Topical Bible: Natural Life is Compared to a Tale Told

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In the Scriptures, the brevity and transience of human life are often highlighted through various metaphors and similes. One such comparison is the likening of natural life to a tale that is told. This imagery is found in Psalm 90:9, where Moses, the man of God, reflects on the fleeting nature of human existence: "For all our days decline in Your fury; we finish our years with a sigh" . The phrase "we finish our years with a sigh" is often interpreted as "we spend our years as a tale that is told," emphasizing the ephemeral and narrative-like quality of life.

This metaphor suggests that just as a account is recounted and then fades into memory, so too does human life pass quickly and is soon forgotten. The comparison underscores the idea that life, with all its experiences and events, is transient and ultimately subject to the sovereign will of God. It serves as a reminder of the temporal nature of earthly existence and the importance of living with an eternal perspective.

The brevity of life is a recurring theme throughout the Bible, urging believers to live wisely and purposefully. In James 4:14, the apostle James echoes this sentiment: "You do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" . This reinforces the notion that life is fleeting and should be lived in accordance with God's will.

The comparison of life to a tale also invites reflection on the content and quality of one's life account. Just as a well-told tale can leave a lasting impact, so can a life lived in faithfulness to God. Believers are encouraged to consider the legacy they will leave behind and to strive for a life that honors God and reflects His glory.

In the broader biblical context, the metaphor of life as a tale told aligns with the wisdom literature's emphasis on the fear of the Lord as the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10). Recognizing the brevity of life should lead to a deeper reverence for God and a commitment to living according to His commandments.

Ultimately, the comparison of natural life to a tale told serves as a poignant reminder of human mortality and the need to focus on eternal truths. It calls believers to live with intentionality, making the most of the time they have been given, and to trust in God's eternal plan, which transcends the temporal nature of earthly life.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 90:9
For all our days are passed away in your wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Ninth Chapter
... that may be imagined, whereby all his natural powers were so ... own life, how poor his
life had been compared to the ... and show them the right path to eternal life. ...
/.../the history and life of the reverend doctor john tauler/ninth chapter.htm

The Early Life of Malachy. Having Been Admitted to Holy Orders He ...
... Bernard may be compared with that given of his own boyhood in ... It was quite natural
that during a prolonged absence from his ... 245] Throughout the Life, Scotia is ...
/.../chapter i the early life.htm

Joseph's Faith
... earthly' as it seems to us when compared with our ... The tent life will always be the
natural one for ... The one thing which saves this life from being contemptible ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/josephs faith.htm

The Contribution of the Natural and Social Sciences
... spoke of society as an organism, and compared the working ... establish for it a connexion
in the natural order. ... purpose for the world and for the individual life. ...
/.../chapter v the contribution of.htm

The Eternity and Unchangeableness of God.
... style than in all others; but a "natural man" cannot ... I think them not worthy to be
compared," saith Paul ... not only out of countenance, but out of life and being. ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/lecture viii the eternity and.htm

La Brea
... fan leaves form a groined roof, compared with which ... and found it a covered gallery,
swarming with life. ... a hearty hope, too, that, whatever natural beauty may ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/at last/chapter viii la brea.htm

The Life of Anne Catherine Emmerich
... earth come in their seasons in the natural year ... Boudon, in his life of Father Surin,
relates a similar ... heavenly gravity, and which can only be compared to that ...
/.../the dolorous passion of our lord jesus christ/the life of anne catherine.htm

A Holy Life the Beauty of Christianity: Or, an Exhortation to ...
... The tale is as true as it is full of painful ... of their natural senses, or of their
natural reason: the ... for that which liveth, what manner of life soever it hath ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a holy life the beauty.htm

An Appreciation of John Wesley's Journal
... and stand by the rocks and the natural amphitheaters in ... to regard religion as the
business of his life, just as ... at the hands of the mob to be compared with the ...
/.../wesley/the journal of john wesley/an appreciation of john wesleys.htm

Mr. HG Wells and the Giants
... if it had its origin in its own natural and generous ... marriage, or the fountain of
our very life will fail. ... a darker thing, is light, but which, compared with a ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chesterton/heretics/v mr h g wells and.htm