How does Psalm 90:5 illustrate the brevity of human life? Setting the Verse in View Psalm 90:5: “You whisk them away in their sleep; they fade away in the morning like the grass.” Two Striking Pictures • Whisked away in sleep – Life can end as effortlessly as a breath drawn during the night. – No struggle or warning is implied; God’s sovereign action removes a person swiftly. • Morning grass – Springing up fresh at dawn, yet already fading. – The span from sunrise to sunset mirrors an entire human lifespan when measured against eternity (v. 4). Key Observations • Suddenness: “Whisked” communicates an immediate, irresistible act. • Unconscious transition: Sleep suggests we are often unaware of how near death may be (Job 14:1–2). • Fragile prosperity: Grass appears vibrant, but its life-force is temporary (Psalm 103:15-16). • Time compression: A full day for grass equals a full life for humanity; both quickly pass under God’s timeless gaze (2 Peter 3:8). A Chorus of Confirming Texts • 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 and the flower falls.” • Isaiah 40:6-8 — “Surely all people are grass… the grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.” Practical Takeaways • Cultivate holy urgency; today may be the only slice of time we steward (Ephesians 5:15-16). • Anchor hope in what endures—God’s word and salvation—rather than in fleeting earthly achievements (Matthew 6:19-21). • Maintain humility; recognition of life’s brevity guards the heart from pride (Proverbs 27:1). • Cherish each day as a gift entrusted by the One who numbers our moments (Psalm 139:16). |
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