Consecration of Time by John McClintock

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jun 28, 1910

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 37, No. 25.

Consecration of Time

By John McClintock

DAVID was hid in the cave of Adullam, when the Philistines were encamped at Rephaim, and at the end of the plain. David had nothing to drink for twenty-four hours; and as he lay panting in the cave, with his men of arms about him, he said, "O that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, that is at the gate!" It was an ejaculation which fierce thirst wrung from him. There were three brave men who at once determined to gratify his wish, and they went over the plain, where the arrows were raining down on them; but through the midst of these hurtling arrows and flying javelins they went to the well of Bethlehem, got the water, and brought a gourd full of it to the king to slake his thirst.

I know nothing richer or grander in the Old Testament, or in the history of man, than David's conduct then. He would not drink of it, but poured it out as a libation to the Lord; and why? "My God forbid it me, that I should do this thing: shall I drink

the blood of these men that have put their lives in jeopardy? for with the jeopardy of their lives they brought it."

Do you see the application I would make of this? Every hour of your human life and mine, every drop of this precious time, which God gives us in drops, was purchased with a dearer blood and more fearful peril of sacrifice than this. It was not merely through the arrows hurled from the towers of Bethlehem. It was not merely breasting the javelins of the Philistines, that Christ our Saviour purchased for us the gift of this precious time allowed to us in this life. O, no! He received into His divine breast all the arrows of hell; He poured out His most precious blood in sorrow and agony, to buy this time for you and me. Shall we drink up these hours that Christ has purchased, and waste them as they come? O, no! Say rather, I will pour them out to the Lord; I will glorify Him with this time that He has purchased for me.—Dr. John McClintock.