How does Psalm 90:6 illustrate the brevity of human life? Verse at a Glance “in the morning it sprouts anew; by evening it withers and fades.” (Psalm 90:6) The Image Moses Chooses • Grass is ordinary, widespread, and easily overlooked—just like most human lives. • It appears vibrant for a moment, then dries up with the same speed. • The choice of dawn–to–dusk imagery compresses an entire life cycle into a single day. Morning: Sudden Flourish • Dew and sunshine bring quick, visible growth. • Life likewise begins with vigor, promise, and boundless potential (Psalm 8:5; Ecclesiastes 12:1). • Yet that early strength is not a guarantee of longevity. Evening: Swift Decline • The heat removes moisture; the once-lush blade collapses. • Human vitality drains just as rapidly under the heat of time, toil, and trouble (Job 14:1-2). • The “fade” highlights not gradual aging alone, but how sharply life can turn (Psalm 39:5-6). Reinforcing Scriptures • Isaiah 40:6-8 — “All flesh is grass… the grass withers, the flower fades…” • 1 Peter 1:24 — “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers…” • James 4:14 — “You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” • Psalm 103:15-16 — “As for man, his days are like grass… the wind passes over it, and it is gone.” Key Takeaways • Brevity: A single verse telescopes an entire lifespan into twelve hours. • Fragility: As grass depends on dew, we depend wholly on God’s sustaining mercy (Acts 17:28). • Urgency: Because the evening inevitably comes, each morning’s opportunity matters (Ephesians 5:15-16). • Perspective: Recognizing life’s short span drives us to seek eternal significance in the Lord, “from everlasting to everlasting” (Psalm 90:2). |
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