Psalms 90:5

Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up.

Psalms 90:5 (KJV)

Context

This verse is part of Psalm 90, a prayer of Moses, the man of God. He speaks to the eternal God, who has been the dwelling place of His people in every generation. Moses contrasts God’s everlasting nature with the short and fragile life of human beings.

Meaning

The verse uses three pictures to show how brief life is. First, people are carried away as with a flood. A flood comes suddenly and with great force, sweeping away everything in its path. Human life can end without warning. Second, people are as a sleep. Sleep is a short, passing state; when we wake, it is gone. In the same way, our years on earth are like a dream that quickly fades. Third, in the morning people are like grass which groweth up. Grass springs up fresh and green, but it soon withers and dies. This image reminds us that our strength and beauty do not last.

Biblical connections

The next verse, Psalm 90:6, completes the picture: the grass flourishes in the morning but is cut down and fades by evening. This teaching leads to the prayer in Psalm 90:12, where Moses asks God to teach us to number our days, so we may gain a heart of wisdom. The brevity of life is not just a sad fact; it is a reason to seek God’s wisdom and to depend on Him.

Application

Because life is short, we should not put our trust in earthly things that pass away. Instead, we can find our security in God, who is everlasting and unchanging. We can use our days wisely, loving Him and serving others, knowing that our time here is limited.

Reflection

How do you spend the short time God has given you? Do you live as if this world is all there is, or do you look to the eternal God? Let this verse lead you to humility and to a deeper trust in the One who is our dwelling place in all generations.