Psalms 90:6

Psalms 90:6

Verse 6 continues the cycle imagery: “In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth.” It emphasizes the rapid rise and fall of life, often within a single day’s frame of reference. The morning represents vitality and growth; the evening denotes decline and death. This cadence mirrors human life’s rhythm under the sun: vigor followed by exhaustion, strength giving way to fading. In the context of Moses’s psalm, the rhythm is placed under God’s sovereignty, not mere natural law. The Hebrew poets often used daily cycles to help people grasp larger truths about life’s fragility, divine judgment, and the need for wisdom. The verse encourages humility and dependence on God across all seasons of life, whether youthful vigor or aging decline.

The verse contributes to the psalm’s meditation on mortality and the need for wisdom. It presents life as a brief span whose hours are ordered by God, calling for sober reflection about time and purpose. It foreshadows the biblical truth that earthly glory is fleeting and that life’s true significance comes from relationship with God. The rapid cycle also invites readers to seek lasting virtue and faithfulness that endure beyond a single day or season.

Apply this by anticipating both growth and decline. In planning, allocate energy to long-term investments—spiritual formation, character, and legacy—rather than only short-lived wins. In seasons of vitality, cultivate disciplines that will sustain you through later, less vigorous days: regular prayer, Scripture memory, and healthy rhythms. When faced with aging or loss, cling to God’s unchanging faithfulness and resist placing ultimate hope in youth or productivity. Use the morning/evening imagery as a daily rhythm: each day begins with God’s mercy and ends with His steadfast love.

Cross-References: Psalm 144:12-14; Ecclesiastes 11:9; James 4:14; Isaiah 40:30-31; 1 Corinthians 15:54-57