Merely Dust

​Psalm 103: 13-14 ~ “As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.”
 
How quickly we forget who we really are. But the LORD does not forget. Our hubris rises to heights of unparalleled pride when we think that we have our lives figured out. However, a sober analysis of one’s life will bring with it a humbling understanding that we have no cause for such arrogance. God, the Almighty, knows what we often forget—that we are merely dust. Lest we forget, let us recall the moment that man took his first breath. “Then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature” (Genesis 2:7). It was God who made us. It was God who breathed life into us. And it is God, through it all, that sustains all creatures called man.
 
But, dear Christian, let us first take comfort in this knowledge that has not escaped God Almighty. I would encourage you, even now, to read the entirety of Psalm 103. It is good practice to gain the context of any Scripture and it will give you insight into our text for today. You may be asking how can one gain comfort from the statement, “For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust?” We find comfort here for it is the testimony of God who knows that we are without strength of our own. God knows our weakness; He knows that we are as feeble as an anthill in a tornado. One quick brush with trouble and we are blown by the winds. The worldly enticements that abound, the inner passions that rage and the ever-ready enemy of the Almighty would tempt us to oblivion. The compassion of the LORD is upon those who fear Him. Even as it says in our text today, “so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.” Consider what it says it says in Psalm 103:10, “He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.” We have a loving, gracious, merciful Savior who will forgive our trespasses and deliver us from the penalty of our sins—for He, Himself, was crushed for our iniquities (see Isaiah 53:5).
 
Now, beloved, let us next take wisdom from this statement. Perhaps you’ve asked, what wisdom can be found for us in this declaration: “For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.” There are several that could be gleaned from this text, but there are two that I want to make clear for you today. The first is this: you have not one ounce of strength to be able to withstand the onslaught of the temptations that abound in this world. That might sound rather defeatist. But, my friends, let us take our understanding of ourselves from God’s knowledge of us. If He knows our frame, let us know it as He does. If He sees that we are merely dust, let us remember that for ourselves. And, then, with that knowledge firmly set in our thinking, let us run to the only One who has the strength and grace to uphold us—the LORD Jesus Christ. Hebrews 4:16 tells us, “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” The second is this: every other person around you is also in the same condition that you are. There is not one person less “dusty” than you. Every person you have ever seen, known, or are aware of is a person who is merely dust as you are. They are weak without God and need His mercy and forgiveness as much as you or I. Every human that has failed has merely proved their weakness and every person who has seemingly remained steadfast either is able to disguise their weakness or has found that Christ alone secures them. The LORD spoke to Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9 saying, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
 
Dear Christian, have you discovered that you are weak, frail and merely dust? Then, I would urge you to run to your Creator and find His grace sufficient and His strength secure. He will forgive your transgressions and remove your iniquity. Let us do as Psalm 103:2 says, “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.” We must remember who we are as God knows us. But we must also remember the LORD as He has revealed Himself. For those who fear the LORD, they will find God Almighty to be a Savior who is slow to anger, abounding in love, and filled with mercy.
 
In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

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