their span is but toil and trouble; they quickly pass, and we fly away."

Conclusion:

The metaphor of natural life as a swift ship serves as a poignant reminder of the fleeting nature of human existence. It calls believers to live with purpose, urgency, and an eternal perspective, recognizing the transient nature of earthly life in light of God's eternal kingdom.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Job 9:26
They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hastens to the prey.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Three Homilies. On Our Lord.
... in us and is formed in us in its natural manner; and ... For our Lord compared the sins
of the sinful woman to ... that when eaten It might quicken to life them that ...
/.../ephraim/hymns and homilies of ephraim the syrian/three homilies on our lord.htm

How Much is the Bible Worth?
... and his salvation is not to be compared with any ... traditional view have been driven
by the natural reaction against it ... of conduct, as a guide to life, it excels ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/gladden/who wrote the bible/chapter xiii how much is.htm

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

Perseverance
... Grace is compared to a river of the water of life ... What was once said of Christ's
natural body is true of ... It is not the beginning of the Christian life that gets ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a body of divinity/10 perseverance.htm

Man and Machinery.
... away from the sanctities of the inner life and the ... What is any material triumph compared
to this moral ... And, because they come by natural development let us not ...
/.../chapin/humanity in the city/discourse ii man and machinery.htm

Third Tractate. Problems of the Soul (1).
... whole; our own lowest soul might be compared to the ... soul; to speak of residence is
a natural sequence ... of the senses, radiating throughout the entire life, if it ...
/.../plotinus/the six enneads/third tractate problems of the.htm

The Dawn of Mind
... all allowances for the differences of the things compared, will deny ... struggle for
life, they are out of life itself ... It is to behold one's natural face in a glass ...
/.../drummond/the lowell lectures on the ascent of man/chapter iv the dawn of.htm

The City and River of God
... me a pure river of water of life, clear as ... how this metaphor, in a most simple and
natural way, sets ... Thunder and lightning are child's play compared with the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture j/the city and river of.htm

The Late Work of God in North America
... Another natural consequence of wealth was luxury, particularly in food ... the generality
of your women, if compared with ours ... but even of the necessaries, of life. ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 131 the late work.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