GOD ORDERS LIFE LIKE A DAY

“In the MORNING it flourishes and grows up; in the EVENING it is cut down and withers” – Psalm 90:6

GOD ORDERS LIFE LIKE A DAY: “In the morning it flourishes and grows up; in the evening it is cut down and withers” (Psalm 90:6). Our lives are reflected in the natural rhythm of the day. The entire lifespan of Man is comparable to a Day that begins with the sunrise or dawn and passes through the morning, midday, afternoon, twilight or sunset, evening or dusk, before quietly fading away into the night, hoping for the awakening of a new day! These phases read like the corollary of yesterday’s seasons of life, where Morning is spring; Midday is summer; Afternoon is fall or autumn, and Night is the Winter.

The Eternal God transcends Time: “Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth. Or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God” (v.1-2). One thousand years is like a day in His sight; like a watch in the night (v.4). Interestingly, the entire human lifespan is also like ONE DAY in His eternal eyes: “In the morning they are like grass which grows up: In the morning it flourishes and grows up; in the evening it is cut down and withers” (vv.5b-6). This speaks to the brevity and transience of life on earth: “All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, because the breath of the Lord blows upon it; surely the people are grass” (Isa.40:6b-7).

At sunrise the child is born. In early morning he or she explores the environment with heightening curiosity and expanding awareness as the light of day surges. As the sun climbs higher in the sky, the adolescent’s exuberant spirit is quickened and, in young adulthood, he or she ventures far from home to seek a unique place in the world. The hour of noon ushers the adventurer into midlife, where, established to some degree, there is a feeling of productive powers operating at full vigour. Just when the sun is at its zenith, its trajectory changes, a critical turning point sets in, as the soul steps across the meridian into life’s afternoon, which is perhaps the best part of the day. This shift persists through the remaining hours of daylight.

At midlife, it is expected that we would have gained a measure of control and authority over our lives, yet the commitments we have made may start to wane. Some folks begin to feel a vague sense of dissatisfaction or find themselves plagued by regrets about paths not taken. Failure to take on responsibilities brings some to what seems like a now-or-never moment, in which mounting pressure is felt to take the plunge. At midlife, the soul not only reflects on the journey travelled so far, but becomes concerned with what lies ahead – how to find lasting values in life – a commanding demand within to maximise what is left of life. Though still in the prime of life, full of drive and dynamism, the youthful fascination with fashion and fads begin to fade while the need to attend to the nobler and more transcendent issues of existence grows more urgent.

As evening draws nigh, the bright blue sky view of the ascent gradually fades, and the ground below comes into view. The youthful perspective of boundless possibilities is replaced by a newfound awareness of finitude and limits that demands a fundamental change in attitude. Divine Wisdom is paramount, if our days would not pass away in God’s wrath; and if we would not “finish our years like a sigh” (v.9b).

God intends each phase of the day to be utilised appropriately. We cannot live the afternoon of life according to the rules and programme of the morning, for what was marvellous in the morning could be uninspiring at evening and what in the morning bloomed and blossomed, at evening would have shrunken, dried and withered. David’s Prayer becomes pertinent: “So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (v.12).