What does "like a dream" in Psalm 73:20 reveal about life's brevity? Setting the Verse in View Psalm 73:20: “Like a dream when one awakes, so when You arise, O Lord, You will despise their form.” Unpacking the Picture of a Dream • A dream feels vivid for a moment, then disappears the instant we wake up. • The psalmist likens the prosperity and self-confidence of the wicked—as well as earthly life itself—to that fleeting, weightless moment. • When God “arises,” mere human glory evaporates as surely as a night vision fades with dawn. • The imagery highlights how quickly everything not anchored in the Lord is forgotten (cf. Isaiah 29:7-8). Scripture Echoes of Brevity • Psalm 39:5 – “Indeed, You have made my days as a few handbreadths.” • Psalm 90:5-6 – “In the morning they are like grass that springs up; in the evening it fades and withers.” • Job 7:7 – “My life is but a breath.” • James 4:14 – “You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” • 1 Peter 1:24 – “All flesh is like grass… the grass withers.” Together with Psalm 73:20, these passages form a consistent, Spirit-given testimony: human existence is brief and fragile. Life’s Brevity Underlined • Dreams are intangible—no substance remains after waking. Likewise, earthly achievements leave no lasting imprint apart from God. • Dreams end suddenly—there is no gradual fade; one moment asleep, the next awake. So life on earth can end abruptly (Luke 12:19-20). • Dreams are easily forgotten—just as memories slip away, earthly fame quickly passes (Psalm 103:15-16). Living in Light of Life’s Fleeting Nature • Because life is “like a dream,” invest in what endures: God’s Word and His kingdom (Matthew 6:19-21; Isaiah 40:8). • Hold possessions loosely; they are as temporary as dream scenery (1 Timothy 6:7). • Pursue holiness now, since the moment we “awake” in God’s presence, only what was done for Christ will stand (2 Corinthians 5:10). • Find comfort—suffering is also brief and will fade in the light of eternal glory (2 Corinthians 4:17-18). Key Takeaways • “Like a dream” stresses life’s speed, lightness, and impermanence. • God's appearing exposes the emptiness of anything not rooted in Him. • Recognizing this brevity urges us toward eternal priorities, steady hope, and purposeful obedience today. |
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