April 23, 2018 - - Psalm 119:25

My soul clings to the dust;

Give me life according to your word!

Psalm 119:25 ESV

Have you ever taken a swimming course that teaches you how to help a drowning man? The first thing to be cautious of is the fact this man, in his great distress and anxiety, will pull you down with him. You must be strong enough and wise enough to help and rescue him.

Without God we are drowning in the depths of the grave. Our very soul clings to the things which bring us death, not life. As a society we cling to death, for example: the murder of pre-born children is called: abortion, or "pro-choice". Putting to death the aged among us is re-named: "mercy killing" or "euthanasia". Individually, we lose our moorings and get entangled in destructive patterns of behaviour from which we cannot rescue ourselves. The more we try, the more we realize it is hopeless.

The Bible teaches us that Adam was created out of the dust of the earth. God Himself formed Adam and breathed life into his nostrils. Originally Adam was created to be without sin. Adam and his wife Eve, rebelled against God and chose sin. They chose uncreation and death--clinging to the dust from which they were formed.

This Psalmist is referring to Adam and Eve's choice for death. God in His mercy did not put them to death, but promised the sinless One, Jesus, would bear the punishment for our sin.

As dead dust, rebelling against God and drowning, it is Spirit of God Who revives us, He breathes life into us. Our former patterns of sin and rebellion against God are ended and the Word of God lifts us up to the path of life. As those who were formerly drowning, clinging to the dust, we are now compassionate to those who are clinging to the ways of death and drowning in the grave. We speak the promise of this passage and our own experience: Life is found in Jesus Christ--the Word of God.

God of Mercy and Extravagant Kindness, thank You for the rescue You have given in Jesus Christ. Thank You for Your Spirit given so that sinners can clearly see the difference between drowning in the patterns of evil and sin versus the rescue into new life You give in Jesus. Arm us, as those rescued in Jesus who are now living men and women, with the life-ring of the Bible so that with great love and tender compassion we can help others who are drowning. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.