Job 14:14 If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. Mutability cleaves to all mankind from the cradle to the grave. I. DEATH IS AN APPOINTED CHANGE. It was in consequence of man's first offence that a sentence of mortality was passed upon the whole human race. It was then appointed to all men once to die. Many allow that God has appointed death to all men; but deny that He has appointed the time, or place, or means, of any particular person's death. But it seems difficult to conceive how it was possible for God to appoint death to every individual, without appointing the time, the place, and the means of his death. II. WHAT IS IMPLIED IN THE GODLY MAN'S WAITING FOR THEIR APPOINTED CHANGE. 1. The habitual expectation of their dying hour. Waiting always carries the idea of expectation. 2. An habitual contemplation, as well as expectation of death. 3. That they view themselves prepared for their great and last change. 4. That they desire the time to come for them to leave the world. We wait for what we desire, not what we dread. III. THEY HAVE GOOD REASONS FOR THIS WAITING ALL THE DAYS OF THEIR APPOINTED TIME, TILL THEIR CHANGE COME. 1. Because it will put them into a state of perfect holiness. 2. And into a state of perfect knowledge. 3. And into a state of perfect and perpetual rest. 4. It will not only free them from all evil, but put them into possession of all good. Improvement — (1) It must argue great imperfection in Christians, not to hope and wait for the day of their decease. (2) It is of great importance to make their calling and election sure, because without this they cannot properly wait for the day of death. (3) If good men do thus wait, then they derive a happiness from their religion to which sinners are strangers. (N. Emmons, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. |
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