Long days. Short years. Then life ends. Man, that’s depressing, so maybe we should add some context to better understand this portion of Psalm 103.

In verses 15-19, David makes some comparisons. The days of man are like that of grass or the flower in a field. In this part of the world, vegetation sprung up quickly after the rain, but then the dry hot wind would pass over it, and the grass and flower would fade away. So quickly was its fading that the field in which it grew moved on and forgot that it was once there (“and its place knows it no more”- v 16). No lasting impression. No legacy. This is man in his natural state.

There is beauty and glory in life, but it quickly fades and is no longer. Job said it best, “Man who is born of woman is few of days and full of trouble” (Job 14:1). There is joy in this life, but our time, strength, and abilities are only for a moment.

There is another comparison that the Psalmist makes; it’s the love of God. In verse 17, David refers to it as God’s steadfast love – a love that is from everlasting to everlasting. And this, dear reader, makes the brevity of natural life worth living with great vigor and with purpose. This is the strength of God’s covenant people and the foundation of our worship – God’s steadfast, everlasting love. In the midst of this beautiful but difficult, temporal, and often sorrow filled life, God’s steadfast love remains.

These two comparisons should lead us to understand and practice two things in this life.

First, there should be an examination of our life. Moses, in Psalm 90:12 says, “Teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” This is a discipline that we have almost lost in our day, the discipline of contemplating the brevity of this life. This may sound morbid, but it is one of the wisest things that we can do. Thinking with a scriptural mindset of our own inability and lack of longevity in this life leads us to the One whose infinite strength and everlasting nature is to be our only hope and joy. Solomon wrote that to everything there is a season, and this especially true of this life; therefore, we should esteem the worthiness of Christ and to live for His glory and for the life everlasting.

Second, we should rightly worship the One who offers enduring comfort. No matter the struggle or sorrow of this life, we know that God’s steadfast love is our comfort and strength. But notice that this comfort is only offered to a certain people. This promise is given to His covenant people, those who fear Him (v 17) and those who remember His commandments (v 18) – these are the characteristics of those who belong to Him.

Worship through thanksgiving is a recognition of God’s everlasting, enduring love for finite creatures who have been redeemed and brought into covenant with Him. This life may be brief and often difficult, but we can take refuge in knowing that, because of God’s steadfast love, He is working all things together for our good.