THE SHORTNESS OF LIFE A GROUND FOR INDIFFERENCE TO THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD.
2 Sam. sdx. 34. Atid Barzillai said unto the king, How long
have I to live ?
GREAT virtues rarely, if ever, exist alone: the soul that gives them birth is actuated by a principle, which is generally, though perhaps not universally, operative. We behold in the history before us an instance of great generosity towards David and his attendants, in their flight from Absalom. And we have a no less amiable instance of modesty in the same character, when David, after the defeat of Absalom, and the consequent restoration of peace, desired to reward the services of his benefactor. " Barzillai had provided David with sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim;" and David now entreated him to come and spend the remainder of his days with him at Jerusalem, that he might repay all his kindness to the utmost of his power: but Barzillai declined the offer, and said, " How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?"
The question, " How long have I to live?" is pro- per for us all to put to ourselves at this time^: and it will be profitable for us to consider it,
I. In reference to the things of time —
This is certainly its primary import in the passage before us. Barzillai " was a very aged man," and intimated to David, that, on account of his great age, he had no longer any relish for the gratifications of sense, nor could he hope to continue much longer in the world ; and that therefore it would ill become him to be an attendant at court, when he ought rather to be thinking only of death ^. In this view the question was most just, and pathetic: and in this view it deserves universal attention.
Our time must of necessity be short —
3 New-Year's Day, or on occasion of a Funeral. ^ ver. 35 — 37.